Pelagic Jackpot and some random birds (20-22May2015)

This week I had a mini-vacation planned which included birding my way up to the OBX for two days of pelagic boat tours with Brian P.  I had lofty plans for Wednesday, stopping at the Croatan first thing to try for Whips and then Black-billed Cuckoo.  Next was the VOA Beargrass site for Henslow's and the last stop before the OBX was Mackay NWR for King Rails and Least Bittern.  Unfortunately in terms of my photographic needs Wednesday was a big dip.  I should have known to not spread my day so thin and if I targeted only 2 of the spots I think I would have fared better.  However as you all know by now, I try to never leave any spot completely empty handed.

Croatan - I had Chucks calling at first light but I was easily distracted with some other birds such as calling Swainson's Thrush and then some warblers that I did not make it far enough in to hear the Whips before they let up.  I made some recordings of the Chucks in case I decide to use them towards my big year.  I make my own rules and up until now I have not allowed sound recordings but I am mulling it over.  I actually have word regarding a nesting Whip so depending on how that pans out I may stick with only photographs.  So in the end the above Prairie Warbler was the only pic I left the Croatan with.

At Beargrass VOA (Voice of America), I struck out even worse.  It was too late for Henslow's to be calling and most of the area was totally overgrown.  The good habitat was all off limits inside the property.  That being said I may have a contact for later, more on this to come in a week or so.

This Red-winged Blackbird was singing "should have been here three hours ago, the Henslow's were everywhere."

Beautiful!  Not sure if this was lavender or something else but it was really a sight to see.  Usually its corn or soy as far as the eye can see.  I hope more local farmers diversify.

Tricolored Heron - At Mackay NWR I arrived too late (3pm) and the next ferry to Currituck was 4:30pm so I had only an hour to bird.  I quickly located some calling King Rails but they were not cooperating and stayed hidden.  I may go back later in the summer when the young are stupid and lure their parents out as they did last year.  On my way back to my truck I had a Least Bittern flush.  I don't see them often so I wanted to get a look with my bins before getting a pic and of course by the time I got my camera up I missed my opportunity.  At this point I was really getting down on myself. Sometimes I get stuck in a funk and although I don't believe in luck, I was getting worried that the next two days of pelagic would be a disaster.  It turned out quite the opposite.

Spoiler alert - many of my photos are not very good, but when you only do a couple pelagic a year, you don't have the luxury of being picky.  You really need a good camera lens with a fast autofocus and I do not have one.  My camera's autofocus is effectively defunct so manual focus it is.  My next issue was the lens fogging because I don't have a hood and the lens is exposed to salt spray.  Don't worry my faithful readers, I plan on upgrading soon.

My only Manx Shearwater of the trip/year was a quick fly by right at the beginning on the first day.  Although the picture stinks it is diagnostic.  Short wings, white vent and clear white underneath with dark linings throughout. Of course it helps when Brian P and crew are calling them out.

Leach's Storm Petrel - this photo is junk but shows nicely the bent wing that a Leach's exhibits.  They really do fly like a nighthawk.

A little better photo of a Leach's - long wings, oblong shaped white patch on rump and deeply forked tail.

Wilson's Storm Petrels - what a great bird.  Plentiful birds are easy to take for granted but these hold your attention anyway.  They pitter patter on the surface of the water as if they were in some pelagic ballet.  How can such a dainty looking bird do so well in such an unforgiving environment?

Cory's Shearwater - out of focus but shows the marks nicely - yellow bill, brown coloration and weak rump patch.

Then out of nowhere came the target of many on this trip.....

Trindade Petrel!  When a bird like this shows up the boat instantly turns into a frenzied dash for whatever section of the boat it is seen.  Folks that had been comatose after throwing up for 2 hours all of the sudden spring to life rushing to the railing for a different reason this time.

