Gifts From The Gulf Stream: White-tailed Tropicbird, Bridled Tern, Manx Shearwater

I'm still reeling from my North Carolinian bird blitz. We just really cleaned up. A bird that I did not expect to see at all was White-tailed Tropicbird, a bird I've previously only seen at Midway Atoll and Kona. It's a crippler. The bird did not stick around for very long, but I'm pretty sure the entire boat got on it. Not exactly unforgettable lighting, but someone who has recently seen a tropicbird of any sort has no right to complain.

Despite the reddish bill (a lighting artifact), the back pattern did confirm it's identity. What a sweet bonus bird. Brian (Patteson) said this was the only tropicbird they've seen since the spring boats, so talk about being in the right place at the right time. The bird was first spotted by the birder known as "Stilt"; despite her modesty about calling out the bird, she still earned 26.5 points on the Global Birder Ranking System.

Manx Shearwater was one of the few birds we saw better on Sunday than Saturday. I haven't seen a MASH in about ten years (how embarrassing), and this time I was rewarded with the best looks of my life.

Manx were easy to tell from Aubudon's by their larger size, stiffer wingbeats, dusky head and neck, short tail and white undertail coverts. Easy.

Of course the trick now is picking out these birds on the west coast this fall. In fact, when this post goes up I'll be on a pelagic trip out of Bodega Bay, attempting this very task. Manx are not difficult to pick out when there are no Black-vented Shearwaters around (a similar and variably-patterned bird as well), but plucking one out of a Black-vented flock is not always a walk in the park.

Bridled Tern. Life bird. I love it.

Bridled Terns were a bit more obliging on the Sunday boat as well, with a number of birds seen well close up. They lived up to their reputation of perching on debris and detritus on the water. This is a first summer bird (same as the above).

Here is a nice adult bird. I expected the back/upperwing color of the adults to be more of a similar shade to Gray-backed Tern, but Bridled is noticeably darker. We did see one Sooty Tern over the weekend.

This is an adorable little juvenile that kept flying around the boat making begging calls. Unfortunately for the bird, I could do nothing to assuage its plaintive cries. The only thing I could do was crush it hella hard.

Last but not least, I offer you a shitty photo of a dark juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger. This is not a crush; it is literally a shot in the dark. Good bird though, especially for the east coast.

Felonious Jive's Split Alert/Pelagic Season

Ten years from now, will we have six species of "Northern Pintail" on our hands?* Photographed at Radio Road, Redwood Shores, CA.

Nerds. The Great Ornithologist Felonious Jive has reared his oversized head once again at 10,000 Birds. Birders need not have fear this time; instead of lampooning birder fashion or our lack of social skills, he is dishing out a bit of wisdom on potential splits on the horizon. Nothing is a sure thing, but it's good to be kept in the loop...educate yourself/judge Felonious mercilessly right here.

In other news, Seagull Steve is kicking off his West Coast pelagic season as a leader for a Shearwater Journeys boat out of Bodega Bay this Friday, August 30. I'm replacing Peter Pyle...which will surely disappoint everyone. There is still room on the boat, so come join us! Watch Steve Howell make me look like a newb birder! It's been very birdy offshore this year...fingers crossed for Hawaiian Petrel, Great Shearwater, etc. Deets about this trip and the rest of the 2013 trips are over here.

* = No. No we won't.

Petrels Galore

We should just get it out of the way...Trindade Petrel was bird of the trip. Following flocks of foraging shearwaters around for hours paid off big when this sleek, long-winged Pterodroma came in to the boat. Within seconds of calling the bird out, Brian Patteson let out a strange sound over the PA system that sounded something like a bleating goat, and the bird made several close passes for absolutely crushing looks. My knees became weak and started to buckle as the bird came in staggeringly close. The volleys of shutter-clicks were deafening.

No one missed the bird, and exclamations of ecstasy could be heard whenever the bird came by. Brian said the bleating goat noise was his petrel attraction sound, which although ridiculous certainly did not do anything to keep the bird away from us.

