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diff --git a/saved-articles/ocean wanderers the ultimate resource for pelagic birding enthusiasts.txt b/saved-articles/ocean wanderers the ultimate resource for pelagic birding enthusiasts.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a9901c9..0000000 --- a/saved-articles/ocean wanderers the ultimate resource for pelagic birding enthusiasts.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,306 +0,0 @@ ---- -title: The Ultimate Resource for Pelagic Birding Enthusiasts -date: 2006-05-17T22:00:22Z -source: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/index.html -tags: nature, research - ---- - -> > **Welcome to oceanwanderers.com** -**The on-line resource for serious birders and pelagic enthusiasts** - - -**![][1] -Cover photo: **Bottlenose Dolphin springs from the pressure wave behind a whale watching boat off Cape May New Jersey, July 2005. Photographed using a Canon 10D digital camera and 400 mm Canon lens. Copyright Angus Wilson©2005. - -To view previous cover photos, [click here][2]. -[Tell a friend][3] about this site! - -* * * - -**What's new?** - -****************Gull Identification- [Is this the first documented Western Gull for the Atlantic][4]? -![][5] -******** -[Seabird-News][6] \- New global discussion group on Google. ******** - -******Want to keep up with the latest seabird and marine mammal news from around the world? Become a member of [Seabird-News][7], a new free listserve started by Angus Wilson/Oceanwanderers.com. The archive of messages is open to all but you must be a members to be able to share your sightings from seawatches or boat-based excursions. We also encourage posting of conservation or research news. Hopefully, trip leaders and wildlife tour companies will use this list as a venue to announce forthcoming offshore trips or holidays. To sign up for messages, follow this link: [Subscribe to Seabirds-News][8].****** - -********Shorebird Identification- Japanese Shorebird Blog******** - -********![][9] -Interested in Asiatic shorebirds? Check out the [Shore Birds in Japan][10] blog from Nobuhiro Hashimoto;******** a shorebird enthusiast who birds in Osaka and Mie Prefectures. ****He has photographed a large number of really superb photographs ********captured, ************for the most part, by digiscoping. Many of the images focuse on feather detail, providing a valuable reference collection for birders elsewhere. -![][11] **** - -OW Reviews - Prominar TD-1, the new digital camera/telescope combination from Kowa. -![][12] -**********The shape of things to come? Ocean Wanderers reviews the innovative new spotting scope from Kowa featuring a built in digital camera. [Click here for more][13] (Added 24 Oct 2005).****** - -****Seabird Conservation - Sir David Attenborough joins the _Save the Albatross_ Campaign. -**![][14]BirdLife International's [Save the Albatross campaign][15] received a welcome boost today when broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough and the organisers of the world's premier ocean sailing challenge – The Volvo Ocean Race - announced their support for this important cause. Other notable public figure to support the campaign include HRH Prince of Wales, transatlantic oarsman John Ridgway and record-breaking yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur. ****** - -******Sir David Attenborough said, "_Albatrosses have survived in the harshest marine environments for 50 million years; more than 100 times longer than our own species. However, these magnificent birds are unable to cope with man-made threats, such as longline fishing. Europeans saw their first albatrosses only 500 years ago in the Southern Ocean, but in our fleeting overlap with these birds we are threatening all but two of the world's 21 species with extinction. It is awe-inspiring to think that some of the albatrosses nesting when I started my broadcasting career are still raising young, half a century later. However, with 100,000 of these birds drowning annually on longlines, the chance of an individual albatross surviving to old age now, seems as remote as the ability of many albatross species to exist beyond the end of this century. Albatrosses should be free to circle the globe for millions of years to come – we must stop this needless slaughter now to prevent an entire branch being torn from the evolutionary tree. It is unthinkable that the only record we will have of these birds will be the attempts of broadcasters, like