These gadfly petrels are super fast and usually do not stick around long.  So if you hear the captain call one you better be ready.  Look for the bird that is flying faster than all the rest and has the bowed wings of a gadfly.  I made the embarrassing mistake of calling a Sooty Shearwater a Trindade.  I was not the only one that day who made the same mistake. The coloration is similar but the Shearwater holds its wings straight.  Of course the Trinidade has the shorter bill but that is hard to see when a bird is flying by in seconds.   The patterning of the light coloration is also different.

Trindade Petrel

Chocolatey goodness.

Flying around at the same time was this Parasitic Jaeger.  It was very difficult to see both these birds at the same time.  Luckily I was wearing a pair of adult diapers.  Not really, but it's maybe a good idea for next time.

This bird was very cooperative, showing his telltale prongs.  No confusing this one.

A second Parasitic had even longer prongs.

Cory's Shearwater - large and in charge.

South Polar Skua!!! Life Bird.......  Ever see the Youtube video about Honey Badger?  Well they should make one about Skua.  Skua don't give a S*&%t.  He will scrap with anything. He is big and bad.  Muncher of penguin chicks and other poor creatures.

WHAT??? Am I seeing double?  Two Skuas sitting on the water??  At this point I was tripping.

The powerful Skua rendered me weak in the knees.  These birds hung out with us so long that some people were sitting down and eating sandwiches while they circled.  Its amazing how someone can go from absolutely amazed to completely indifferent.  Maybe the sandwiches were the equivalent of a post coitus cigarette and a good way to bring ones self back to this world.

What can I say....

So even though Skua is badass, the Black-capped Petrels were not scared.  Their superior flying skills allowed them to harass the Skuas like a Mockingbird hassles a Red-tail.

Can you see how I could confuse a Sooty with a Trinidade?  If you can't then you are better birder than I.  I have much to learn with pelagic birds.

A Sooty Shearwater is also chocolate brown but gives the impression of a much more friendly bird.  Does that make sense?  Like a Painted Bunting looks angry a Sooty looks friendly to me.  If I were a pelagic bird I would be a Sooty.  They have a nice blend of the power of a Skua and grace of a Black-capped.

Here is Skua tricking me into thinking he is friendly too.  But I did not let my guard down.

We had Arctic Terns.

Audubon Shearwaters - black vent.

Flip side of the Audubon's.

Now I thought that this picture was in the sequence of where we saw a Band-rumped Storm Petrel, but this bird looks more like a Leach's to me.  Anyone want to weigh in?

Sooty Shearwater - how can you not love this bird.  A torpedo of love.

Wilson's Storm Petrels dancing the day away. Is that a European Storm Petrel photo bombing in the upper right?  Probably just a Wilson's in the distance but it gives it the illusion of being much smaller.  We did not see a European unless you count the three British guys on the boat (there may have been more).

The Fred Astaire of birds.

This Wilson's was hiding it's legs and doing it's best Band-rumped impression.

Pomarine Jaeger - another year bird flying around the boat like it wanted to be crushed.  I am sure someone on the boat crushed it but my lens must have been fogged.  Or maybe it was the salt spray.  Or maybe the constant motion.  Perhaps my camera just sucks.  Most probably a combination of all of the above.

This bad boy was working on some nice spoons (tail projections).

You could eat a bowl of cereal with those spoons.

Day two of the pelagic was a totally different day.  Not nearly as much variety.

Probably just a Black-capped but the dark underwings had me thinking Fea's Petrel when I looked at these photos.  Anyway the photo is junk, but a man can dream.  Anyway, we did have a Fea's later in the day that eluded every one's camera except the Spotter Mike.  When you get a rare bird like that whizzing by you need to get a good look with the bins and take pics later.

Sooty Shearwaters represented throughout the day.

Black-capped Petrels were with us for most of the day.  I remember doing a pelagic with Neil from Big Year fame and he had said the Black-capped was his favorite bird.

Some were showing heavy molt giving them white patches in the wings.

Sooty Shearwaters will sit on the water and dive for chum.

Wilson's Storm Petrel

What a great trip.  I will add up the tally tomorrow, I am tired and have a survey early tomorrow morning.

Live long and prosper.