ML222202881

Age and sex

Immature Unknown sex - 1

Behaviors

Flying

Observation details

***mega; immature bird with ghost of adult pattern (pale underwings and pale belly contrasting sharply with dark chest) seen diving in angled dives among gull flock, usually flaring its tail widely when diving. Many photos fully document the identification and plumage. Spotted off port side and we stopped to pursue and get closer and were able to maneuver in for stellar looks and photos. Just the fourth record for Maine and the first seen by birders, with previous records (off Portland, on Little Egg Rock, and off Bar Harbor) mostly coming from watermen. In the past decades Brown Boobies have staged a major movement up the Atlantic Coast, up the Pacific Coast, and to the Gulf Coast if Texas, and even inland, so while completely unexpected this record occurred in the context of a larger-scale pattern of increased occurrence in the Atlantic. Fantastic looks!

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D

Lens

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

ISO

640

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

3170 pixels x 2111 pixels

Original file size

2.15 MB