Whoever was in charge of coloring Trindade Petrels must have been inspired Sooty Shearwaters. But seeing as Trindade Petrels fly like Pterodromas and Sooty Shearwaters fly like shearwaters, the potential for confusion is rather low unless you get truly poor looks or you are a sketchy birder.

Trindade Petrel actually comes in 3 flavors, light, intermediate and dark. All of these photos are of an intermediate "morph"; we did see a dark bird but my attempts to photograph it were not exactly successful.

I kind of like the doomy lighting in this shot. Such a sleek-looking bird.

Black-capped Petrel was the expected Pterodroma of the trip, and they did not disappoint. These large petrels are easy to identify even at considerable distance, due to their size, high arcing flight, inky blackness of the upperwing and extensive white white rump patch. Even on the Sunday trip, where we had fewer birds than the previous day, the boat ride was punctuated with regular BCPE sightings.

The birds are easily identified from the underside as well. This is probably my best BCPE crush of the trip...I am happy with it.

The majority of BCPEs were undergoing primary molt, and were shaped something like this bird.

The petrels frequently flew up the wake of the boat (when there was a chum line), and gave everyone good looks and dry mouths.

Although we did see a number of white-faced individuals (rumored to be potentially be another species entirely), I reckon all the BCPEs pictured here are dark-faced birds. Of course if you are an experienced petrel wizard and disagree (maybe there is an intermediate bird in here), let me know.

Here is a fresh juvenile, with nice silvery feathers and no sign of molt. Is good bird, no? Looks like an entirely different beast than the BCPE in the top photo.

Multiple Birdgasms: Seven Lifers in One Day off Cape Hatteras

Lifer #1: Cory's Shearwater. This was the first shearwater to be seen on the way out to the Gulf Stream, and the most abundant species on both trips; aside from the many borealis (above), "Scopoli's" Shearwater was also well-represented.

The North Carolina bird blitz of 2013 has come and gone in a flash. Irreparable damage was done to one of the major remaining holes in my ABA Area list...Atlantic seabirds. That's right, old Number 7 (Seven) has gone his whole life without doing a pelagic off the east coast...so with great pleasure I racked up an incredible 7 (seven) life birds last weekend, in fact in a single day. The last time I got 7 (seven) life birds in one day in the United States was...I don't know when. Maybe Adak Island (AK) in 2010? Maybe not even then.

Although our nerd conglomerate did 2 back to back trips, all lifers (some call them "liferz") came on day one. The birding was shockingly good; quality birding was sustained throughout the day, and we ran into a lot more than what is just pictured here. After being warned for years how dull Atlantic pelagic trips can be, I simply could not relate on day one...too many birds. Sunday's boat was more typical, but plenty of fun nonetheless.

So before I throw a more comprehensive post together, here is a quick lifer rundown...much more to come.

Lifer #2: Audubon's Shearwater was also abundant. Their smallness and devotion to two-tone was appreciated by all.

Lifer #3: Black-capped Petrel. There is nothing quite like experiencing a new Pterodroma, and these birds did not disappoint.

Lifer #4: Great Shearwater...a bird a long time coming. Although seen regularly on the first day, we only had a handful on Sunday. I look forward to getting close with this bird in the years to come.

Lifer #5: Bridled Tern. The terns stayed distant on Saturday, but Sunday brought pornographic looks at a number of individuals of all sorts of ages and plumages. This is a bird I've lusted for for years, partially due to their strange and uncanny similarity to Gray-backed Tern.

Lifer #6: Band-rumped Storm-Petrel. Storm-Petrels make birding hard, but by the end of the first boat trip I had this species down. It was a great bird to get to learn, and we had them regularly throughout Saturday and a smattering on Sunday's boat. All individuals were assumed to be "Grant's", although admittedly assuming things about birds is not a practice I highly recommend. Having storm-petrels (mostly Wilson's, but plenty of Band-rumps) close to the boat was a novel luxury...it just doesn't really happen in Californian waters. 

Lifer #7: Trindade Petrel!!! Fuuuuucccckkkkkkkkk!!!!!! I had fingers crossed for this bird, but didn't actually expect to see it...I actually expected to get majorly gripped off by being on the wrong side of the boat when one went by. Fantastic looks at a couple of individuals on the first day.

