Mike Carter wrote:
If you found 20-30 pale morph Wedge-tailed Shearwaters I would expect there
to have been over 5,000 dark morphs. Were there? In which museum did you
deposit these specimens? Although not common, the rather similar Buller's
Shearwater would be more common along that coast, could you perhaps be
mistaken?
Hi Mike
I'm quite willing to concede that Buller's Shearwater is a possibility
for the beachwashed birds. I didn't spend a lot of time looking at them
before the goannas cleaned up the beach - so no, none were collected
either! I thought the overall dorsal colouration was too uniform to be
Bullers; however they possibly were a bit on the large size for
Wedge-tails. Put it down to a lost opportunity - I was there for a
'mental health' break as flagged in my original posting - birds/birding
were lowest priority for the first few days.
Was it onshore gales when you were at Picnic Point? Tahiti Petrels are not
common and almost unknown close inshore. Did you satisfactorily eliminate
Phoenix Petrel and Taiko?
Pretty much constantly onshore wind - quite strong at times, with
storms. The beast came very close to the headland I was sitting on as
it passed - within 10-15m - very good to excellent viewing conditions.
Phoenix P. and Taiko are satisfactorily eliminated as far as I'm
concerned (body/tail shape, extent of black/dark hood, etc.). This was
later in the week, and I was alert by then .......
L.
--
=================================
Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology
Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd.
Flora and Fauna Consultants
88B Station Street
FAIRFIELD VIC 3078 Australia
E-mail:
Internet: http://www.ecologyaustralia.com.au/
Ph: (03) 9489 4191; Mob: (0419) 588 993
Fax: (03) 9481 7679
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