ML62193791

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Circumstances: We were picking through a large flock of shearwaters (mostly Pink-footed, gulls, pelicans, and cormorants that had just settled down onto the water after a bait ball had disintegrated when I picked out a Flesh-footed flying low over the back of the flock. We all got decent looks at this bird and watched it fly off to the east. About a minute later I picked out another bird as it took off from the middle of the flock. This one buzzed the bow of the boat and headed west-ish. I got photos of the first bird and I believe that Dan Maxwell got photos of the second. Description: Large dark shearwater, evenly chocolately brown over the entire body and underwing. No hint of paler coloration anywhere. The bill was long and thin, and fairly bright pink with a dark tip. I did not note the feet color. It flew with the lazy flight style typical of mid-sized to large shearwaters. The wings were broader and longer than those of a Short-tailed or Sooty Shearwater. Discussion: Smaller dark shearwaters eliminated by dark underwings and pale bill. The only real confusion is with "dark" Pink-footed Shearwaters, which have paler bodies and usually some paler color on the lower belly. Parkinson's, White-chinned, and Westland Petrels have shorter thicker bills and are different structurally.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/1000 sec

Dimensions

642 pixels x 428 pixels

Original file size

54.55 KB