ML261497271

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

First spotted by Jon Dunn at around 0824 about 5.4 miles offshore of Virgin Creek Beach. The bird was at coordinates 39.51220, -123.90862. All on board got looks at the bird as it passed around the boat 2-3 times. Then, at 0912 the bird reappeared about 7.8 miles offshore at coordinates 39.57837, -123.96052!!! This second time we got even better looks at the bird. The bird was a large Calonectris shearwater with very white underwings--much whiter than any of the Pink-footed Shearwaters--with dark primaries and secondaries that created a dark trailing edge to the underwing. Many of the inner primaries were missing and the bird was clearly in active wing molt. The bird had a light dusky brownish-gray head and face that diffused into the white throat and underparts and it seemed like the upperparts were of the same coloration as the head. In good lighting the mantle and scapular feathers had a clearly "scaly appearance." There was a white thin band right at the base of the uppertail. The bill was clearly yellow with a darkish tip.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D300

ISO

400

Focal length

200 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.0

Shutter speed

1/3200 sec

Dimensions

2231 pixels x 1671 pixels

Original file size

1.61 MB