In my opinion the difference is too extreme to be artefact so I’ll be very surprised if only one bird was involved. Did this/these birds come and go, or once present, stay with the boat? Also check and compare the times on Raja’s images. I can’t do that. Most of the first displayed images have the vestigial dark spot and the later and closer ones show the large spot. Not only is this of interest with regard to how many birds you saw but it helps BARC to assess reports that say ‘bill wholly yellow’. This debate and the new taxonomy has spurned a rash of submissions.
Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136