myself, to share the beauty of our natural world._" ****** - -![][16] - -******The above image (******©******Peter Ryan/Save the Albatross Campaign) shows seabirds (White-chinned Petrels, Giant Petrels, Shy Albatross and Yellow-nosed Albatross) killed by a [long-lining][17] vessel during a single trip. The campaign seeks to persuade governments and fishing authorities around the world to pass and enforce laws to protect albatrosses and other seabirds. Simple measures such as flying colored streams behind the boat when actively fishing and using a plastic shoot to drop baited hooks into the water are highly effective in reducing seabird mortality. There really are no excuses for not making this standard practice worldwide (Added 8 Oct 2005).****** - -****Transoceanic Migrations - Interconnections between populations of Great White Sharks. -An article in the journal _Science_ (7 October 2005: 100-103) described recent satellite tagging studies that reveal an unexpectedly long and rapid migration by Great White Sharks across the Indian Ocean. One adult female (nick-named Nicole after Australian actress Nicole Kidman) was tagged on 7 November 2003 by a team headed by Ramon Bonfil, a scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society. 'Nicole' spent some time in South African waters before embarking on a 6,900 mile journey straight across the Indian Ocean to western Australia. During this time, the shark made a number of deep dives (up to 3,215 feet) but otherwise spent 61% of the time close to the surface. The satellite device detached itself 99 days later (to allow for collection of the stored data) a mile from shore just south of the Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia. Remarkably, the same shark was resighted off South Africa on 20 August 2004. Other animals in the study did not follow the same path but instead moved up and down the East African coast, including Mozambiquan Territorial waters where they are not protected. These results suggest that the different populations of Great White Sharks may be significantly more interconnected that previously thought and that depletion of one stock will therefore directly impact others (Added 8 Oct 2005).**** - -**Whale & Dolphin Watching- CRESLI. -The [Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island][18] (CRESLI) has been studying marine mammals in the waters off Long Island (principally New York, Rhode Island and Massachucetts) for more than 20 years. At least 25 species of cetaceans have been shown to utilize Long Island's waters at one time or another, including Fin, Humpback, Minke, North Atlantic Right, Sei, Blue, Sperm and Long-finned Pilot whales, as well as Common, Bottlenose, Striped and Atlantic White-sided Dolphins. During mid-summer (July-August) they run trips to the Great South Channel off Cape Cod. This is a very productive area for whales, including remarkable congregations of the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale on migration between summering grounds in the Canadian maritimes (especially the Bay of Fundy) and the warmer waters off Florida/Georgia and parts unknown (Added 17 Sept 2005).** - -**![][19]![][20] -(Left) Great Shearwater off Long Island, NY 5 June 2005, copyright: Arthur Kopelman©2005. (Right) Breaching Humpback Whale, Great South Channel, MA, August 2005, copyright: Arthur Kopelman©2005.** - -**Where to Watch Seabirds - Heritage Expeditions announces 'Cruise for Conservation'. -[Heritage Expeditions][21] announced the inaugural _"Cruise for Conservation"_, a special voyage to the Subantarctic Islands of Campbell, Auckland and Snares. This journey is being run in association with New Zealand's[ Forest and Bird ][22]and the [Department of Conservation][23], supporters of Birdlife International's [Save the Albatross][24] Campaign. The theme of the trip is for passangers to experience an abundance of albatrosses in their natural element, the Southern Ocean and hopefully bring attention to their growing plight. The expedition will be lead by a number of seabird experts and biologists. Importantly, a percentage of the ticket price will be donated to the [International Save the Albatross Campaign][24], to aid research into albatross biology and possible bycatch prevention solutions. The first voyage will take place on 6th to 12th January, 2006. ** - -For a taste of the extraordinary diversity and numbers of seabird that breed on these wonderful islands, check out the [trip report][25] prepared by John