You Show Me Small Holes, I Show You Goshawks

This is some spectacular footage...people usually think of falcons as being the aerial masters in the raptor world, but watch what this goshawk can do! So worth three minutes of your time. I wonder what Doctor Briefer would have to say about this.

And you thought octopi could fit through tight spaces...

Talari Mountain Lodge Part I

Squirrel Cuckoo is one of my favorite tropical birds. Sure they are widespread and relatively common, but I still cannot bring myself to get over them. They cripple me. Call me a cuckoo-stroker, I am not ashamed.

Sunday. As you read this I am on Brian Patteson's pelagic trip in North Carolina, hopefully lifering hard. Full and total coverage of this bird blitz coming soon. Until then, check out some pura vida.

After descending from the Talamacas, our group of nerds were surprised to find ourselves at Talari Mountain Lodge (not that it's anywhere near a mountain), which was the first stop we made on the Pacific Slope and completely unscheduled. By the time we got out of the car, we were all drooling for new birds, and Dipper Dan had already decided that he wanted to move to San Isidro del General (the neighboring city) for the rest of his life, although I have no idea why. We got our lifer Fiery-billed Aracaris as soon as we got out of the car, and we were quickly apprehended by the lodge's lady in charge and shown rooms. Their cabinas were very nice and reasonably priced, and with hardly anyone else staying there and new birds everywhere we looked, we had no choice but to spend a night.

This spot was a great introduction to the birds of the southern Pacific Slope, and many lifers were had, including stuff we did not get anywhere else on the trip. After getting relatively few new birds on our last day birding the Talamancas, we were back in the realm of multiple birdgasms.

These are enormous birds, making look most squirrels look puny, underdeveloped and hideous in comparison.

Yellow-headed Caracara is one of the commonest raptors on the Pacific Slope of Costa Rica. This was not a bird that one has to make an effort in order to see, although I was beside myself when we saw our first one at the lodge.

A male Red-legged Honeycreeper joins a female Cherrie's Tanager on a cluster of bananas. The cluster of banana trees next to the lodge's deck attracts a variety of frugivores (as do their fruit feeders).

Red-legged Honeycreeper is one of the most accessible cripplers in Costa Rica, where the Economy of Style is not in fashion. They are pretty much feeder birds, which I find to be a ridiculous concept. Above the honeycreeper, a Palm Tanager contemplates its dullness.

Crippling.

We saw a number of Tropical Gnatcatchers on the grounds at the lodge. Like gnatcatchers of the north, they are easy to detect by call. Males have black hoods...we never did catch up with any White-lored Gnatcatchers, but one new one is good enough for me.

A number of Blue Dacnis were members of the mixed flocks at Talari; this female was kind enough to actually pose for a picture. 

Lineated Woodpecker, about the size of a Pileated, never fails to bump up the heart rate.

This bird was coming in to the previously-mentioned banana cluster. Very un-pileated like.

A BB&B Costa Rica post wouldn't be complete without a bad photo of a drab bird; to fulfill my obligations, here is a female White-winged Becard, member of many a mixed flock.

Next to our cabina (above), we had Gray-headed Chachalaca, Gray-necked Wood-rail, Charming Hummingbird, Blue-crowned Motmot, Rufous-breasted Wren, etc. Dinner wasn't the cheapest but they did eventually cut us a deal; overall, a great place to stay. More to come on the next Costa Rica post.

Roselaari Red Knot

Aside from the confiding rockpipers, I also recently had the pleasure of coming nose to nares with an adult Red Knot, largely still in alternate plumage. Red Knots are uncommon migrants and winter visitors to California, and fate has decided that they frequently favor sites where they are difficult to see from very close range. This bird had something entirely different in mind though, joining the flock of rockpipers that were slaughtering mole crabs on a Ventura beach. At times I had difficulty keeping the chunky bird in the frame...a nice problem to have for a change. It was a bit too much for me though...as I walked back to my car, my knees buckled and I wept openly next to a rotting sea lion carcass. It was a low moment...but I've had far worse.

