Possible Scopoli’s Shearwaters Fuerteventura? (1 Viewer)

[KenM]

During strong winds last week (30-40 knots)
I noted circa a dozen Cory’s Shearwaters in the bay at Caleta de Fuste for two days at least.
Thinking this was unusual behaviour and fortuitous, giving me life times best views of Cory’s Shearwater.
However now looking at the underwing (and after being prompted on another thread), I’m thinking these might be Scopoli’s Shearwaters, anybody like to comment?

Cheers

 

[THE_FERN]

You can rule several of these out immediately, I think, because the white doesn't extent far into the primaries. Others are more interesting...

 

[KenM]

You can rule several of these out immediately, I think, because the white doesn't extent far into the primaries. Others are more interesting...

I’m more interested in the one’s you can’t rule out immediately A.
I really need some form on post breeding behaviour for both “species,” this I suspect could only come from local birders?
On several images, the white shafting to the inner primaries is pretty obvious as is also the “single” black dot?
Initially on the Tuesday, there were circa a dozen in the bay reduced to six on the following Wed-Thursday where there was much “social interaction” which all coincided with the unabated 30-40 knot winds from the NEast.
I have to assume that their “perceived” rarity status is perhaps a hindrance to more comment?

Cheers

 

[P T Treloar]

I seem to recall Bob Flood, Scilly Pelagics was asking for photos of Cory's / Scopoli's so he may be grateful to see your photos. I have sea watched from Caleta on numerous occasions most recently April and May this year and seen Cory's regularly and sometimes in the hundreds passing or feeding. Late afternoon can see many birds moving usually North. I have also wondered whether Scopoli's and Cape Verde Shearwaters could be overlooked in these movements. I would be interested to hear Bobs comments,

 

[KenM]

I seem to recall Bob Flood, Scilly Pelagics was asking for photos of Cory's / Scopoli's so he may be grateful to see your photos. I have sea watched from Caleta on numerous occasions most recently April and May this year and seen Cory's regularly and sometimes in the hundreds passing or feeding. Late afternoon can see many birds moving usually North. I have also wondered whether Scopoli's and Cape Verde Shearwaters could be overlooked in these movements. I would be interested to hear Bobs comments,

Hope to be posting “front of” as opposed to “back of” camera later…

 

[_pauls]

Hope to be posting “front of” as opposed to “back of” camera later…

If you have a modern-ish phone you should be able to transfer images to it via NFC without any extra kit, judging by the NFC logo on the screen (and it being a Sony)

 

[Mike Crawley]

I seem to recall Bob Flood, Scilly Pelagics was asking for photos of Cory's / Scopoli's so he may be grateful to see your photos.

Bob's request concerned bird's photographed in Scillonian waters (mainly from his superb Scilly pelagic outings). That said, with his experience, he would be able to tell us whether these birds are Scopoli's or not. Unfortunately he’s currently out of the country and may not be able to access e-mail.

 

[KenM]

FWIW here are some of the originals, challenging is an understatement, when dealing with these Shearwaters, unless you have perfect “classic examples”of both, overlapping and variability within these two “species” does give real cause for concern!😮
That said, if I’ve “read the tea leaves” correctly?
the “no-no” for the underwing of Cory’s Shearwater is the absence of pale/white centre shafting between p10-p6, obviously subject to the “interpretation” of the prevailing lighting at the time.
For me, the whole experience was double edged, with the behavioural aspect of the birds present eclipsing the ID, to see a truly pelagic species so relatively close was simply incongruous!

Cheers