Hello all. Here’s one for the seabirders. I was recently on a cruise in the North East Pacific where I photographed a rather strange all dark petrel. I am of the opinion that it is a dark morph of Mottled Petrel, but I can find no mention of such a thing in the literature. I am swayed by the fact that there were numerous Mottled Petrels in the same area, and the shape looks the same. A few ordinary photos can be seen here http://www.pbase.com/sjmurray/recent_images along with some of the ‘regular’ mottled petrels. I am aware that the extent of dark underneath is variable but this bird has a dark underwing as well. What do people think? Cheers Steve Murray _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
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9 responses to “Strange Petrel”
Thanks Rob and everyone else that has pointed me in the right direction. I am now persuaded that it is a Murphy’s Petrel, slightly north of the range shown in field guides, but one I should have considered. I have added a photo which shows the upperwing a bit better. Cheers Steve Murray Sent: Monday, 2 June 2014 9:06 PM Steve It’s a Murphy’s Petrel. A scarce but regular to this area particularly in May- June. I saw a similar looking bird in May 13 off Santa Barbara. Cheers Rob East mention ‘regular’ _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Thanks, Rob & Kevin, for the confirmation! Cheers, Nikolas A/Prof Nikolas Haass | Head, Experimental Melanoma Therapy Group The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute Level 6 | Translational Research Institute | 37 Kent Street | Woolloongabba QLD 4102 T: +61 (0)7 3443 7087 | M: +61 (0)424 603 579 F: +61 (0)7 3443 6966 E: n.haass1@uq.edu.au | W: http://www.di.uq.edu.au …Turning scientific discoveries into better treatmentsŠ CRICOS Code 00025B This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private or confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, you must take no action based on it, nor show a copy to anyone. Kindly notify the sender by reply email. Opinions and information in this email which do not relate to the official business of The University of Queensland shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the University On 2/06/14 9:06 PM, “robert morris” <robert_p_morris@hotmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Steve It’s a Murphy’s Petrel. A scarce but regular to this area particularly in May- June. I saw a similar looking bird in May 13 off Santa Barbara. Cheers Rob _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Hey All Having a bit of a look through the different Pterodromas, there aren’t that many that are all dark with a dark underwing & a whitish face. Underwing pattern alone rules out Herald, Soft-plumaged & Kermedec. Basically there are 2 species left which fit this description: (1) Grey-faced Petrel, which would be extremely unusual for the north Pacific & doesn’t jizz out right for this bird anyway. Additionally the upperparts look greyish with a hint of an M marking, the bill is quite small & not at all obvious like in a Great-winged. On the other hand the second species Murphy’s Petrel has a smallish bill, greyish upperparts with slight M & the photos I’ve looked at look quite similar to the bird in this photo, also including the slightly paler bases to the primaries. Murphy’s Petrel is also know to winter in the North Pacific. So I’m laying my money on Murphy’s.-Kevin Bartram _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
yeah u are probably right Nikolas about the underwing, & it does have a big head, but I thought that Herald would look similarly big-headed too…i’m only going from my Onley & Scofield as I haven’t much here as reference material… cheers, martin cachard cairns _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Not sure, Martin. I think the head is too big for Herald and wouldn’t you expect at least a hint of the classic underwing pattern? Cheers, Nikolas A/Prof Nikolas Haass | Head, Experimental Melanoma Therapy Group The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute Level 6 | Translational Research Institute | 37 Kent Street | Woolloongabba QLD 4102 T: +61 (0)7 3443 7087 | M: +61 (0)424 603 579 F: +61 (0)7 3443 6966 E: n.haass1@uq.edu.au | W: http://www.di.uq.edu.au …Turning scientific discoveries into better treatmentsŠ CRICOS Code 00025B This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private or confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, you must take no action based on it, nor show a copy to anyone. Kindly notify the sender by reply email. Opinions and information in this email which do not relate to the official business of The University of Queensland shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the University On 2/06/14 7:17 PM, “martin cachard” <mcachard@hotmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
