ML636508760

Dettagli dell'osservazione

Amazing flyby that constituted the fifth record for California and first record for Ventura County! Spotted at a distance to our southeast as we were moving east back to the Channel Islands Harbor. A large grayish-brown shearwater with white undersides initially suggested a Pink-footed Shearwater. However, as the bird approached the boat the bright white undersides, structure, and flight style caught the eyes of Pereksta and Brady who then realized it was something different. A quick review of photos confirmed it was a Cory's Shearwater. The bird flew past the boat quickly but enough photos were obtained to confirm the identification. Large shearwater with slow and purposeful flight. The undersides were bright white including the underwing coverts and undertail coverts. The underwings were outlined in black and the underside of the primaries were black with some minor pale edging on the shafts. The long and heavy bill was yellowish with a darker tip. The head was grayish brown, with the rest of the brownish-gray uppersides being slightly darker than the head. The feathers on the back, rump, and scapulars were paler edged, which gave those areas a scaled appearance. The end of the uppertail coverts were white tipped and contrasted against the dark uppertail that extended beyond them.