ML456952041
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
- Sounds
- Call
- Playback
- Not specified
Observation details
Small black-and-white alcids, seen at close range. One group of 5 plus another possible pair, in 3000' deep water mid-channel. Compared to Scripps's Murrelets, these birds had long bills, and a clean line on the face demarcating the white from the black, with the black well below the eye and below the base of the bill. There was no white curving up in front of the face. The birds never flushed, and instead just dove underwater repeatedly. Some birds had their tails cocked up, but others did not -- that seems to be an unreliable field mark. Van P and Andy B heard them calling (attached) Surprising to find Craveri's Murrelets in the San Pedro channel in early June. There have also been observations from late May from the same boat at The Boot). It brings up the question of whether Scripps's Murrelets should be considered the "default" murrelet in late spring. AB: Out of these 7 birds, 5 were in a group where underwing and calls were documented. Photos also show long bills and dark chins on at least 2 of the 5 birds. The pair we saw later (listed as sp below) were presumed Craveri's based on face pattern, tail cocked etc. My personal opinion is that this pair can't be considered unequivocal because call was not heard and underwing not seen. There seems to be too much variability on face pattern. And some of the photos of this pair, show quite white chins and short bills.
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 163.62 KB