P 8 FRI.- FEB. 6, 1948 DIST. 9TH. DAY Av. SPEED ON BOARD 3/5 MARINE PHOENIX LAT. 05.05 N LONG. 155.21 W To S. FRAN. To SAMOA COURSE MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO A SOOTY TERN AT CLOSE QUARTERS CAME AT 11: P.M. TERN CRASHED TO DECK JUST IN BACK OF THE CHAIR IN WHICH I WAS SITTING (STARBOARD BOAT DECK). TROPIC BIRDS SURROUNDED THE SHIP, GIVING THEIR RASPING CRIES. WAS VERY SURPRISED TO FIND A TERN. TOOK IT TO WRITING ROOM TO MEASURE + TAKE NOTES (FORTUNATELY NO ONE THERE EXCEPT GEOFF - WHO WAS COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED IN THE WHOLE AFFAIR). THE STEWARD WOULDN'T HAVE LIKED THE BIRD, EITHER! TOOK TERN TOPSIDE + THREW IN LONG ARC AWAY FROM SHIP - DID NOT OPEN WINGS + FELL INTO WATER. I AM SURE BIRD WAS UNINJURED. HAD BEEN FLYING IN DARK + FISHING (HAVE SEVERAL FOOD REMNANTS FROM BILL - IN ALCOHOL). OF COURSE, I SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE KEPT UNTIL DAYLIGHT. SAW MY FIRST TURNS ABOUT 2:15 P.M. (5) FLYING IN TO SHIP OFF STARBOARD BOW - PROBABLY SOOTYS. SAW (6) AT 2:30 (MAY HAVE BEEN SAME). ALSO (1) LATER IN DAY. I WAS INVITED TO BRIDGE ABOUT 12:30 A.M. BY H. GOEBEL (3RD MATE). TALKED UNTIL 1:30. WHILE THERE SAW MY FIRST NIGHT-FLYING TROPIC BIRDS (2) OVER SHIP. DID SHIP SCARE THEM OFF WATER? SAW THE SOUTHERN CROSS AGAIN - FIRST TIME SINCE COLOMBIA. ROSE ABOUT 12: 10:30 A.M. - 3 MORE TROPIC BIRDS FLEW OVER (PROB. RED-T.) AT 2 P.M. 3 RED-T. T.B.S AND ANOTHER GROUP OF 4 LATER PLUS 1 STILL LATER. 2 BOOBIES AT NOON - NOT SURE OF SP. (POSSIBLY RED-FOOTED) - NOT A GOOD OBSERVATION. 2: P.M., 3 MORE - LONG RANGE. 2 LATE IN P.M. - 5:45 - THESE BLUE-FACED (S. DACTYLATRA) - ONE MAINLY BROWN ABOVE, WHITE BENEATH, 2 BROWN CHEVRONS EXTENDING FROM SHOULDERS (1 TO A SIDE) ONTO UPPER BREAST. "SHEARWATER" TYPE BIRDS: (1) AT 2: P.M., (2) AT 5:45 - 6: P.M. LATTER CAME FAIRLY CLOSE TO SHIP, BUT LIGHT NOW POOR. LOOKED COMPLETELY DART ABOVE & BELOW - NO WHITE ON RUMP - MAY HAVE BEEN SOME INDISTINCT WHITE UNDER WINGS - SUGGESTION ONLY. PRIZE BIRD OF DAY (1) FRIGATE BIRD AT 10: A.M. - FLEW LENGTH OF SHIP - SLOW GRACEFUL FLAPS - + DISAPPEARED ASTERN. IT'S 2:45 P.M., - I'M OFF TO BED WITH MY SQUID. MORE TOMORROW.