ML35748261
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Media notes
HAPE below horizon, PFSH above. Note extensive white on side of neck, dark cowl contrasting with mantle, faint 'M' pattern on wings, wings shorter and straighter and head smaller than PFSH.
Observation details
***First Island Record*** At ~1850 hrs JRD picked up three tubenoses off North Landing, working northwest into the 20+ kt wind, about 200m outside fisherman's bay. Two were quickly ID'd as PFSH, the third immediately stuck out as flying like a Pterodroma based on its smaller size and zippier flight. Though moving at roughly the same pace as its accompanying PFSH, it was making lower arcs and weaving about twice as fast. Structurally, and in comparison to the nearby PFSH, the subject bird was much smaller headed, had a higher wing-loading, did not hold its wings as far forward, had snappier wingbeats, and had a smaller, more 'pin-like' tail (only ever seen folded). Further study showed many other good features for HAPE: the forehead and underparts, including undertail coverts, were gleaming white, with no trace of dark in the wingpits. The bird had a dark cowl that contrasted with its grayish mantle, but white on the side of the neck was extensive, appearing to intrude into the cowl. A dark 'm' pattern stood out against a brownish-gray mantle and upperwing coverts. The bird was observed for at least a total of 60 seconds before it disappeared behind sugarloaf. The mantle was not pale enough for a cookalaria type petrel or buller's shearwater. Dusky underwings were specifically looked for to rule out Galapagos petrel, but was notably absent from the bird seen. This dusky pattern showed well on the nearby PFSH seen under the same conditions, making for a good control of plumage visibility in strong light.
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 7D
- Lens
- EF400mm f/5.6L USM
- ISO
- 640
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/8.0
- Shutter speed
- 1/400 sec
- Dimensions
- 505 pixels x 758 pixels
- Original file size
- 168.97 KB