Small seabirds of Blue Rocks
By Birding-Aus, on June 1st, 2014
Also late this afternoon, close to sunset, very hazy … There was a group of 45-50 smallish dumpy seabirds about a kilometer off the beach. They would head in one direction, then wheel around and head in the other. They did this for a few turns then headed westwards. Flight usually began with fast wingbeats followed by short glides very low over water. Some birds landed briefly. White contrasting with darker grey, but I couldn’t pick up any clearer markings. Fairy Prion? Or too hard to call? _______________________________________________ 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 Russell, I’m with Kev on this…the pattern of flight alone harks of Fluttering-type Shearwaters to me… from my own experience i’d also say that they appear far more chunky than prions too, & especially from a distance, which further points to Flutterer’s too.. cheers, martin cachard, cairns 0428 782 808 _______________________________________________ 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 Russell, Yes, Storm-petrels do hang around in flocks. E.g. I have seen approx. 5,000 Ashy Storm-petrels (about 50% of the world population) in one dense raft off California. Here in Australia I’ve seen a flock of 300 Wilson’s Storm-petrels and smaller flocks of other species. However, your description doesn’t really fit Storm-petrels. The only one that matches the coloration you mentioned would be White-faced Storm-petrel. But flight style doesn’t fit. Looks like further information is needed to identify them. 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 1/06/14 10:57 PM, “Russell Woodford” < rdwoodford@gmail.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
Hi Russell I wouldn’t be relying on size when you are looking at birds without something to compare them to. The flight alone suggests Fluttering type shearwaters. With the sun behind you, you should be able to make out that they’re blue-grey with an M marking even in dull light at a distance (I have seen prions at 10 ks + from shore & easily identified them from Fluttering Shearwaters.). Prions tend to be almost all white underneath too, although strong sunlight can make Fluttering S look all white too, but since it was very dull today that shouldn’t be a problem. From your description a storm petrel isn’t a possibility, they do not flutter & glide like this & they often dance around on the water. I think most likely Fluttering Shearwater.-Kevin Bartram CC: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Hi Kevin These seemed a lot smaller, or at least chunkier (shorter-winged and stout body) than shearwaters. I tried to look for the M marking to make them some sort of Prion but I just couldn’t see enough detail. I wondered about CDP but as I’ve never seen one I wouldn’t stick my neck out and try to identify anything as a diving-petrel. And storm-petrel don’t hang around in flocks, do they? I think the closest I can get is “dumpy seabirds a long way away.” I think I need to go on another pelagic! Cheers Russell On 1 June 2014 22:48, Kev Lobotomi < kevlobotomi@hotmail.com> wrote: Hi Russell What you describe reminds me more of Fluttering Shearwaters. They tend to flap a lot & then glide. Fluttering are blackish above white below, prions are blue-grey above with a distinct M marking across the upperparts & white below. Prions have a more buoyant flight with lots of gliding and pattering on the surface. I suppose the other possibility is Diving Petrels, but they are rarely seen from shore. They are tiny compared to the other two & their flight is not dissimilar to a quail with a whirr of wings, although they do glide a little as well in a strong breeze.-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
Hi Kevin These seemed a lot smaller, or at least chunkier (shorter-winged and stout body) than shearwaters. I tried to look for the M marking to make them some sort of Prion but I just couldn’t see enough detail. I wondered about CDP but as I’ve never seen one I wouldn’t stick my neck out and try to identify anything as a diving-petrel. And storm-petrel don’t hang around in flocks, do they? I think the closest I can get is “dumpy seabirds a long way away.” I think I need to go on another pelagic! Cheers Russell On 1 June 2014 22:48, Kev Lobotomi < kevlobotomi@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
Hi Russell What you describe reminds me more of Fluttering Shearwaters. They tend to flap a lot & then glide. Fluttering are blackish above white below, prions are blue-grey above with a distinct M marking across the upperparts & white below. Prions have a more buoyant flight with lots of gliding and pattering on the surface. I suppose the other possibility is Diving Petrels, but they are rarely seen from shore. They are tiny compared to the other two & their flight is not dissimilar to a quail with a whirr of wings, although they do glide a little as well in a strong breeze.-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