Have a look at the attached string of messages about a Shy Albatross
turning up in the U.S its quite amusing and good value. One day we
are going to get a Black-footed Albatross off Wollongong and look out
because thats the day that I jump overboard.
Regards
Tony Palliser (Sydney, Australia)
------------------------------------------------------
>To: <>
>Subject: Re: Chum and you won't believe what else!
>
>First photos back, and YES!!!
>
>They confirm White-capped (Shy) Albatross of nominate
>subspecies!
>
>Here's the recent e-mail from my partner and myself to
>Oregon Birders On-Line discussion group.
>
>Subject: Tim Shelmerdine's Photos
>From: (Matthew Hunter)
>Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 19:22:12 -0700
>
> WWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWWWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWW WWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWW WWWW WWWW
> WWWWWWW WWWWWWW OOOOOOOO
> WWWWW WWWWW OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
> OOOO OOOO
> OOOO OOOO
> OOOO OOOO
> OOOO OOOO
> OOOO OOOO
> OOOO OOOO
> OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
> OOOOOOOO
> WWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWWWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWW WWWW WWWW
> WWWW WWWW WWWW WWWW
> WWWWWWW WWWWWWW
> WWWWW WWWWW
>
>
> WWW WWW WWW CCCCCC AAAAA LLL
> WWW WWWWW WWW CCC AAA AAA LLL
> WWW WWW WWW WWW CCC AAAAAAAAA LLL
> WWWWW WWWWW CCCCCC AAA AAA LLLLLLLLLL
>
> I just received copies of Tim Shelmerdine's photos of the dark and
> light albatross seen near Heceta Banks on 5 OCT 1996. Wow, they are
> great! Tim captured some surprisingly good shots of the underwing of
> the bird while it was taking off from the water. Looks like
> white-capped (shy) albatross, subspecies cauta.
>
> -great views of the underwing. Underwing extensively white, including
> far out the primaries, with very narrow dark edge to underwing.
> Diagnostic "thumb" mark visible at anterior leading edge of underwing.
>
> -can see dark area (line) at base of upper and lower mandibles.
>
> -Probably a sub-adult bird:
> =bill seems inbetween adult and juv: yellowish in tip mainly near
> cutting edge; dusky/dark coloration still present in tips of both upper
> and lower mandibles (somewhat moreso than in head photo of subadult in
> Harper and Kinsky, 1978, "Southern albatrosses and petrels: an
> identification guide", p21).
> =also some discernable (barely so) gray on sides of neck.
> My guess is that the bird is just on it's way out of juvenile plumage,
> and the bill color seems right in sync.
>
>
> I've noticed that even the dark area around the eye appears different
> on most photos of WCAL vs LAAL that I've examined. LAAL seems to often
> have more dark in front of an below the eye (what might be called the
> lores) than the WCAL which has more of a simple diamond surrounding the
> eye, below it's "eyebrow ridge". Not that anyone would need this for
> id purposes...just an interesting difference.
>
> I look forward to seeing other photographers' photos.
>
> Good job Tim!
>
> Matt Hunter
>
> one happy clam
>
>
>Subject: Re: Tim Shelmerdine's Photos
>From: Greg Gillson
>Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 22:23:44 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Well, Matt beat me to the punch. Tim Shelmerdine's photos
>arrived in my mailbox today as well.
>
>Tim was much too reserved....
>
>The photos clearly show nominate White-capped Albatross as
>Matt said. The one particular photo of the bird in flight
>shows nearly all the field marks:
>
>* huge, pale greenish bill with dark subterminal smudge on
>both mandibles and yellowish tip to upper mandible.
>
>* white underwing, narrowly edged with black around the
>perimeter. Diagnostic "thumbmark." Dark tips to the very ends
>of the under-primaries indicate nominate form.
>
>* Upper back white, fading ever so slightly to the middle of
>the back - no strong line of demarkation. Slight indication
>of partial collar at base of wings.
>
>* Feet and legs pinkish, but blue "heel" joint.
>
>* Sides of rump extensively white (more so than Laysan would
>show).
>
>
>If others' photos are as good as Tim's there'll be some
>great pictures. Anyone have a scanner for slides? Or know
>of a reasonable place to get them?
>
>--
>Greg Gillson
> Learn to watch birds in the Pacific NW with
> The Bird Guide's bimonthly 24-page newsletter.
>http://www.teleport.com/~guide
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