ML605941371

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

a white rumped storm petrel was flying in close association with two least storm petrels. landing periodically legs down to feed.

Observation details

See Loren and Derricks write up on this am sightings at https://ebird.org/checklist/S147897591 for a much more accurate description of all the wedge rumped storm petrels we observed . I arrived at 0618 and Tom Wurster, Derrick, Loren and Sylvia were already there. We observed at least 4 probably 5 storm petrels all of which we believed to be wedge rumped storm petrels. Pics were obtained of all of them as they appeared over the 4 hour period. They all had a really large, ready visible white rump patch. In contrast to the least storm petrels that they sometimes flew next to, their flight was faster, more forceful and they seemed to twist and bank more frequently as our pics will attest. I have several pics with them feeding and their dark legs are hanging down much like the least storm petrels. The upperwing covert bar is visible on all five that we observed but was fairly pale. In the pics it appears to disappear before it gets to the wing edge. The white that is on the upper tail appears to wrap around ever so slightly. Their tails appeared to have a pretty shallow notch. Other than the pronounced white rump patch and the notched tail they were an indistinct dark brown/black with a shorter black bill. will submit pics tomorrow and await the judgment on if all were wedge rumped storm petrels. One of the storm petrels, seen at 0709 appeared to have a faint median stripe noted in several of my storm petrel pics but it was a fine line that seemed unlike the distinct median stripe seen in the townsends storm petrel. This bird had a pretty shallow notched tail. The white rump patch did not appear to extend as far as with the leaches storm petrel and tail fork seemed shallower. This bird looked more like a wedge rumped than a townsends storm petrel to me. A second Storm petrel was spotted around 0725 that was flying in close association with two least storm petrels and repeatedly landed on the water for brief periods to feed. A third white rumped storm petrel arrived about 0746 flying along dropping periodically to feed with legs extended. (see 3rd - 6th and 10 pics). Pics 6-9 are from the last white rumped storm petrel we saw at 0952. Many birders saw this last storm petrel and many pics were taken. This is a cross section of many pics taken of 4-5 white rumped storm petrels. I have many more pics from different angles but they are very similar.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS R5

Lens

RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

ISO

4000

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/2500 sec

Dimensions

1223 pixels x 791 pixels

Original file size

227.48 KB