The Red Knots on the west coast of North America are classified as Calidris canutus roselaari, the world's largest subspecies of Red Knot (gasp!). The famous Red Knots of the east coast are C. c. rufa, which migrate between the Canadian Arctic and spend their winters in Argentina and Chile. C. c. roselaari breeds in Alaska and Wrangel Island (Russia), and winter primarily on the west coast of Mexico, with some birds spending the winter north in California. Some sources suggest a drastically different winter range that includes sites on the Atlantic coast (birds that winter in the southeastern U.S. have a different molt schedule from the birds that go to South America), but a variety of data from recent years strongly suggests C. c. roselaari is confined to the Pacific side of the continent.

Like C. c. rufa, C. c. roselaari knots are long-distance migrants, and are thought to be able to cover large distances in single flights. Oregon, for example, does not have any sites at all that are known to concentrate these species, which makes me grateful that I don't have the misfortune of dwelling in that knot-foresaken state. It is likely that many birds that stage in Gray's Harbor, Washington, skip Oregon completely as they head south to the fertile shorebirding grounds of California and Mexico. In California, they appear to be largely dependent on large tidal bays and estuaries, such as San Diego Bay, San Francisco Bay, Humboldt Bay and Point Mugu.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) estimated C. c. roselaari to have an entire population of <10,000 individuals in 2008, which is really not much. A number of organizations petitioned to list C. c. roselaari under the Endangered Species Act several years ago, but USFWS declined to do so since there was no evidence of a population decline. The west coast knots do have a number of important stopover sites, but their food sources in these places appear to be relatively healthy, unlike the horseshoe crab population C. c. rufa is so dependent on.  By USFWS's own assessment, C. c. rufa does appear to be on track to get the protection it deserves (which will, in turn, protect/benefit the entire Delaware Bay horseshoe crab fishery, many other bird species, marine life, etc.), but who knows about what politics may come into play to prevent that action.

A knot in breeding plumage does not blend in well with other shorebirds. Sandpipers and rockpipers alike are frequently seen standing awkwardly in awe at the crippling plumage of their pudgy cousin, pupils dilated and unsteady on their feet.

May you all meet many knots this fall. Much of today's information on C. c. roselaari was plucked from the USFWS.

The Great Cessation...Journey to the End of the East Bay...Bury Your Feelings

Black-vented Shearwater are abundant this summer off southern California, a season in which they are typically absent. Will this year be epic for pelagics? California has already scored Hawaiian Petrel and Great Shearwater within the last couple weeks, and I hope to be doing some serious damage off Hatteras this weekend. Photographed off of Ventura, CA.

It has happened. Seasonal work has dried up...August 9 was my official termination day, and with the cessation of wage-earning I have migrated north to my fall staging area. I have emerged from my safe and secure cocoon of employment into a chaotic Perpetual Weekend, where anything goes and the birding is constant. It is a freedom that only the bravest can live with. The blog posts will come fast and hard, sarcastic and ironic, witty and acerbic, prolonged and genuine. I hope you are all prepared. The Birdosphere may never be the same...no one is safe, not even The Great Ornithologist Felonious Jive, whose tastes for the absurd will surely lead him down a dark path of anger, fear, aggression...I have a bad feeling about this.

After living in San Francisco and Daly City, I now find myself a legitimate resident of Oakland, CA, for the first time. Of course the sweet sweet West Bay is a better place to be based during fall migration, but when winter rolls around I'm just a short drive from excellent waterfowl and gulling opportunities. I also have the pleasure of being in the regular company of one Booby Brittany, whose elaborate courtship displays are frankly difficult to resist.

Right. I hope to cross paths with many of you this fall, but it is important to remember that not only can birds bring us together...they can tear us apart. Bury your feelings deep down friends. They do you credit, but they could be made to serve the Emperor.

Who said that? Knots, Island-Jays, Costa Rica birding, and more from Officer Searcy coming soon, but I gotta admit that the stoke is raging for North Carolina pelagics in 5 days. With no hurricanes forecasted to cancel those boats, it will be pelagic birding in ways I haven't experienced in many years...almost everything will be new! Multiple blogs will be providing coverage of these great events, and will hopefully omit any and all of the public misidentifications I may be making. Hey, even Number 7 can be a fuck-up...get over it!