Swinhoe's Petrel (Richard Bonser)- 80% success rate on these pelagic trips
A worn bird, moulting it's inner primaries this time of year is diagnostic of an adult band-rumped petrel from the summer breeding population which based on the locality is the recently described Monteiro's Petrel (Richard Bonser)
Considering South Polar Skuas are known from geolocator studies to cross the mid-Atlantic this time of year, a large skua in the Azores in August should cause concern. However this individual is moulting it's outer primaries and also has golden flecking around the head and nape and a darkish mask- features which indicate it's a first cycle Great Skua completing it's first cycle moult. (Richard Bonser and thanks to Rich and Dani Lopez for comments on id)
Bulwer's Petrel
Great Shearwater
Cory's Shearwater
Fin Whale- seen from Terceira island by myself and Jaffa who did some exploring in other areas while the main group were concentrating on the Bank of Fortune
Beaked Whales- probably Sowerby's but could be Gervais'. Seen from the Terceira to Graciosa Ferry (Richard Bonser)
Short-billed Dowitcher in the Cabo da Praia quarry. The pelagic starts at Terceira with a morning in the quarry.
Semipalmated Sandpiper in the Cabo da Praia quarry
The Azores Pelagic Vessel (Sofia Goulart)
The 2014 team led by Richard Bonser (Martin Scott)
Bird Species recorded: Monteiro's Petrel, Swinhoe's Petrel, Grant's Petrel, Wilson's Petrel, Bulwer's Petrel, Great, Cory's, Barolo, Sooty and Manx Shearwater, Sooty Tern, Long-tailed, Pomarine, Arctic and Great Skua and Arctic Tern
Cetaceans recorded: Sperm Whale, Common, Spotted and Bottlenose Dolphin, Sowerby's/Gervais Beaked Whale (Fin Whale on Terceira)
More from Rich here: Azores Pelagic 2014 and HERE
and daily report from Stephen Dunstan HERE
This year's itinerary HERE
To book a place on next year's trip please email me littleoakgroup@btinternet.com
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