Brodie-Good and myself following our own visit (Nov-Dec 2001) to these jewels of the southern ocean. (Added 8 August 2005) - -**Shorebird Identification - Hybrid Sandpiper or Dunlin? -![][26] -On-going discussion of the identity of two interesting sandpipers photographed in May. (Added 8 August 2005) ** - -**Where to Watch Seabirds - Announcing the 'Western Pacific Odyssey'. - -![][27] -Black Petrel. Photographed in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand by Chris Collins© 2005, All rights reserved. ****** - -John Brodie-Good ([WildWings/WildOceans][28]) and Rodney Russ ([Heritage Expeditions, NZ][21]) have just announced an exclusive seabirding adventure through the Western Pacific. Sailing from New Zealand, the cruise will thread its way through the numerous islands of the western Pacific to Kagoshima in Japan. For seabird fanatics this is the proverbial 'once in a lifetime' chance to connect with a host of stunning seabirds including the newly rediscovered New Zealand Storm-Petrel and numerous tropical goodies such as Tahiti Petrel, Gould's Petrel, White-necked Petrel, Heinroth's Shearwater, White-throated Storm-Petrel and Grey Ternlet. The trip will culminate with a visit to Torishima, the principal nesting site for Short-tailed Albatross. A number of landings are planned and participants will encounter numerous hard-to-get landbirds including the awesome Kagu on Noumea in New Caledonia. - -Book soon!! Berths are limited and the ship is filling fast!! - -Click here for more information about the cruise and to view a host of seabird photos from the recce trip by Chris Collins and Kaj Kampp (Added 19 July 2005). - -**Shorebird Identification - Hybrid Sandpiper?** - -![][29] -Wayne Richardson found and superbly photographed this puzzling sandpiper on Marco Island, Florida. Superficially resembling a White-rumped Sandpiper several details appear to be a miss. Click the picture to see more images including a flight shot. Dennis Paulson, author of _Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide_ (2005 Princeton University Press) gets the ball rolling with some comments on the possible parents. (Added 17 June 2005) - -**New pelagic Web Site - [Pterodroma Pelagics][30]. -** -![][31] - -Chris Gaskin & Karen Baird operate [Pterodroma Pelagics][30] as a subsidiary of [Kiwi Wildlife Tours NZ][32]. They have been operating pelagics to the Outer Hauraki Gulf (through Kiwi Wildlife Tours NZ) since the end of 2002, when the Gulf's full potential as a world-class pelagic destination was recognized. Their web site is full of useful information for pelagic birders. Without a doubt, a major highlight of any pelagic to the Hauraki Gulf would be an encounter with the newly discovered New Zealand Storm-Petrel. There are a number of photos of the species scattered across the site and a very interesting article on the work of the NEW ZEALAND STORM PETREL WORKING GROUP, which aims to discover and protect the nesting site(s). Also there is a review of recent sightings - a must for anyone planning a trip. (Added 13 April 2005) - -![][33] -New Zealand Storm-Petrel. Photo by Hadoram Shirihai © Tubenoses Project, A & C Black. - -**Books - Coming Soon: A major new field guide to the marine mammals of the world.** - -![][34]Later this year, A&C Black expects to release "_**A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World Whales, Dolphins, Sirenians and Seals**_" by **Hadoram Shirihai** & **Brett Jarrett**. Intended as a true field guide, the book will show important variation (age, sex and geographical variation) and depict similar species together for ease of comparison. Text and maps will be accompanied by ~400 photographs and ~90 plates, all solely geared towards identification. The compact size of the guide (216 x 135 mm) will allow it to fit in a pocket. For the armchair enthusiast, a larger (A4) format edition, using the same plates and text but containing over 1,000 extra photographs is planned for release at a later date. - -High quality photographs are still being sought for last minute inclusion. Species or forms of interest include:** Fur seals and sea lions:** South African, Australian, Antarctic, Subantarctic, Guadalupe, Juan Fernández, New Zealand, South American, Galápagos and Northern Fur Seals; Californian (includes Galápagos, and Japanese), Northern (Steller's), Australian, New Zealand and South American Sea Lions. **True seals:** Bearded, Harbour, Largha (Spotted), Ringed, Caspian, Baikal, Grey, Ribbon, Harp