ML170105201

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - X

Observation details

Tom called out this bird during a particularly slow period as we cruised to the southeast along the coast off Laguna Beach about 3½ kilometers west-southwest of Goff Island (33° 30' 23" N, 117° 47' 48" W), after which we turned around and spent a few minutes observing this bird and taking photos before continuing toward Dana Point. We saw this bird dive at least twice, but it never took flight or even flapped its wings. Given that I concentrated on getting a few photos I did not study this bird all that carefully, yet it was obvious based on what I saw that it was an adult Common Murre in alternate plumage. This was a large alcid that was probably comparable in size to a football and it likewise had an elongate shape that tapered at the rear end. The bill was long, relatively slim, and straight. I further noted a sloping forehead and a rounded crown on a head that seemed large for the size of the bird, a short neck, and a plump body that sat high enough on the water to expose the flanks. I saw the wings either closed or partially open when the bird dove, but I cannot remember seeing the legs or feet. The patterns represented a striking contrast between the sooty-brown color that characterized, the head, neck, and upperparts, uppersides of the wings, and the rump, and the white that extended along the flanks. I further noted that the head and neck in particular were dull and brownish as opposed to truly black, and that the white flanks had dark lines that created a streaked appearance that differed from my expectations for a murre in alternate plumage. Also apparent was a line or crease extending back from the eye, but this bird did not have the white eyering that is occasionally seen in this species. I never clearly saw the breast or belly on a bird that I saw almost exclusively as it sat on the water. The bill was black, without a pale stripe on the tomium, and the eyes were quite dark, but I never saw the legs or feet.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

1360 pixels x 906 pixels

Original file size

1.85 MB