ML83146271

Age

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Sex

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Observation details

Video: https://flic.kr/p/22DQ5nb; Went for morning walk instead of going for a run, and luckily took binoculars! First seen flying east along Contra Costa side of Carquinez Strait at a distance. While the color pattern fit Western Gull (which are numerous in this location), I saw it gliding just over the water in a way only a pelagic seabird can, then saw the long wings and massive size and realized it was likely a laysan albatross. Watched it flying for a little while (it was flapping wings around 5 times per glide, as it was a windless morning) and tried to calling/texting Roger Muskat, who didn't answer. While I was calling Roger, I lost sight of the bird somewhere over by Martinez and wondering whether I was dreaming or if that really had just happened. 5 minutes later the bird fortunately came back heading west, and this time I tried to video it on my phone and once again lost sight of it. I eventually found it again, lost it, and repeated this over and over. Meanwhile I was unable to get a video. Eventually, my wife was able to bring me my scope on her way to work/bringing my kids to school, and I was joined by Phil Gulley who also got to see the bird well. In total, the bird was in the Carquinez Strait for around an hour and a half. It seemed to fly from the Benicia Bridge back to the Carquinez Bridge over and over, and hugged the non-inhabited areas of the Carquinez Strait (Contra Costa Side, Benicia State Recreation Area) as it was seemingly looking for a way back to sea. At one point it came very close to the island in front of us and the Western Gulls went crazy, not knowing what it was. Eventually the bird stayed in the channel between Dillon Point in Benicia State Recreation Area (southwest corner of the park) and the Benicia Bridge, and ultimately must have headed back out into San Pablo Bay. I had to leave a little after 9am as my phone was dying and I needed to get on a call for work, so I left Phil watching the bird. I had alerted John Sterling, who alerted a few others, and John Luther was there looking for the bird when I arrived back around 9:30am. I did not see the bird again after that time, but John Luther said he did see it before it left the area (when I was gone). John Sterling and Jim Lomax eventually came too but didn't have a chance to see it. John Sterling went to the Maritime Academy in Vallejo to search for it there but didn't find it. I also spoke to Logan Kahle who was planning to come but wasn't able to get out here that fast. He was bummed to hear it was seen in Coco County. Poor Roger was at work, as he would have loved this for Solano. You never know what you are going to see!

Technical information

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