and Hooded Seals; Mediterranean, Hawaiian and West Indian Monk Seals; Southern and Northern Elephant Seals; Weddell, Ross', Crabeater and Leopard Seals. **Baleen whales:** North Atlantic, North Pacific and Southern Right Whales, Bowhead Whale, Pygmy Right Whale, Gray Whale, Humpback, Northern, Dwarf and Antarctic Minke Whales, Bryde's (includes Eden's, and Omura's), Sei, Fin and Blue Whales (includes Northern, Indian Ocean, Pygmy, and Southern Blue Whales). **Sperm whales:** Sperm Whale, Pygmy Sperm Whale, Dwarf Sperm Whale. **Beaked whales:** Cuvier's, Arnoux's, Baird's and Shepherd's (Tasman) Beaked Whales, Tropical, Northern and Southern Bottlenose Whales, Hector's, True's, Gervais', Sowerby's, Gray's, Pygmy, Andrews', Spade-toothed, Hubbs', Gingko-toothed, Stejneger's, Strap-toothed, Blainville's and Perrin's Beaked Whales. **Oceanic and costal dolphins:** Commerson's, Black (Chilean), Haviside's (Heaviside's), Hector's and Rough-toothed Dolphins, Humpback Dolphins (includes Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific), Tucuxi (includes Atlantic Coast and Amazon), Common and Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, Pantropical and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins,) Spinner (includes Gray's or Hawaiian and also Eastern and Central American), Clymene and Striped Dolphins, Short-beaked and Long-beaked Common Dolphins (includes D. c. tropicalis, Arabian Common Dolphin), Fraser's and White-beaked Dolphins, Atlantic and Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Dusky (includes South American, South African and New Zealand), Peale's and Hourglass Dolphins, Northern and Southern Right-whale Dolphins, Risso's Dolphin, Melon-headed Whale, Pygmy Killer Whale, False Killer Whale, Killer Whale, Long-finned and Short-finned Pilot Whales, and Irrawaddy Dolphin. **Porpoises:** Finless (includes Indo-Pacific, Chinese Finless Porpoise, and Yangtse), Harbour, Gulf of California, Spectacled, Burmeister's and Dall's Porpoises. **Arctic cetaceans: **Beluga, Narwhal. **River dolphins and Franciscana: **Ganges, Indus, Amazon and Chinese River Dolphins, and Franciscana. **Sirenians:** West Indian, West African and Amazonian Manatees, Dugong. **Arctic animals:** Walrus, Polar Bear. **Otters:** Marine and Sea Otters. A fee is payable for every photo published. The authors prefer to receive material electronically as digital images or scans of slides, and in high resolution suitable for publication. For submission details please contact Hadoram at [msanroman@bluewin.ch][35]. - -**At the Limits of Ocean and Air** \- New York Times Editorial - Published: January 20, 2005 - -**'Most humans have never seen a [gray-headed albatross][36] or, for that matter, any albatross. And for good reason. The gray-headed albatross breeds in grassy tufts set high on the cliffs of remote islands in the seas just north of Antarctica. But the bird's true habitat is the tumultuous air above those seas. In April 1999, scientists fixed tiny locaters to the albatrosses in a cohort breeding on Bird Island, near South Georgia. The data retrieved \- a map of the migratory patterns of 22 birds - will help scientists understand where albatrosses are most likely to cross paths with fishing boats, which often hook and kill the birds with baited hooks floating just under the water's surface. That could make all the difference to this species, which belongs to the most threatened family of birds on the planet.' ** - -'This research also turned up some surprising glimpses of how albatrosses live. It was already known that they could fly at astonishingly high speeds with Antarctic storms at their backs, and scientists had guessed that the birds were capable of spending great lengths of time aloft. But half the birds in this study flew around the world - as much as 14,000 miles - and one of them did so in 46 days. This implies an ability simply to live on the wing, to rest and forage while making constant headway toward the east and, ultimately, their breeding grounds.' - -'As so often happens, the more we come to know about the life of any individual species, the better we understand how extensive the human impact on this planet really is. Few things seem more remote from our daily lives than the peregrinations of an albatross in the southernmost latitudes. And yet those birds, when they feed, are all too often the immediate victims of our appetite for fish.' - -'It's hard to say how many albatrosses are lost to legal and illegal long-lining ships, which trail enormous numbers of baited hooks behind them. But some estimates say they kill as many as 100,000 birds per year. The long-lining fishing fleet is overharvesting the air as well as the sea.' (Added 20 Jan 2005) - -**Waterfowl Identification- Canada/Cackling Goose Split.