ML609267628

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

In the center, Peregrine falcon off center.

Observation details

Very rare from shore but not unexpected either that day given the weather and time of year (cf below). First spotted by a Peregrine falcon which put me on the bird. Wind was NE 15 to 20 knots average. The bird was between my position and the Blauzes (cf picture), a group of rocks North of Hart Island. Long winged storm petrel with long (and relatively broad) arms contrasting with narrower and pointy hands. Wings held bowed down and pointing very backwards during the glides (cf first 2 pictures), apart from the low turns during which the wings were held straight and the body tilted 90 degree. Long tail. Appeared large overall, see comparison with the peregrine in the pictures where they are roughly in the same focus plane. Body and upperwing coverts appearing mainly dark gray (distance and bad visibility), contrasting with black primaries. Well visible white rump on the upper side which was not detected at that distance when the bird was showing it's underside. Powerful flight with very frequent changes of direction while mainly gliding or beating slowly. The bird was disappearing between the waves and frequently shooting up well over the horizon as he was flying or escaping the falcon. The falcon gave up after about 7 attacks - horizontal then almost vertical (top to bottom). Several very distant picture attached. Seen in the context of the Ophelia tropical storm following almost 2 days of NE winds in the area and during which a few others Leach's Storm Petrel were reported not far, deep into Raritan bay.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

ISO

640

Focal length

300 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/4.0

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

3092 pixels x 1740 pixels

Original file size

3.13 MB