ML644397296

Detalles de la observación

We saw the first of two Long-tailed Jaegers of the day relatively close to shore over the 279-fathom Bank when it flew by us 21¼ kilometers west-southwest of San Mateo Point [33° 17’ 39.4” N, 117° 47’ 37.8” W], but what appeared to be this same bird made another pass by us about 15 minutes later just before we left the bank, 25½ kilometers west-southwest of San Mateo Point [33° 16’ 25.2” N, 117° 49’ 50.2” W]. I concentrated on getting photos both times this bird flew by at close range, so I was able to study it only superficially, but my photos are more than sufficient to identify this bird with confidence as a juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger. This was a seemingly small, slim jaeger with narrowly pointed wingtips and a graceful flight. Noted when this bird flew by was that the underparts and underwings were pale, seemingly whitish to pale buff, but lacking the rich, cinnamon tones typically apparent on young Parasitic Jaegers. The underwing coverts were finely barred darker, but the undersides of the primaries showed a large, white flash. Rather striking were sharply demarcated, dark bars on otherwise whitish undertail-coverts. Contrasting with the light underparts, the head, neck, and upperparts were dark brown. I failed to note in the field the pattern on the uppersides of the wings, but my photos clearly show scaly upperparts and upperwing coverts, a blackish trailing-edge to the wing, a heavily barred rump, and white shafts to at least the outer three pairs of primaries.