** - -**![][37]The [Overview of Canada/Cackling Goose Subspecies][38] has been updated in light of the recent decision by the American Ornithologists' Union to separate the commonly recognized subspecies of Canada Goose into two distinct species. Most of the larger forms remain as 'Canada Goose', whereas the smaller ones are lumped together as 'Cackling Goose'. (6 Oct 2004)** - -**Pelagic Bird Conservation- Betting on Albatrosses** - -**_And they're off_......... In an unusual partnership, the world's biggest bookmaker has teamed up with [Conservation Foundation][39] and the Tasmanian State Government to launch the [Ladbrook's Big Bird Race][40] also known as the 'ultimate flutter'. Scientists from the Tasmanian state government tagged 18 juvenile Shy Albatrosses with satellite transmitters and will follow their migration from Pedra Branca, Albatross Island and Mewstone, three islands lying off the Australian state to feeding grounds in the Benguela Current off Southern Africa. Ladbrokes.com will be offering a variety of bets on the 6000 mile 'race' and punters can follow the birds' progress on-line. Birds are sponsored by celebrity 'owners' including Queen Noor of Jordan ('The Ancient Mariner') and Brian May, the former guitarist for Queen ('Rocky').** - -**An estimated 300,000 seabirds die from longlining each year. One goal of the project is to encourage more countries to sign the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). ACAP requires signatory states to take specific measures to reduce seabird by-catch from longline fishing and improve the conservation status of the birds. Initially, only Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Spain and South Africa signed the agreement. The UK became the sixth country to ratify in April 2004. Ratification by the UK included the Overseas Territories of the Falklands, British Antarctic Territory and South Georgia/South Sandwich Islands but not Tristan da Cunha, which is crucial and which is due to ratify soon. Most pirate fishing vessels are owned by companies based in Taiwan, Spain, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, China and Equatorial Guinea. (Added 2 July 2004)** - -**New York Rarities- Bar-tailed Godwit** -**** -![][41] On Friday 28 May 2004, Ken and Sue Feustel discovered a nominate [Bar-tailed Godwit][42] on the flat at Mecox Bay, eastern Long Island. If accepted, this will be the sixth record for the state and first in 19 years. For more images of New York State rarities [click here][43]. (Added 29 May 2004).**** - -**Marine Mammals- New Whale Watching Magazine** -**** -Earlier this month, Rachel Saward launched [Whale and Dolphin Magazine][44]. This beautifully produced publication is aimed at whale and dolphin watchers in the United Kingdom but has plenty to interest enthusiasts further afield.**** - -**Pelagic Birding \- New Bay of Biscay Pelagics** - -**Adam Scott Kennedy has launched a new company [Ultimate Pelagics Ltd][45] offering multiday cruises to bird and mammal rich areas within Europe's hotspot for pelagic wildlife. Details of forthcoming trips are available at [www.ultimatepelagics.com][45].** - -**Pelagic Bird Conservation- Remembering Alec Zino** -** -** **Niklas Holmstrom posted the following sad news: "Paul Alexander (Alec) Zino, the Madeiran ornithologist and conservationist, passed away on 3 March 2004, aged 88. He gave his name to endemic species Zino's Petrel (_Pterodroma madeira_), which is near extinction with only 45 known breeding pairs. Subfossil evidence has revealed that the bird was once abundant on the island, but declined when the first settlers arrived in 1419. ** - -**Alec Zino was born at Quinta Margarida on Madeira on February 9 1916 and was educated in England, where he attended St Edmund's College, Ware, Herts, before going on to read Modern Languages at Christ's College, Cambridge. After graduation he returned to Madeira to work in the family property business.