ML646728483

פרטי השורה

Single bird first observed fairly distant offshore then it banked and began flying towards the coastline. Light to non-existent offshore winds, glassy water and sunny skies with no heat haze provided lighting that was very good, but at the same time made the dark-and-whites of Black-vented Shearwaters (BVSH) and other birds very contrasty. As this shearwater got closer my scope views began making me suspicious it actually could be a Manx, but given how contrasty the BVSHs looked I thought it was wishful thinking. I switched from my scope and took several photos as it passed hoping something was in focus. Reviewing photos in the field and at home, characteristics of Manx Shearwater were outweighing BVSH, with the undertail coverts being gleaming white and reaching the tail or falling just short, the face seemed more delineated with a darker cap appearance contrasting with cleaner white lower cheek and throat area, and only in some images the saddlebags are visible as with the white curl/crescent behind the auriculars. Thanks to B.L. Sullivan and P.E. Lehman for their time reviewing the photos and confirming the ID. I was too gun-shy to pull the trigger on the ID. Pretty sweet bird and happens to be my #100 identified species from this location.