ML482505721
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Rare, but actual status is somewhat uncertain in the outer Aleutians due to poor coverage. It is likely a regular visitor off the Kamchatka Peninsula based on a handful of sightings. The first accepted North American record (September 15, 2011) was ~130 miles west of Shemya Island. While seawatching at my usual stop off the north point looking NW, I noticed quite a bit of activity closer to shore than usual. A good diversity of tubenoses were moving west to east past the point consisting mostly of Short-tailed Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Laysan Albatross, and Mottled Petrel. After about 10 minutes of watching, I picked out a bird that was immediately noticeable as different based on its dynamic and powerful high arcing flight style and overall dark coloration. Arcs were 2-3 times higher and steeper than Short-tailed Shearwater’s it was flying with. It showed a similar flight style to the Mottled Petrels with wings perpendicular to the water during arcs (and slightly past perpendicular on crests) but less ‘zippy’ or erratic. The bird was similar if not slightly larger than Short-tailed Shearwaters it was flying with and appeared longer winged. The bird always held its wings ‘forward’ with wrists closer in line with the head and sweptback ‘hands’ creating a more angular shape. Tail was longer and wedge shaped providing a more balanced head-tail profile compared to a more ‘stubby’ tail appearance on a Mottled Petrel. As it arced showing the ventral surface, the bird showed pale flashes in the undersides of the primaries while the rest of the underwing and undersides were dark. Not much can be said about the extensiveness or patterning of the white given the distance. The dorsal surface was all dark and only the dorsal surface is seen in photos. Murphy’s Petrel is the most similar species and was eliminated by size and shape. This bird was similar (if not slightly larger than) Short-tailed Shearwaters and significantly larger than Mottled Petrel (Murphy’s Petrel would be noticeably smaller than Short-tailed Shearwater). This bird also had a bulkier body, broader wings, and longer tail compared to the smaller, daintier, and shorter tailed Murphy’s Petrel. Bill details in the photos are difficult to discern but do suggest a heavier bill. Other even rarer dark Pterodroma petrels were considered but can be eliminated by size and structure in direct comparison to Short-tailed Shearwaters. A low-pressure system moved off the Kamchatka Peninsula (where Providence Petrel’s are expected) yesterday (September 2) and moved down the Aleutians and passed over Shemya throughout the day today (September 3). This system also brought a few Asian shorebirds with it--Little Stint, Red-necked Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Common Sandpiper, and Gray-tailed Tattler. Providence Petrel has been on my radar as a possibility from Shemya and the ID challenges with Murphy’s Petrel was still “fresh” after Alaska’s first Murphy’s Petrel sighting off Kodiak in 2019.
Technical information
- Dimensions
- 2089 pixels x 1253 pixels
- Original file size
- 1.62 MB