Western Pacific Odyssey 2008...onto Chuuk / Beck's Petrel photos

[John Brodie-Good]

Hi all,

We've now posted some Beck's photos and a Polynesian Storm-petrel pic on our website.

20^th April

At sea, towards Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

A quiet start to a fairly quiet sector but with some new seabirds still added to the voyage total. Good numbers of Leach’s Storm-Petrels and two Wilson’s whilst the majority of the ‘wedgys’ are becoming pale-phase birds. Sooty Terns had to contend with a migrating Pomarine and then a Long-tailed Skua.

 

In the water  (and out I assume) were two Spinner Dolphins. Interesting to see Chris comment that they have had a light wind and gentle swell since leaving New Zealand contrasting to the mirror-calm seas we enjoyed for a lot of the southern sector last year, hindering marine mammal sightings somewhat. The presence of continual scattered  cloud has also kept the temperatures somewhat  lower too, which can’t be a bad thing, it was cooking at times.

 

21^st April

At sea towards Chuuk.

‘Bird of the day’, miles from anywhere,  was a Turnstone, I don’t know which direction it was heading.   Very quiet with one Wilson’s and one Leach’s stormies, a White-tailed Tropicbird and two Poms.

 

22^nd April

At sea, still towards Chuuk

Ten or so Bulwer’s Petrels were today’s highlights, some very close to the vessel.  Plenty of White Terns, Short-tailed Shearwaters , six tropicbirds plus a Red-footed Booby complete today’s tropical pelagic birding.

 

23^rd April

At sea and arrive Chuuk.

Two  Atoll Shearwaters were seen, this voyage yet again  proving it’s ability to produce the goods, second time out.  Black and Brown Noodies on the way  in plus lots of White Terns.

 

The landbird endemics fell thick and fast as Collins, Russ, Howell et al, led the charge ashore in this paradise of atolls and mini-islands. Caroline Islands Swiftlet, Reed Warbler and White-Eye got nailed along with Crimson-crowned Fruit-Dove, Oceanic Flycatcher plus both Micronesian Myzomela and Starling. Add various members of the heron family including Pacific Egret, two real Pacific Black Ducks and a Wandering Tattler  and you’ve got a pretty good day’s birding.

 

Cheers

John Brodie-Good

www.wildwings.co.uk

[Elaine Cook]

A link to the WPO website page for piccies - http://www.wildwings.co.uk/wposhipsightings.html

 

Elaine

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From: Seabir...@googlegroups.com [mailto:Seabir...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of John Brodie-Good
Sent: 23 April 2008 18:01
To: Seabir...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Seabird-News:706] Western Pacific Odyssey 2008...onto Chuuk / Beck's Petrel photos

[Angus Wilson]

John & Elaine, Thanks, the shots of Beck's Petrel(s) are really neat!

I was curious about the reference to "Atoll Shearwaters", a form that
I'd not heard of before. A quick Google search brought me to a single
entry - Steve Howell's narrative for the 2007 WPO (posted on the WINGS
site).

According to Steve, at Truk (day 21), they encountered "the local
small black-and-white shearwaters, (traditionally “Audubon’s
Shearwater,” more recently “Tropical Shearwater,” but more
realistically a species endemic to the tropical Pacific, Puffinus
dichrous, which could be called Atoll Shearwater)."

The systematics of the 'black-and-white' shearwaters is a mine field
of uncertainties and several different naming schemes have been
proposed. I'd be curious to know the basis for abandoning the
vernacular 'Tropical Shearwater'? Is this differentiate birds found
around the numerous atolls of the southwestern Pacific from
populations elsewhere (e.g. Indian Ocean) or simply that the name is
more descriptive of their range?

Cheers, Angus Wilson
New York City, USA