[obol] Belated RBA: re: Coos Birds 8/25-8/26/2007

[Greg Gillson]

On August 26 Tim Rodenkirk wrote:
"We also saw a mystery bird we tried to turn into a
Murphy's Petrel, I expect it's true identity will
remain unknown."

The description given to me by Tim and Eric Clough was of a very dark  
blackish-brown petrel (not medium-gray as Murphy's), smaller than  
adjacent Pink-footed Shearwater with little or no under wing flash and  
a black bill with a white ring of feathers completely encircling it.

This is an easy identification for one who obsesses about rare seabirds.

I have no doubt that the birders on board the Charleston pelagic trip  
on August 26th saw a GREAT-WINGED PETREL (Pterodroma macroptera),  
possibly the race called Gray-faced Petrel (P.m. gouldi), considered  
by many to be a distinct species.

Photo from Australia:
http://www.odolep.com/Australia/Australian%20Seabirds/great-winged%20petrel%202430.jpg

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Great-wingedPetrel(BS).jpg

Photo from Australia comparing with Providence (Solander's Petrel):
http://www.odolep.com/Australia/Australian%20Seabirds/providence%20petrel%202802.jpg

Two California records:
August 1996 and October 1998.
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/gwpe.htm
http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/Petrel_great-wing-jso-mb.jpg
http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/gwpe1.jpg

I encourage all who saw this bird to write up a description for the  
Oregon Bird Records Committee. Even if this sighting is not accepted  
as a first state record, it is important to have the description in  
the Committee files. This bird should definitely be watched for on  
fall pelagic trips, especially on the edge of deep water.

Greg Gillson
greg at thebirdguide.com
http://thebirdguide.com