Hoping someone can help identify what these birds are. This video was taken from Redondo Beach in California on Dec 28th, 2021. Large flock of birds that appear to be going after schools of fish. There were hundreds of birds but unfortunately too far away to get any closeups. Sorry about background noise. It was windy. Thanks.
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California large flock over ocean (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tui-time
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- california ocean seabird
Good spot. Yes, there were a few dolphins as well. Some beautiful pelicans too.Looks like a fascinating sight - sorry I cannot help you with bird ID. But were there also 2 dolphins at 15 seconds?
and welcome
dantheman
Bah humbug
Can't help specifically either, but yes, 2 smaller cetaceans in there. Also a darker bird left to right through the middle (Cormorant?), look like majority are small greyish white petrels, with some mid size black and white shearwaters and maybe a few larger dark shearwaters? With at least one grey and white bird diagonally middle right to bottom left at the end, and a black-backed, white-headed bird on the near left side on the sea, a gull? Something (a wader?) called too.
Look forward to hearing what is actually there or likely for that lot lol! And welcome to BF.
Look forward to hearing what is actually there or likely for that lot lol! And welcome to BF.
Just guesses really, based on what's likely to be about in mid-winter . . .
Big numerous blackish things whizzing about could be shearwaters - thus black-vented shearwater and/or short-tailed shearwater.
I guess the masses of smaller pale stuff low over/in the water are terns - if so, Forster's terns? - or possibly royal terns.
There are a few big dark-backed gulls wheeling around - presumably western gulls.
This needs a local hero's views.
Big numerous blackish things whizzing about could be shearwaters - thus black-vented shearwater and/or short-tailed shearwater.
I guess the masses of smaller pale stuff low over/in the water are terns - if so, Forster's terns? - or possibly royal terns.
There are a few big dark-backed gulls wheeling around - presumably western gulls.
This needs a local hero's views.
connorco
Well-known member
The Shearwaters should be Black-vented. They are the expected shearwater this far south, and the only ones that are going to be in concentrations of this size anywhere along the California coast at this time of year. Due to the quality of the video, I can't see the gulls well, but it's usually safe to bet that they are Westerns being that size down in LA.
Thanks very much. I thought it would be difficult to say with any certainty. And thanks for the welcome.
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