Newport Pelagic: Hawaiian Petrel

Oregon Pelagic Tours   had a very successful April deepwater trip this past Saturday. I was looking forward to the trip in hopes of finding a Pterodroma (that means winged runner) petrel off the Oregon coast.  We stopped for our first chum at 220 fathoms, about 33 miles out, if I recall.  We then went out to the 1000 fathom line, about 50 miles out.  

At the fist stop we had a Laysan Albatross fly in.  I was trying to get a photo of its wings to try and age it based on the article by Peter Pyle in the recent Birding magazine.  Turned out I did not get any great shots.

This was my best effort. I need to see if the different patterns on this wing show different aged feathers in the secondaries that allow us to age the bird.  A project for a rainy day.

At the second stop we had a nice collection of Black-footed Albatross and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel.  That was it, nothing else until a Northern Fulmar decided to stop by. Until... we were all hanging out at the back of the boat.  I was on the downwind, sunny side of the boat.  I was looking for any bird making its way up the scent trail.  My eyes were getting lots of sun glare so I took a break and looked up wind and down sun across the deck of the boat (looked north).  I saw a flash of white as a bird veered up into the air.  I got my glasses on the bird and it looked large bodied, and about Sooty Shearwater in wingspan, I was thinking I had a very white bellied shearwater until I saw the narrow wings and longish tail.  By this time I was moving across the deck. I yelled petrel, and I think most of the rest of the birders saw the bird. I was trying to eliminate petrels in my head.   I think Jim D and Tim S both yelled out Hawaiian Petrel at about the same time. I could see its boldly patterned underwing and its face pattern of white forehead and a black cap.  I noticed the whole bird had a very overall bold pattern to it. I did not get a photo as the bird veered west and went out in front of the boat.  I guessed bird to be 150-200 yds away, but I accept the 100 yrd estimate.

I did notice the bird appeared in complete plumage, no wing molt.  A Galapagos Petrel would be more likely to be in wing molt this time of year.

According to the OBRC records and the Washington records, this is the most northern record of a HAPE in April, the April 30th date ties the earliest record in the year for the two states.  If accepted, it will be the 8th for Oregon.  There do seem to be a few records on eBird where a report was never submitted, but not many.  Most of those are from much farther offshore.

One of the other passengers, Stephen Rossiter , was kind to allow me to share his pictures on my blog.  Thanks Stephen!! I am trying to gather reports from other passengers to submit the details to the OBRC.

He cropped this from the above photo:

 My main problem was I got seasick for the fourth time in a row, I have sailed for years as a youngster and never had any issues.  Even on earlier pelagics, I was perfect. Something must be falling apart in my ears, age sucks.. but better than the alternative.

Thanks to Enterprise, its crew and our guides, Russ N, David M, Jim D, Tom S and the fearless leader Tim.

Thanks for visiting.  If I get anymore photos, I will add to this blog.

eBird reports as submitted by Tim and edited by myself for birds I actually saw.

Newport pelagic--Yaquina Bay, Lincoln, Oregon, US
Apr 30, 2016 6:00 AM - 6:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Oregon Pelagic Tours spring deepwater pelagic aboard Enterprise.
16 species

Harlequin Duck  1
Red-breasted Merganser  3
Common Loon  1
Brandt's Cormorant  20
Double-crested Cormorant  65
Pelagic Cormorant  40
Black-bellied Plover  40
Wandering Tattler  3
Whimbrel  8
Sanderling  1
Dunlin  30
Western Sandpiper  1285
Pigeon Guillemot  60
Western Gull  60
Caspian Tern  3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  4


Newport pelagic--northwest route 0-5 miles offshore, Lincoln, Oregon, US
Apr 30, 2016 6:20 AM - 6:53 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Oregon Pelagic Tours spring deepwater pelagic aboard Enterprise.
14 species (+2 other taxa)

Surf Scoter  3
Red-throated Loon  1
Pacific Loon  7
Common Loon  6
Sooty Shearwater  33
Brandt's Cormorant  1
Brown Pelican  2
Western Sandpiper  18
shorebird sp.  5
Common Murre  140
Rhinoceros Auklet  1
Tufted Puffin  1
Western Gull  10
California Gull  1
Glaucous-winged Gull  1
gull sp.  6

Newport pelagic -- NW route (combined locations), Lincoln, Oregon, US
Apr 30, 2016 6:53 AM - 10:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
28.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Oregon Pelagic Tours spring deepwater pelagic aboard Enterprise. Mammal: northern fur seal (seen by few). Jellies: velella velella (by-the wind sailors).
15 species (+2 other taxa)

Pacific Loon  1
Common Loon  3
Black-footed Albatross  29
Northern Fulmar  2
Pink-footed Shearwater  7
Sooty Shearwater  135
Red-necked Phalarope  2
shorebird sp.  10
Common Murre  54
Cassin's Auklet  1
Rhinoceros Auklet  8
Bonaparte's Gull  1
Western Gull  20
California Gull  24
Thayer's Gull  2     Seen by few.
Glaucous-winged Gull  10
gull sp.  48


OPT Chum Stop #1 4/30/16, Lincoln, Oregon, US
Apr 30, 2016 10:20 AM - 10:50 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments:     Oregon Pelagic Tours spring deepwater pelagic aboard Enterprise. 33 miles offshore; 220 fathoms.
6 species

Laysan Albatross  1
Black-footed Albatross  10
Northern Fulmar  1
Pink-footed Shearwater  1
Sooty Shearwater  6
Herring Gull  5


Newport pelagic -- NW route (combined locations), Lincoln, Oregon, USApr 30, 2016 10:50 AM - 12:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
17.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Oregon Pelagic Tours spring deepwater pelagic aboard Enterprise. Traveling offhore, past Windy Island to 1000 fathoms.
6 species (+2 other taxa)

Black-footed Albatross  5
Northern Fulmar  1
Sooty Shearwater  2
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel  1
phalarope sp.  2
Common Murre  2
Rhinoceros Auklet  2
gull sp.  3


OPT Chum Stop #2 4/30/16, Lincoln, Oregon, US
Apr 30, 2016 12:20 PM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments:     Oregon Pelagic Tours spring deepwater pelagic aboard Enterprise. Chum stop at 1000 fathom line.
6 species

Black-footed Albatross  20
Northern Fulmar  1
Hawaiian Petrel  1     First spotted by Bob Archer.  Soared to within 100 yards of boat before veering away.  Good views obtained by most. Soaring flight with no flapping.  Large pterofdroma petrel with long wings showing a prominent wrist.  White underparts, with dark wing tips and leading edge, especially near wrist.  Fresh plumage, brownish above with dark cap extending down to dark cheek, white forehead.  Observed1:28 pm, 50.4 miles offshore.  GPS: 44.82883, -125.23883.
Pink-footed Shearwater  1
Sooty Shearwater  2
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel  50


Newport pelagic -- NW route (combined locations), Lincoln, Oregon, USApr 30, 2016 2:00 PM - 5:33 PM
Protocol: Traveling
45.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Oregon Pelagic Tours spring deepwater pelagic aboard Enterprise.  Return to 5 miles from shore.  Mammals: Pacific white-sided dolphin, northern right whale dolphin. Jellies: velella velella (by-the wind sailors).
7 species (+1 other taxa)

Black-footed Albatross  10
Northern Fulmar  1
Pink-footed Shearwater  3
Sooty Shearwater  40
Common Murre  3
Rhinoceros Auklet  7
California Gull  4
gull sp.  4