9 replies to this topic

[guy_incognito]

Saw this bird while on a whale watching trip today. Please don't comment on the poor photo quality, I am annoyed enough already with this being the only shot I have of a potential lifer!

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I've never seen one personally but maybe a Scripp's Murrelet? It actually looks most similar to Sibley's illustration of a Long-Billed Murrelet, but that would be a pretty impressive find...

[Julie H]

Based on the coloring of the head, I think it might be a Xantus's Murrelet, which I guess can be seen in that area during migration. Seems a little early for that, but this year, all the schedules of animals and birds seem to be unusual. The other possibility is a winter Marbled Murrelet, which is, of course, an endangered species, but one that may be seen in the Monterey Bay area.

On my last whale-watching trip I saw lots of birds and Sea nettles, but not ONE whale! Sigh...

Julie

[guy_incognito]

I have no experience with Murrelet's, so I have absolutely no confidence in my ID. I was thinking the main choices would be Scripps's, Guadelupe, Craveri's, and Marbled. By appearance, and probably by likelihood, I would favor Scripps's, but I'd love to get as much informed input as possible.

Julie, when did you last go on a whale watching trip? I was in Monterey last summer and we had no whales. They gave us a rain-check voucher. We went again a couple days later last summer and also saw no whales! So this was the third trip off of that original ticket. We finally did see two humpback whales. The real treat was around 1000 dolphins, and 1 leatherback turtle! The biologists on the boat who are on the sea all the time hadn't seen any in years.

[psweet]

This is a problematic bird. The face pattern doesn't fit well for Scripp's, Guadelupe, or Craveri's. In addition, they've all got dark on the side of the rumps and rear flanks -- this guy seems to show some white just above the end of the wings. It appears to lack the white eye-arcs in Long-billed, Scripp's, and Guadelupe. It also doesn't appear to have the white on the scapulars that a Marbled or Long-billed should have. With the white on the secondaries I'm wondering if this isn't a fledgling Common Murre.

[Julie H]

guy, if you want to see whales, take the Ferry from Lahaina, Maui, to Moloka'i, and you'll see plenty. I love the way they breech right in front of the boat, and you can get some beautiful images to tuck away in your mind.

Julie

[guy_incognito]

I showed this image to a couple of the leaders while on a pelagic trip, and also to the regional eBird editor. They all agreed that this is a Scripps's Murrelet. Still ticked I couldn't get a better picture, but just happy I got a lifer.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I showed this image to a couple of the leaders while on a pelagic trip, and also to the regional eBird editor. They all agreed that this is a Scripps's Murrelet. Still ticked I couldn't get a better picture, but just happy I got a lifer.

Congrats on the lifer!

[ginspin16]

double post

[ginspin16]

. Still ticked I couldn't get a better picture,

now you know how i feel about most of my pictures!