ML358340361

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

*rarely detected (but likely regular along the continental shelf edge between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia); shortly after we entered colder (18.5C) and shallower water on the edge of the continental shelf, I noticed a small shearwater as it flew on rapid wingbeats in front of the ship. I was immediately suspicious because of the bird's small size, rapid wingbeats, stubby proportions, and the cold temperature of the water (after a lull from seeing plenty of Audubon's Shearwaters in deep, much warmer water). The bird landed on the water and snorkeled along our trackline, and it then flushed a few times as the ship continued on its course; later the bird swung out off the starboard bow and stayed for extended views; tiny black-and-white shearwater with extensively white underparts (including much of the underside of the primary panel) and face, shorter tail than Audubon’s Shearwater; white tips to greater coverts; active primary molt; seen from the flying bridge of NOAA ship Henry B. Bigelow with Michael Force, Todd Pusser, and others; GPS 40.721, -67.007, SST = 18.5C, 346 meters depth; photos and video

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS R5

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM +1.4x III

ISO

3200

Focal length

560 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/2500 sec

Dimensions

2083 pixels x 1395 pixels

Original file size

1.8 MB