ML108860391
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Media notes
Photo shows broad buffy carpal bars and V shaped white rump patch
Observation details
****absolutely ridiculous, flying around in the bay within a foot or two of our boat!!! First of all, HUGE thanks to Tim Healy who watched the video of the storm-petrel sp. I posted and pointed out to me that the flight pattern, wing positions, and some plumage features of this bird were actually more indicative of Leach's Storm-Petrel than Wilson's, which I originally misidentified this bird as. I admittedly have no prior experience with LESP so I did not pick up on the nuances that Tim with his shrewd judgement fortunately did, and I nonchalantly ID'd it as WISP based on probability and the thought of it being one of the deep water storm-petrels did not even cross my mind. I remember thinking something was off about this bird, but I was myopic in my ID so this feeling quickly faded before seeing Tim's comment. Anyway, this prompted myself to analyze the plumage of this bird a little more. Some salient plumage/anatomical features indicative of LESP on this bird are the obvious broad, buffy carpal bars, a distinctly forked tail, a "V" pattern to the white rump patch due to a subtle dusky median line (also separating it from BRSP), a very "squared off" head, the white on the rump patch not extending down into the undertail coverts (as in WISP), longer, more angular wings with longer "arm", and no projection of the feet beyond tail when in flight. As Tim and others I've consulted noted, the flight of this bird is more buoyant and bouncier (nighthawk/tern like) than would be expected for WISP and right in line with LESP, and the bird is holding it's wings in a bowed position when gliding. Completely stunned and almost surreal to see this deep water species this close to land and let alone in the bay. The prolonged storm and unrelenting strong SE winds are almost certainly cause of this bird being so displaced. Photos provided along with a link to a video of the bird coming within feet of the boat.
Technical information
- Dimensions
- 1059 pixels x 743 pixels
- Original file size
- 84.94 KB