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Seabird seen in flight - South West Victoria - Australia (1 Viewer)

kerrybv

kerrybv

Well-known member
Solitary bird seen flying low over the ocean off the coast at Nullawarre (between Peterborough and Warrnambool) this morning. Size and shape, bill and feather colour made me think Southern Fulmar, but am far from confident so would appreciate ID assistance

Very distant so photo quality poor I'm afraid
 

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It's an albatross, mostly likely a Thalassarche sp. based on the dark leading edge to the wing, the overall jizz and what looks like a grey back. It doesn't appear to have the dark 'thumbprints' in its armpits that you would expect of a Shy/Salvin's/Chatham Albatross. But the underwings are too extensively white for most of the other species. It may actually be a Diomedia of some description as the trailing edge fits better for this genus, but someone who is better on the albatrosses than me would need to make the call, as I can't work out anything more from that picture
 
MikeMules said:
It's an albatross, mostly likely a Thalassarche sp. based on the dark leading edge to the wing, the overall jizz and what looks like a grey back. It doesn't appear to have the dark 'thumbprints' in its armpits that you would expect of a Shy/Salvin's/Chatham Albatross. But the underwings are too extensively white for most of the other species. It may actually be a Diomedia of some description as the trailing edge fits better for this genus, but someone who is better on the albatrosses than me would need to make the call, as I can't work out anything more from that picture
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike, that's a great help, I was miles off! Hopefully someone might be able to pin it down
 
Shy Albatross for mine (White-capped impossible to exclude if you consider them separate species).

Pale bill, proportionally long wings, and very narrow dark border to the underwing rule out other contenders. Underwing and upperwing/upperbody pattern rule out any of the larger Diomedea albatrosses
 
John_WA said:
Shy Albatross for mine (White-capped impossible to exclude if you consider them separate species).

Pale bill, proportionally long wings, and very narrow dark border to the underwing rule out other contenders. Underwing and upperwing/upperbody pattern rule out any of the larger Diomedea albatrosses
Click to expand...
Thanks John, much appreciated
 
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