South Padre Island TEXAS PELAGIC September 8, 2007

Aboard   the Osprey II

Subject: SPI pelagic summary 

Date:   Sun, 9 Sep 2007 19:09:35 GMT

From:   Brad McKinney

The following is a brief summary of species seen on yesterday’s, 8 Sep 07,

South Padre Island pelagic organized by Travis Audubon.

Eric Carpenter and others may provide more detailed accounts later. The highlight of the trip was a surprisingly diverse flock of seabirds seen soon after reaching deepwater. Included in the flock were Sooty and Bridled Terns, Cory’s (4) and Audubon’s (2) Shearwaters, an adult Masked Booby, and amazingly two Texas review species- Brown Booby and Brown Noddy!

In all we had 10 seabird species, including three sulids and an extended study of a Parasitic Jaeger.

The weather was nice, with calm seas, light winds, and blue oceanic water fairly   close to shore (about 30 miles out). Loads of flying fish.

Unofficial  list of species with approximate numbers (low estimates):

Cory’s  Shearwater (~12)

Audubon’s Shearwater (5-7)

Masked Booby (3-4)

Brown Booby (1)

Northern Gannet (1)

Magnificent Frigatebird (3)

Brown Noddy (1)

Sooty Tern (~15)

Bridled Tern (~5)

Parasitic Jaeger (1)

Brad   McKinney

Rancho Viejo

Link to Photo Gallery: All photography copyrighted ©Garett Hodne 2007.

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OCEANOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS for Sept. 8, 2007