Manx Shearwater - Rowan Keunen
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Hamilton--Van Wagner's Beach (Lakeland Centre)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 43.2622843, -79.7681826
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Observation details

MEGA - appears to be Ontario’s second live record. At 12:19 pm, Adam Capparelli called out “shearwater!” The bird was spotted well past the wave tower and in the next few minutes all six of us (myself, Liam Thorne, Markus Legzdins, Rich Poort and Mourad Jabra) were able to get on the bird as it undulated above and below the horizon. From this distance we were able to see its distinct shape and unique shearwater flight style. The bird soared for long periods of time followed by quick bursts of wingbeats. In the following twenty minutes the bird made multiple closer passes, at which point we were able to see its relative size and some plumage details. The bird was small, with straight wings that appeared quite rounded at the tips. It had a dark, nearly black upperside and clean white underside which extended all the way from the throat to the undertail coverts. After reviewing photos we could also see the mostly white underwing and small spur on the face which curled up behind its cheek. After a third close pass, the bird landed on the water less than half the distance from the wave tower, and we were able to study the bird further through our scopes. It made a final pass about 45 minutes later along the horizon, headed towards Niagara. In the field, we were quickly able to eliminate Great Shearwater by small size, shorter wings and contrasting black upperside. White spur pattern behind cheek did not create a cap-like appearance. Audubon’s was eliminated by clean white undertail coverts and darker face (though this was noted mainly after the fact while reviewing photos). Photos and video taken and attached. A wild Ontario bird that we were not anticipating on today’s lakewatch!

Technical information

Model
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens
150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary 015
ISO
800
Focal length
600 mm
Flash
Flash did not fire
f-stop
f/7.1
Shutter speed
1/1250 sec
Dimensions
1516 pixels x 1012 pixels
Original file size
972.32 KB