EAC 13, Shearwater, May-June 1967
Page 58
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Transcription
Red Phalarope Red Phalaropes were seen on May 30 and 31 from the Eastern Grid area to Guadalupe. Nocturnal watch north of Guadalupe disclosed many Phalaropes, most of which, I feel, were Reds. (See also comments in Eastern Grid #8 Report.) Northern Phalarope "Flocks" of Northerns were seen in the Monterey Bay area on 29 May. A single bird, probably this species, was seen at the mouth of the Gulf of California on 4 June. Jaeger Sp. Total Observations - 21 Birds were recorded from Day one to Day ll but the peak area was the offshore region where the Manx flocks congregated. Most large feeding flocks in this peak density area contained 1-3 Jaegers, which repeatedly "charged" the skiff as the flock was neared. One adult Pomarine in the Grid was positively identified. A long-tailed immature was collected from the peak area; I suspect the bulk of the Jaeger sp. were this species. Skua Total Observations - 3 Three birds, also associated with the Manx flocks, were seen on 5 July. Common (Brown) Noddy Tern (Anous stolidus) Total Observations - 49 Two birds were recorded on the outside coast of Panama; the rest were seen in the Gulf of Panama where it is common. Black Tern Total Observations - 265 Black Terns were logged every other day beginning 5 June, and last seen in the Gulf of Panama. Of the 160 birds estimated in the Manzanillo region 80-90 percent were in nonbreeding plumage. Unlike most birds in this large feeding area, Black Terns were not usually in the company of the Shearwater flocks, but rather formed smaller flocks, sometimes with Sooty Terns. The bird is common in the Gulf of Panama, there often associating with Common Noddy. Sooty Tern Total Observations - 900 Sooties appeared at about 20°N and peak counts were obtained in con- junction with the Manx flocks on 5 June. Doubtless they were present on 6 June and possibly were among a distant flock seen on 7 June. South of this 1,000-mile stretch no further birds were seen. A bird collected on 5 June had very small testes and heavy molt in all tracts. Arctic (?) Tern Total Observations - 1 A possible Arctic sighting is covered in the Grid report (30 June).