** - -You are welcome to read Brian Unwin's tribute to Alec Zino on: <http://madeira.seawatching.net/zino.html> - -**Give Alec a thought when visiting Madeira, Niklas Holmstrom" (6 April 2004)** - -**Pelagic Birding \- Update on New Zealand Storm-Petrel** - -**Seabird fanatics hoping to catch up with the newly rediscovered New Zealand Storm-Petrel can take heart in continuing sightings from the same area. Brent Stephenson reports that a 18 January trip into the Hauraki Gulf managed to attract 11 or more New Zealand Storm-Petrels to the boat and at times they were the most common species on view - not bad going for a bird that was presumed extinct this time last year! Take a look at the [superb photos and full story][46] on the Wrybill Tours site. (Added 21 Jan 2004)** - -****Where to Watch Seabirds - Madiera**** - -![][47]![][48] - -**Swedish birder, Niklas Holmstrm has created a wonderful web site about [birding and seawatching in the Madeira archipelago][49]. Appropriately named 'Birding Madeira', the site contains all the information you need for a trip to this fascinating archipelago situated in the North Atlantic off North Africa. There are sections on 'Travel info', 'Seawatching', 'Trip reports', 'Photo gallery' and selective lists of birds and more. Niklas is an ardent seawatcher and coauthor of [Flight Identification of European Seabirds][50] (Added 21 Jan 2004) ** - -****Frontiers in Bird ID - North American Juncos**** - -****![][51]**** - -**Juncos are a distinctive group of medium-sized Sparrows found throughout North and Central America. Dark-eyed Junco (_Junco hyemalis_) breeds in boreal habitat from Alaska to Newfoundland and winters widely across North America and into Mexico. The 'species' is highly variable in part due to extensive hybridization between different populations. Juncos present many identification and taxonomic challenges, relevant to birders throughout the USA and Canada. OceanWanderers is proud to archive a lively debate from ID-Frontiers Listerserv centered around [the identification of 'Oregon-type' and 'Pink-sided' juncos found in the eastern half of the continent][52]. An additional page features a [collection of odd juncos from the east][53]. (Added 16 Jan 2004).** - -**Pelagic Birding \- New Zealand Storm-Petrel Rediscovered** - -![][54] - -**The world of seabirds is always full of great surprises. Earlier this year (25th January 2003) a group of pelagic birders led by Brent Stephenson and Sav Saville ([Wrybill Birding Tours][55]) were off Whitianga, New Zealand and photographed an unfamiliar storm-petrel (above). Hitting the books, they came to the heady conclusion that this might be the supposedly extinct and certainly very poorly known New Zealand Storm-Petrel _Oceanites maorianus_. Review of the type specimen at the British Museum in Tring by Hadoram Shirihai and Bill Bourne strongly supports this identification. There almost no information on the natural history of this obscure seabird and there are only three specimens in existence, one at Tring and two in Paris. You can learn more about this extraordinary sighting and view Ian Southey's photos of all three specimens by visiting the dedicated page on the [Wrybill Tours][56] web site.** - -**So is the Whitianga bird a one off? The last of its kind? Apparently not! The thrilling news is that Bob Flood and Bryan Thomas, visiting birders from the UK, observed and photographed a flock of New Zealand Storm-Petrels off Little Barrier Island on 17 November 2003\. They saw 10 birds together, with up to 20 different birds visiting their chum slick over a period of 2 hours. An article on this exciting new development, written by Bob Flood, has just been published in [Birding World][57] (December 10th issue). Note that caption to Plates 6 & 7 is incorrect and should read, 'Black-bellied Storm-petrel _Fregetta tropica_ c.40 kms east of Southport, Queensland, Australia, November 15, 2003 (Bryan Thomas ...'. This additional sighting of multiple individuals should provide the necessary incentive for birders to work with the New Zealand Department of Conservation to quickly discover the breeding localities and ensure their protection. (Added 12 Dec 2003).