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
View 2007 – 2009 Texas Pelagics Tracks in a larger map
Click on the box in the upper left of the map to view the map legend.
Click on each Pelagic Course and the data label will appear with the date of the trip.
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