Scripps's Murrelets (Synthliboramphus scrippsi) - Tofino, BC
Yesterday I had the most amazing pelagic I think of my life and we didn't even find a fishing boat. This has now topped the two pelagics where I've seen 3 Short-tailed albatross and 15 Laysan. We first saw a Manx Shearwater that Tom Plath spotted by Cleland Island and then Liron Gertsman spotted a Slaty-backed Gull in the same flock. As we headed out to pelagic waters Mike Toochin, myself and Ilya Povalyaev spotted a Guadalupe Murrelet! It was less than ten feet from the boat! It's insane to have that bird not way further out it's only BC's 3rd record! Liron and Ilya got some great photos of it. To see it check out the BC RBA here bcbirdalert.blogspot.com/2019/08/rba-guadalupe-murrelet-a...
Next I, Mike Toochin and Mark Wynja spotted 2 Scripps's Murrelets and several miles later Liron Gerstman spotted 2 more Scripps's Murrelets. It was a pretty magical day I got 3 lifers and 3 BC birds and we had 4 provincial rarities!. I am still reeling and happy I could share it with such great people. Thanks to ocean outfitters and Captain Ron for such a special day!
Scripps's Murrelets (Synthliboramphus scrippsi) - Tofino, BC
Yesterday I had the most amazing pelagic I think of my life and we didn't even find a fishing boat. This has now topped the two pelagics where I've seen 3 Short-tailed albatross and 15 Laysan. We first saw a Manx Shearwater that Tom Plath spotted by Cleland Island and then Liron Gertsman spotted a Slaty-backed Gull in the same flock. As we headed out to pelagic waters Mike Toochin, myself and Ilya Povalyaev spotted a Guadalupe Murrelet! It was less than ten feet from the boat! It's insane to have that bird not way further out it's only BC's 3rd record! Liron and Ilya got some great photos of it. To see it check out the BC RBA here bcbirdalert.blogspot.com/2019/08/rba-guadalupe-murrelet-a...
Next I, Mike Toochin and Mark Wynja spotted 2 Scripps's Murrelets and several miles later Liron Gerstman spotted 2 more Scripps's Murrelets. It was a pretty magical day I got 3 lifers and 3 BC birds and we had 4 provincial rarities!. I am still reeling and happy I could share it with such great people. Thanks to ocean outfitters and Captain Ron for such a special day!