Alcid - Offshore, Ventura, California (1 Viewer)

mustap

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2015

• #1

Single unidentified Alcid took flight ahead of Island Packers boat returning from Santa Cruz Island. (closer to Ventura Harbor) - in Santa Barbara Channel i believe.

 

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chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Sep 24, 2015

• #2

With the white on the head curving up behind the ear coverts and, in #1in particular, pale scapulars, Marbled Murrelet for me.

 

P

Po'ouli

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2015

• #3

I think a juvenile Common Murre would be a better fit. They are abundant in this area, while Marbled Murrelets are rare south of Point Conception.

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Sep 25, 2015

• #4

Common Murre ( Common Guillemot ) would have proportionally shorter wings, be much more cleanly marked ( in black and white, the bird in the photos appears more greyish in tone ), would have a longer / sharper looking bill, even allowing for foreshortening, and be indistinguishable from an adult if it had reached the stage where it was able to fly.

 

P

Po'ouli

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2015

• #5

chris butterworth said:

Common Murre ( Common Guillemot ) would have proportionally shorter wings, be much more cleanly marked ( in black and white, the bird in the photos appears more greyish in tone ), would have a longer / sharper looking bill, even allowing for foreshortening, and be indistinguishable from an adult if it had reached the stage where it was able to fly.

Click to expand...

I meant to say juvenile or molting adult. I just saw hundreds off Monterey that looked just like this one. They are not cleanly marked at this stage. I'm not saying it couldn't be a MAMU, but I think overall a Common Murre is a better fit.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Sep 25, 2015

• #6

Agree with Chris, not a Common Murre.

 

S

Stuart Matthews

Well-known member

• Sep 25, 2015

• #7

It doesn't look like Common Murre (Guillemot) to me either.

 

mustap

Well-known member

• Sep 28, 2015

• #8

Having spent some more time on the water, I am quite convinced the bird in question is a Cassin's Auklet. I got some much better views, and captured sequence of shots transitioning into those similar to the attached views. Thank you all for the feedback.

 

Chris Benesh

So much work, so little time...so let's go birding

• Sep 29, 2015

• #9

Well done mustap! Late to the party, but agree with Cassin's Auklets.