** - -**Pelagic Birding - Birds and marine mammals of the Eastern Tropical Pacific** - -**![][58]** - -**Read the exclusive and richly illustrated web article aptly titled [Petrel Cocktail][59] written and illustrated by Hadoram Shirihai, describing a recent research cruise through the eastern Pacific starting in Costa Rica and landing in Peru by way of the Galapagos Islands. (Added 6 Dec 2003)** - -**Cetacean Taxonomy - Bryde's Whale split into three distinct species. ** - -**A scientific team led by Dr. Tadasu Yamada of Tokyo's National Science Museum used anatomical and molecular criteria to classify nine balaen whale specimens as belonging to a new species.Their results were published in the journal Nature [2003, 20 Nov. 426 (No 6964): 278-281]. ** - -**Named in honor of the late Dr. Hideo Omura, a celebrated Japanese cetacean biologist, the new whale (Balaenoptera omurai) closely resembles Bryde's Whale (B. brydei) and another cryptic species Eden's Whale (B. edeni). The specimens suggest that Omura's Whales occur mainly in the East China Sea and surrounding waters, with a crudely estimated population of at least 1,000. These exciting discoveries illustrate how little we really know about our marine mammals. How these species can be differentiated at sea remains an open and interesting question for whale watchers and scientists alike. (Added 29 Nov 2003)** - -**Tyrant flycatcher Identification \- ['Western Kingbird' from Geneseo in western New York or something more exotic?][60]** - -![][61] - -**This puzzling _Tyrannus_ flycatcher generated much discussion amongst North American birders. Suggestions ranged from Western, Couch's, Tropical and White-throated Flycatchers to hybrid combinations of Western or Couch's with Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Although the bird has since disappeared, the debate continues (Added 18 Nov 2003)** - -**Seabird Identification - [Unidentified Pterodroma petrel from Maui, Hawaii][62].** - -![][63] - -**Seabird Identification - Exciting news from the Bismarck Archipelago! ** - -**Working on his forthcoming tubenose monograph, Hadoram Shirihai discovered an unknown feeding ground for the [Heinroth's Shearwater][64] (_Puffinus heinrothi_), with c. 100 birds in a small area. He has generously provided OceanWanderers with the stunning shot posted below. Heinroth's Shearwater is one of the world's least known seabirds and Hadoram's photographs are probably the only images ever taken of the bird in the wild. There are a handful of unconfirmed at-sea sightings from this general area. The breeding grounds are not known with certainty, but most likely lie in the Solomons, east of Papua New Guinea. The same trip produced good numbers of Tahiti Petrels, some Beck's Petrels and a suspected Macgillivray's Petrel, among some other good seabirds and marine mammals. ** - -**Watch this space for more photos and an account of his thrilling adventure! (Added 25 Aug 2003)** - -![][65] - -**Seabird Identification - [Southern Mollymawk on Midway Island, Hawaii 8 April 2003 - Salvin's or Buller's?][66]** - -**[Latest Additions to OceanWanderers][67] Last updated 14 August 2003** - -**[Earlier additions to Ocean Wanderers (1999 to 2001)][68]** - -* * * - -**Main Content** - -**Pelagic Birding and Whale Watching** - -**[Seabird News Round Up][69]** -**[Where to Watch Seabirds][70]** -**[Books about Oceanic Birds and Mammals][71] ** -**[Annotated list of the Seabirds of the World][72]** -**[Annotated list of the Marine Mammals of the World][73]** - -**Shorebird identification** - -**[Shorebirds (Waders) of the World][74]** - -**Rarities and Bird Identification** - -**[Topics in Bird Identification][75]** **Last updated 20 Jan 2004** -**[Archive of Bird Photographs][76]** -**[New York State Rarities][43]** -**[Identification Articles in the Literature][77]** -**[Select List of Recommended Web Sites][78]** - -**Important Tip:** To view the many images on this site, set your monitor to 'real colors' or 'thousands of colors'. The pages may load a tiny bit slower but believe me it makes quite a difference to the image quality! - -[About me][79] - -[1]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/OWCover.10.2005.jpg -[2]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/OWOldcovers.html -[3]: %3Ca%20href=%22mailto:?subject=Check%20this%20out&body=Thought%20this%20might%20interest%20you:%20http://www.oceanwanderers.com%22%3E -[4]: http://oceanwanderers.com/unidBBGull.html -[5]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/unidBBG10.jpg -[6]: http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News -[7]: http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News?lnk=lr -[8]: http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News/subscribe -[9]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Nobuhiro_Hashimoto1.jpg -[10]: http://shorebirds.exblog.jp/ -[11]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Nobuhiro_Hashimoto2.jpg -[12]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/TD1Scope.6153.jpg -[13]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/KowaTD1.html -[14]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/BirdLifeInt.jpg -[15]: http://www.savethealbatross.net/ -[16]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/ph_14.jpg -[17]: http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/seabirds/longlining.html -[18]: http://www.cresli.org/ -[19]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Cresli.GtShwater.jpg -[20]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/GSC05_1_-439.jpg -[21]: http://www.heritage-expeditions.com/Home -[22]: http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/Marine/albatross.asp -[23]: http://www.doc.govt.nz/index.html -[24]: http://www.birdlife.org/action/campaigns/save_the_albatross/index.html -[25]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/SubAntNZAUS.html -[26]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Dunlin24052001cNDvS.jpg -[27]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/BlackPetrel.1412ss.jpg -[28]: http://www.wildwings.co.uk/ -[29]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Peep%20Sp.jpg -[30]: http://www.nzseabirds.com -[31]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/new_banner.jpg -[32]: http://www.kiwi-wildlife.co.nz -[33]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NZSP5.jpg -[34]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/SouthernRWDolpin.jpg -[35]: mailto:msanroman%40bluewin.ch -[36]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Gryh.Alb.html -[37]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CaGo.5442.jpg -[38]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html -[39]: http://www.conservationfoundation.co.uk/html/news/news_albatross.htm -[40]: http://www.ladbrokes.com/bigbirdrace/ -[41]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYBarTGodwit.0032s.jpg -[42]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYBarTailGodwit.html -[43]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYRarities.html -[44]: http://www.wdmag.co.uk/ -[45]: http://www.ultimatepelagics.com -[46]: http://www.wrybill-tours.com/idproblems/stormpet4.htm%20%0D -[47]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Bulwers_Petrel.jpg -[48]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Corys_Shearwater.jpg -[49]: http://madeira.seawatching.net/ -[50]: http://theflight.seawatching.net/ -[51]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Oct2003.jpg -[52]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html -[53]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID2.html -[54]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/nzsp_brent_stephenson.jpg -[55]: http://www.wrybill-tours.com/ -[56]: http://www.wrybill-tours.com/idproblems/stormpet.htm -[57]: http://www.birdingworld.co.uk/ -[58]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/PC.HS.JuanFernandezPetrel.JPG -[59]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/PetrelCocktail.html -[60]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYTyrannus.html -[61]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/kb37sm1.jpg -[62]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/MauiPetrel.html -[63]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/MauiPetrel.5.JPG -[64]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/HeinrothShear.html -[65]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/HS.HeinrothsShear.jpg -[66]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/MidwayAlbert.html -[67]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Stoppress.html -[68]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Past%20Additions2001.html -[69]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/SeabirdNews.index.html -[70]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/BestPelagics.html -[71]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/PelagicBooks.html -[72]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Seabird.Home.html -[73]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/Mammals.html -[74]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/OWShore.html -[75]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/OWIDT.html -[76]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/AngusBirdingPhotos.html -[77]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/AngusBirdingCoolstuff.html -[78]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/AngusBirdingWebSites.html -[79]: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/AboutAngus.html |