-13- Northern Phalarope (Lobipes lobatus) This species can be identified by its dark, striped back. The main wintering grounds are off of Peru and Chile. I feel that very few Northern Phalaropes wintered in this area, and the vast majority of Phalaropes sp. can be attributed to Red Phalaropes. Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) Pomarines are the only species of Jaeger wintering commonly in the Northern Hemisphere. Large concentrations were found along the coast and in the shipping lanes. This species, like gulls, has learned to follow ships early in the morning and late in the afternoon to receive scraps for their respective meals. A few birds still exist to the high seas by stealing fish from terns. Notes were taken on one Jaeger catching a Storm Petrel. Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) Although not common, this species occurs regularly in the tropical seas off of Central America. Birds were associated with Sooty Tern flocks or found singularly. One individual was observed chasing a young Red-tailed Tropicbird. Young birds are very difficult to separate from young Pomarine Jaegers. Size, flight, and broadness of the wing are helpful, but most individuals must be logged as Jaeger sp. The dominant adult color-phase present was dark. Gulls: Laridae All gulls recorded on this cruise were observed on the first day, after leaving San Diego. For purpose of simplicity they can be divided into two categories; coastal ship following species, and pelagic species. The first category includes California Herring and Western Gulls in which the adults of all three species were the most important group. The second group contains the Black-legged Kittiwake and the Sabine Gull. Immature Kittiwakes outnumber the adults about 5 to 1. Two immature Sabine Gulls represent one sighting and were of usual occurrence in this area at this season. The main wintering population of Sabine Gulls is at the Humboldt current off of South America.