MONTEREY BAY: PELAGIC BIRDS
STORM-PETRELS THROUGH PHALAROPES 
text & most photos by Don Roberson
those attributed to other photographers are
used with permission; all rights reserved.
These pages feature the regular pelagic birds to be found on Monterey Bay boat trips, but each species has its own season. Of course, not all birds will be found every trip, even in the prime season. All photos on this page were taken on Monterey Bay (except for one San Diego photo so labeled). We continue with storm-petrels through phalaropes.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel occurs only in very small numbers among the huge flocks of Ashy and Black Storm-Petrels in Sep-Oct. Usually they are difficult to spot among the swirling flocks, but this one in Oct 1982 (left & right) was the closest bird to the boat!
Photos above © D. Roberson, 3 Oct 1982 (both shots) . Photos below © D. Roberson, 25 Aug 1983 (left) & 18 Apr 1995 (right).
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel is most often found well offshore, but one might highlight a winter Monterey Bay trip. It is most often seen near-shore, however, after gale force winds force storm-petrels into harbors or along the shoreline. Scoping during major storms can be productive, but rarely a smattering will linger a few days right off Monterey wharves, as these in August 1983 and April 1995.
Photos below © D. Roberson 3 Oct 1982
Ashy Storm-Petrel is a regular visitor to Monterey Bay, and records span the seasons, but by far the highest concentrations occur in autumn (Aug-Nov, peak Sep-Oct). At that season, perhaps 90% of the world's population may form dense flocks and roost over the north rim of the Monterey Bay canyon. Black Storm-Petrels (below) join these flocks in numbers, but 7 species have occurred in them over the years. Ashy Storm-Petrel (left) is our "standard" all-dark storm-petrel, decidedly smaller than Black, and often look like they have an "upturned" tail in flight (note the center bird). They are a dark ashy-gray color, and not really blackish like Black, Wilson's, and Least storm-petrels.
Photo below © D. Roberson 25 Sep 1979
Black Storm-Petrel is a regular fall (Aug-Oct) visitor, when many may be present, but numbers vary year-to-year. Most of those shown in the photo (right) are Blacks; you can pick out just a few smaller Ashys. In flight, Black Storm-Petrel has a languid, butterfly-like stoke with long forked tails (see photo below, far right).
Photos below © D. Roberson 3 Oct 1982 (left) & © Robert Copper 8 Sep 1979 from a boat trip offshore San Diego (right)
Least Storm-Petrel is a scarce visitor during warm-water years. Most records are from September in the large storm-petrel flocks on the Bay. It is a very tiny, very black, direct-flying, and almost 'tail-less' looking storm-petrel. In a shot from offshore San Diego (far right), Leasts are seen flying among the much larger Blacks. Look at the lower two birds: long-tailed Black to left, and much smaller, and very short-tailed Least to its right. There are very few photos of Least Storm-Petrel from Monterey Bay, but in this shot (near left) note the almost 'tail-less' appearance, the very short neck and short, broad wings.
Photos below © D. Roberson, 18 Apr 1995 (left) & 9 May 1996 (right; Zmudowski SB)
Red Phalarope is a very common migrant offshore during both spring and fall migrations. By far the bulk of the movement occurs beyond sight of the coastline, but birds are routinely found on pelagic trips in season. Sometimes, strong NW winds push thousands into Monterey Bay. In some years good numbers winter offshore, and can also be pushed inside Monterey Bay during storms.

 
Compared to Red-necked Phalarope (below), Red is a larger, bulkier bird with a shorter, stout bill (pale base to lower mandible as close range). The gray color of basic-plumaged birds (left) is paler than Red-necked, and the white wingstripe broader. In spring, we see a variety of plumages from full basic to full alternate; the one shown to the right is showing much body molt.
Photo below © D. Roberson 3 Aug 1981 at Salinas R. mouth
Red-necked Phalarope is a common spring and fall migrant, with much of the movement offshore. However, unlike Red, good numbers of Red-necks are also seen annually on shore at beach margins and scattered throughout interior ponds. On fall boat trips, Red-necked is usually more common than Red, and it occurs from the shoreline to far offshore. This stretching juvenal bird (left) shows the darker gray color to the upperparts than the paler gray of Red Phalarope, and the shorter and crisper wingstripe. Note the very thin and somewhat longer bill of Red-necked Phalarope. 
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Page created 6-22 Nov 2002