Number of individuals, sex, age, plumage: "lighter" individual
Locality: South Jetty of the Columbia River Dates: June 21,2003 Time of Day: between 09:30 Reporting observers address: Mike Patterson 1338 Kensington Av. Astoria, OR 97103 Light conditions: overcast; good visibility Optical equipment: 25x60 Bushnell spotting scope Distance from bird: 150 to 200 meters Duration of observation: about 1 minute Habitat: near ocean surf and area just beyond main breakers Behavior: I picked up the bird in my spotting scope coming from the south. It flew with rapid wingbeat interspersed with short glides. I followed it as it flew just out side the breakers. Description: Small looking. All dark above; all white below. Upperparts uniformly dark. Underparts uniformly white from chin to undertail coverts. Fairly crisp demarcation between dark forehead/crown/nape and chin/throat/ cheek. Bill all dark and thin-looking. Similar Species: too small and delicate for a Pink-footed Shearwater; also fine, dark bill. Pale belly and flight style eliminate Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters. Very dark upperparts and clean, white vent and undertail coverts, should be sufficient to exclude Black-vented Shearwater. Previous experience: I have considerable experience with regularly occurring dark-bellied shearwaters, Pink-footed and Buller's Shearwater. |