Pomarine Jaeger
A new high total of 60 Pomarine Jaegers was recorded in April. Many
of these were seen at a considerable distance from land, up to 500 miles.
Most were headed north. Several were observed to chase birds in feeding
flocks. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Sooty Terns, Arctic Terns, Red-tailed
Tropicbirds, and even a Frigatebird were among their "victims". Many had
fine adult breeding plumage with prominent twisted central rectrices.
Long-tailed Jaeger
Two small jaegers, one a light phase and the second an intermediate
phase, which had very prominent pointed central rectrices in excess of
four inches were presumed to be this species. In addition, 10 more were
termed jaeger species. Several or most of these may have been long-tailed
Jaegers but their central rectrices were not as well developed.
Red ? Phalarope
Four phalaropes, probably Red Phalaropes, were seen in April, the
tail end of the spring northward migration which reached its peak in March
in 1964 and 1965.
Gull species
On 22 April a bird which could only have been a gull was described
in detail by the best informed of the crewmen on watch. It was medium
sized and presumably in adult plumage.