ML414016991

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Exceptional record. Second for this port. Small black and white storm-petrel with streaked underparts. Slightly smaller than Wilson's Storm-Petrel. First detected when Isaac C called a black and white storm-petrel with pale underparts. Fast rather direct flight on rapid wingbeats - flight style perhaps intermediate between direct flight on very rapid wingbeats of Grey-backed Storm-Petrel and fractionally slower and slightly more meandering flight of Wilson's Storm-Petrel. That a couple of Grey-backed Storm-Petrels were 'mis-called' as the returning bird after it had been lost from sight speaks to this bird's small size and relatively rapid/direct flight style. Uniformly black head extending to mid/lower breast, irregular at margin where transitioning to white lower breast and belly. White underparts heavily streaked on flank sides to merge as a single dark mark in several places, becoming plainer/more white at belly center and upper flanks. White underparts extended across secondary coverts as rather elongate rectangular panel in spread underwing. This white panel extended to the primary coverts (albeit weakly). Undertail and undertail coverts black. Upperparts were Wilson's Storm-Petrel-like, being mostly black with distinct white rump (~U shaped). All features appear to be entirely consistent with New Zealand Storm-Petrel. Not a New Caledonian Storm-Petrel given assessment of size in direct comparison with Wilson's SP, Grey-backed and White-faced Storm-Petrel; rather pointed wings lacking clear bulge across trailing edge of primaries; and presence of pale intrusion into primary underwing coverts (New Cal typically all dark here). Flight style also better for NZ, New Cal tends to fly slower with more abrupt stops on broader wings to hang briefly when feeding. Numerous photos.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS R3

Lens

EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM +2x III

ISO

3200

Focal length

600 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/5000 sec

Dimensions

1106 pixels x 737 pixels

Original file size

536.3 KB