July 24, 2002; S Padre Island; TRIP REPORT
Aboard the Osprey II
Subject: July 24 South Padre Island pelagic
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2002 20:20:40 -0500
From: Brad McKinney
The Brownsville International Birding Festival SPI pelagic (July 24) went very well. The conditions couldn’t have been better with glassy seas the entire day (the only waves seen were from our boat wake!). Best bird was an extremely cooperative Leach’s Storm Petrel, seen flying off the bow for several minutes in the presence of a Band-rumped Storm Petrel. In all, we had 57 Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, one Leach’s SP, and one unidentified storm-petrel (probable Leach’s). Had good looks at both Bridled and Sooty Terns. It still seems to be a little early for shearwaters, but we did pick up two Cory’s. We also had wonderful looks at a lethargic Loggerhead Sea Turtle and bow-riding (pelagic) Bottlenose Dolphins. Other than seven unidentified dark herons, a Purple Martin, and a Cave Swallow (all in deepwater!) there were no migrants seen.
Thanks.
Brad McKinney
FINAL TRIP LIST :
TOTAL PELAGIC SPECIES – 7
TOTAL PELAGIC SEABIRDS – 186
Masked Booby (1)- subadult
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (57)
Leach’s Storm-Petrel (1)
storm-petrel sp. (1) probable Leach’s
Cory’s Shearwater (2)
Bridled Tern (48)
Sooty Tern (77)
LANDBIRD MIGRANTS Sp:
unidentified dark herons – 7
Purple Martin – 1
Cave Swallow – 1
SEA TURTLE Sp.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
OCEANOGRAPHIC AND WEATHER CONDITIONS:
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