Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 23:11:29 -0500
Reply-To: "James F. Flynn Jr." <jim.flynn@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: "James F. Flynn Jr." <jim.flynn@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Recent Pelagic Trip
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20030222182328.025006a0@pop3.norton.antivirus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
This is just a follow-up to Giff Beaton's summary of the 2/21/03 pelagic
trip out of Savannah.
Giff mentioned that we observed 6 small shearwaters on the trip that were
identified at the time as Audubon's Shearwaters, the most common species of
small shearwater seen off of the Georgia coast, at least during the summer
through late fall. The other notable possibility, and in retrospect
arguably more likely at this time of year depending upon how far off-shore
you are (Audubon's is a warm water species), is Manx Shearwater. The two
species are somewhat difficult to tell apart even if afforded a reasonable
look at the birds, but the movement of the ship, the movement of the birds
on the ocean, lighting, weather and conflicting descriptions in publish
literature exacerbate the situation.
To make a long story short, after reviewing the photos on Friday night and
Saturday morning, we decided to leave the birds as unidentified
shearwaters, but most likely Manx Shearwaters, until some of the noted
pelagic experts were able to review the photos. I have temporarily posted
the photos to the following URL:
http://www.gos.org/sightings/Other/shea.htm
The photos have been reviewed by Brian Patteson and David Sibley, and their
conclusion is that they are Manx Shearwaters based on the following field
marks:
- white undertail coverts (Audubon's are usually dark; a tricky one since
some references infer that Audubon's occasionally possess light undertail
coverts)
- proportionately long wings (Audubon's do not have the appearance of being
long-winged due in part to their longish tail)
- short tail with toes extending beyond the tip of the tail when in flight
(very noticeable in photo #3; Audubon's is known for its longish tail)
- face pattern with a lot of dark color covering essentially the whole
auriculars down to the malar, and white wrapping up behind the auriculars
(the pale crescent behind the eye)
What surprises me about these birds is that most of the published
literature describes Manx Shearwaters as appearing "blackish" which to me
the birds in the photos are not (and were not at the time of the
sighting). There is a strong brownish tone to the upperside of these
birds, and frankly they are not any darker than most of the Audubon's
Shearwaters that I have seen (Manx is a new one for me). Sibley does note
that Manx can appear brown when the plumage is worn. In my opinion, the
dark brown coloration of these birds threw everyone initially towards
Audubon's. There is no substitute for real life experience!
Additional photos of Manx and Audubon's Shearwaters may be found on the
web; here are a few URLs:
http://www.patteson.com/ (click on Image Gallery, then Petrels and
Shearwaters; look for Manx and Audubon's)
http://www.magikcircle.com/birds/image.asp?title_id=408 (Manx)
http://www.oceanwanderers.com/AudoShear.html (Audubon's)
So, three of the six were Manx Shearwaters. I was able to photograph the
first three individuals, but birds 2 and 3 were accompanied by two other
very similar birds that I am guessing were Manx as well. I was unable to
photograph the last individual (seen by itself but in the same area as the
small flock).
The photos and a report will be submitted to the GOS Records Committee, and
if accepted, would be the ninth record of Manx Shearwaters for the state
and a new high count (per the new Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds, to
be published soon). An interesting side note is that there are two records
of Audubon's Shearwater in February off of the coast of Georgia (1977 and
1983).
Take care.
Jim
At 06:41 PM 2/22/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>GABbers: With many recent reports of alcids offshore to the north of us, it
>seemed like a good time to try for some off the GA coast. Yesterday we took
>our regular fishing boat offshore to look, and had a pretty good day. In
>winter, if you manage just a single pelagic species it can be considered a
>good day! Here are the highlights and comments:
<snip>
>-6 small shearwaters. We identified them as Audubon's while out on the
>boat, but Jim Flynn got some excellent photos that look very suggestive of
>Manx Shearwater. We will be sending these scans to some of the pelagic
>experts for their opinions, stay tuned. Small shearwater id is tough! Both
>of these species have been reported in small numbers in Feb off GA...
<snip>
--
Jim Flynn
Forsyth Co., GA
jim.flynn@mindspring.com
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