Abbott's Booby in Cairns? = RED-FOOTED BOOBY

["Mike Carter" <>]

Rohan Clarke, Sean Dooley nor I were happy about this bird being called an 
Abbott's Booby.
Initially our concern was size. Too small. Then black in hind neck and tail 
was wrong. White spotting in wings and on shoulder would be atypical. Only 
adult female Abbott's has pink bill and this bird looks immature. Twice as 
much black on bill tip as should be for Abbott's. Culmen concave like 
Red-footed not convex like Abbott's. Black line along lower mandible from 
gape fits Red-footed not Abbott's. Feet are orangey like young Red-foots not 
blue like Abbott's. QED. SORRY!
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136

> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
>  On Behalf Of Chris Corben
> Sent: Tuesday, 2 October 2007 9:46 AM
> To: Birding-Aus (Forum)
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Abbott's Booby in Cairns?
>
> Hi all
>
> This was sent to me by Martin Reid in Texas. I have been away and don't 
> know
> what's going on, so I thought I'd just pass it on.
>
> Cheers, Chris Corben
>
> Chris Corben
>
> www.hoarybat.com
>
> **************************************************************
> I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but i thought some folks in
> Australia would want to know about this booby seen by two friends of
> mine (from Washington State) on c. September 18, 2007 at Michaelmas
> Cay, which I gather is offshore from Cairns.  They have it labelled
> on their web images as a mystery booby - but it's no mystery, I
> reckon, as It looks like a female (maybe not adult?) Abbott's Booby,
> which I am guessing is a Mega.  Apparently the saw it fly way, but it
> could still be in the  area; I gather from Ryan that he has sent the
> pics to an Australian Ornithologist who was on a Sydney pelagic with
> them during their trip here's the three pics that Ryan Shaw took of
> it:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyalbatross/1429004401/in/set-7215760212556461
> 4/
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyalbatross/1429004535/in/set-7215760212556461
> 4/
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/shyalbatross/1429880476/in/set-7215760212556461
> 4/
>
> You can email Ryan for more details (date, etc) at: 
>
> Perhaps you'd be kind enough to tell me the status of Abbott's Booby
> in Australia?
> Cheers,
> Martin
> PS I also sent this info to Phil Hansboro
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