ML68826171

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

I found this bird during the inclement viewing conditions, substantial waves s and fog though luckily fog wasn't a problem with this bird. When I first saw it as I was scanning, from probably 400-500 yards the dark back, white body and dark area on head I assumed it was a Laughing Gull and kept scanning. While scanning back thru I looked at it closer, and even from this distance the very heavy bill, extensive dark around eye and crown with white wedge behind bill immediately brought Black-capped Petrel to mind. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out something else it could be....but there was nothing. Luckily, the bird drifted closer allowing the digiscoped shots attached, probably to within maybe 200-250 yards. I realized it was a Pterodroma, and the pattern of heavy dark around eye and over crown fading to pale gray on nape with extensive white in auriculars eliminated Fea's. I never saw the bird fly. After getting word out and trying to keep up with it while on phone, etc, I went about trying to get some better photos. This was about the time the fog lifted, and I had to move my vantage point slightly as the bird was drifting enough that some trees between it and me were getting in my way. In the minute or two I spent moving, the bird vanished. I had to look back and forth a few times with the waves earlier to pick it back up, assumed that was the case again after I moved, but never saw it again. Considered that the bird might have expired on the water, but never saw anything floating in the area, and checked the shoreline visible later with negative results. Hopefully it did leave on its own power, though with relatively light winds in the area at that time not good traveling conditions for a Pterodroma. This is the first Pterodroma for TN. I've done several trips out of Hatteras with Patteson, last in 2015, so a bird I was luckily fairly familiar with. Not one I was remotely expecting after this storm broke down much earlier than expected though.

Technical information

Model

DSC-RX100M2

Lens

28-100mm F1.8-4.9

ISO

800

Focal length

37.1 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/200 sec

Dimensions

1200 pixels x 800 pixels

Original file size

148.17 KB