Shearing Atlantic Waters

Another year, another September. Those of us in California know that this is the grandest month of the year...seabirds, shorebirds and passerines (and associated vagrants) are all moving into the area in massive numbers. Reports of quality birds up and down the state are already coming in. I've started my fall trips leading for Shearwater Journeys, which you will hear all about soon.

But before we get to the West Coast, there are many lessons to be learned from the Hatteras pelagics I was on in August. With seven lifers and an ABA bird (now that I am an official member again for the first time since the nineties, this becomes more important), things have never been the same. I am a superior birder now, and all those extra Global Birder Ranking System points filtering through my veins feels empowering. I have leveled my warrior, as they say, which is not something someone who is already the 7th best birder in the country can claim very often.

What lessons did I learn now? Let's start with Audubon's Shearwater. They are common. They are black and white. They are hella flappy. The above bird is dingier than most, but shows the characteristic junky-trunk of the species.

Just a classic Economy of Style kind of shot. If this doesn't get your salty juices flowing, then you must not be alive. Amirite?

They are usually very striking birds; sharply delineated black and white, with a varying amount of white in front of the eye. They are the Gulf Stream shearwater that you would want to give a hug.

Check out how long that tail is. Them black undertail coverts. Audubon's is very distinct among the shearwaters expected off Hatteras. Of course, these are also tiny birds compared to other shearwaters in the area, so identification problems are few, unless maybe you are trying to string a Barolo Shearwater. Again, they possess a wonderful smallness that all but the most callous observer can appreciate.

Great Shearwater was a species I was really looking forward to meeting, and I got to meet quite a few. Most were not exactly fresh-looking, but hey I usually don't look very fresh either.

Black. White. Gray. Brown. What else could you ask for? Really, you colorblind birders just need to completely embrace seabirds and forget about everything else, because you won't be missing out on anything.

Although the shape and flight style isn't exactly similar, I couldn't help but get a mild Buller's Shearwater vibe from these birds. Maybe it's that neat dark cap.

I crushed on this bird a little bit. Nice wingpit pattern, don't you think? I can't look away.

Of course, Cory's Shearwater was the most abundant shearwater on both trips (hundreds each day). They are large and generally remind me of Pink-footed Shearwaters most of the time. What I wouldn't do to find one of these yellow-nosed beasts off the coast of California...well, maybe it's best if you didn't know.

We had good luck with finding rafting birds on the water. It didn't lead to any Cape Verde Shearwaters, but it was nice to get an idea of the variation between individuals.

This is the typical borealis, the common subspecies of Cory's Shearwater off Hatteras. When I claim to know what subspecies a Cory's Shearwater belongs to, I am primarily looking at the extent of white in the outer primaries (there is very little on this bird).

And this is an apparent "Scopoli's" Shearwater, hypothesized to be a distinct species from borealis, but at the moment there isn't enough evidence to confirm or deny this. Hella white in the outer primaries. Easy. Usually it requires some chimping though. Perhaps the next field guide could have an asterisk next to this bird about mandatory chimping.

Here's a token Pterodroma for you. This is a "light-faced" Black-capped Petrel, one of the many subspecies of tubenose found in the Gulf Stream that may actually be a separate species. Note that unlike the vast majority of "dark-faced" Black-capped Petrels we saw, this bird is not undergoing any wing molt. Nemesis Bird has a recent special on Black-capped Petrels; check it out here.

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.