It also has the look of a Providence Petrel. Cheers, Tim ________________________________________ Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 6:06 PM Hi Steve, What about Murphy’s Petrel. I guess the face is a bit too white and the primary bases not extremely reflective. But maybe that fits still within the range of Murphy’s? Cheers, Nikolas A/Prof Nikolas Haass | Head, Experimental Melanoma Therapy Group The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute Level 6 | Translational Research Institute | 37 Kent Street | Woolloongabba QLD 4102 T: +61 (0)7 3443 7087 | M: +61 (0)424 603 579 F: +61 (0)7 3443 6966 E: n.haass1@uq.edu.au | W: http://www.di.uq.edu.au …Turning scientific discoveries into better treatmentsŠ CRICOS Code 00025B This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private or confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, you must take no action based on it, nor show a copy to anyone. Kindly notify the sender by reply email. Opinions and information in this email which do not relate to the official business of The University of Queensland shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the University On 2/06/14 4:20 PM, “Stephen Murray” <sjmurray3@bigpond.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org This email, including any attachment, is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient. It is confidential and may contain personal information or be subject to legal professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure, reproduction or storage of it is unauthorised. If you have received this email in error, please advise the sender via return email and delete it from your system immediately. Victoria University does not warrant that this email is free from viruses or defects and accepts no liability for any damage caused by such viruses or defects. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Hi Mick. Yes It’s the same bird. The image is underexposed and the angle is quite sharp. I have the exact co-ordinates by the way: 54 00’34.81”N, 147 23’ 18.12” W… probably too far north for Murphy’s Petrel, but you never know with seabirds. To tell the truth, I hadn’t considered Murphy’s. Cheers Steve Sent: Monday, 2 June 2014 6:28 PM Murphy’s crossed my mind too Nikolas, but the bird does look more like an “unusual Cookilaria” than what I imagine a Murphy’s to look like (meaning, I have never seen one!). Steve – is that 3rd image (bird flying away banking with wings 11 and 5 o’clock) the same bird? It appears to be longer-winged in that image if so. Also, where exactly where you when you say “NE Pacific”? Mick Hi Steve, What about Murphy’s Petrel. I guess the face is a bit too white and the primary bases not extremely reflective. But maybe that fits still within the range of Murphy’s? Cheers, Nikolas A/Prof Nikolas Haass | Head, Experimental Melanoma Therapy Group The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute Level 6 | Translational Research Institute | 37 Kent Street | Woolloongabba QLD 4102 T: +61 (0)7 3443 7087 | M: +61 (0)424 603 579 F: +61 (0)7 3443 6966 E: n.haass1@uq.edu.au | W: http://www.di.uq.edu.au …Turning scientific discoveries into better treatmentsŠ CRICOS Code 00025B This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private or confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, you must take no action based on it, nor show a copy to anyone. Kindly notify the sender by reply email. Opinions and information in this email which do not relate to the official business of The University of Queensland shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the University _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Hi Steve, What about Murphy’s Petrel. I guess the face is a bit too white and the primary bases not extremely reflective. But maybe that fits still within the range of Murphy’s? Cheers, Nikolas A/Prof Nikolas Haass | Head, Experimental Melanoma Therapy Group The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute Level 6 | Translational Research Institute | 37 Kent Street | Woolloongabba QLD 4102 T: +61 (0)7 3443 7087 | M: +61 (0)424 603 579 F: +61 (0)7 3443 6966 E: n.haass1@uq.edu.au | W: http://www.di.uq.edu.au …Turning scientific discoveries into better treatmentsŠ CRICOS Code 00025B This email is intended solely for the addressee. It may contain private or confidential information. If you are not the intended addressee, you must take no action based on it, nor show a copy to anyone. Kindly notify the sender by reply email. Opinions and information in this email which do not relate to the official business of The University of Queensland shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by the University On 2/06/14 4:20 PM, “Stephen Murray” <sjmurray3@bigpond.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org