copyright 2003 Shearwater Journeys

Species = Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis
Number, sex, age, general plumage = One individual
County = MTY - Monterey
Locality = 3.1 NM off Point Joe. First sighting at 36degrees 37.0' by 122degrees 01.4'. We broke off at 36,37.3' by 122.02.0'
Date(s) seen = 29 October 2003
Time seen = 2:07pm to 3:45pm
Reporting observer = Don Doolittle
Other observers = Debi Shearwater, Peter Pyle, group from ABA IFO workshop, Boat Skipper Tinker
Original finder(s) = I first heard Debi Shearwater call attention to the bird. However she and Peter were around the corner of the wheelhouse and I don't know who first spotted it. Debi was the first to ID the bird as a Little Shearwater. I was sitting on the bow. Light conditions = Bright Sun, 3 foot swells, 10 naut wind, At times during sighting we had bright sun behind us.
Optical equipment = Leica 8x42 binoculars
Distance = varied from 50-60' at first to 80-100 on subsequent sightings.
Duration of observation = 1st sighting 10 seconds. 2nd 10 minutes. 3rd sighting 25 minutes
Habitat = Open ocean. Stayed close to the wave tops. Water temp 58.5 to 58.8 degrees.
Behavior = Bird 1st seen flying. Then a pattern of sitting near a gull and flying off as the boat approached to a distance of a few hundred yards. Then sitting down again near a gull to repeat the pattern. Flight pattern was several very rapid wingbeats similar to an alcid, then easy shearwater like glide low to the water. Each time the bird flew it tried to take off into the wind. We followed it for about a mile and saw 8-10 takeoffs like this. Near the end of observation the bird dove very briefly (~5 seconds max) and shallowly twice.
Description = 1st sighting -side view. Black on top, white belly & wing linings. White on flanks like golf balls on a tree swallow. Dark rump. Looked like a small-scale shearwater - Much smaller than a short-tailed shearwater. 2nd view saw white face, white under the tail/vent. 3rd view saw eye variously in and out of the black. This may be due to sun or smudginess around eye. On third view saw fleeting glimpse of the feet which I saw as grey.
Voice = None heard
Similar species = Smaller than any shearwater I've seen. Color distinctly black and white. Feet distinctly some shade of grey.
Photographs = Debi Shearwater photographed it extensively.
Previous experience = I have been on about 40 pelagic trips and have seen the standard Monterey Bay Shearwaters including Sooty, Bullers and Pinkfooted many times and Flesh Footed, Short-tailed and Black-vented more irregularly and Cory's and Streaked once each (not on Monterey Bay). I have seen many alcids, including 1000's in the Aleutians. I have not previously seen this specie.
References consulted during observation = Peterson's Seabirds after 1st sighting and before second sighting almost an hour later.
References consulted after observation = Peterson's Seabirds
Notes immediately after observation = yes
Are you positive? = Yes
Why not positive = My only doubt would be about my seeing the eye in and out of the black at various times. I hope the photos will address this.
Today's date: 6 November 20103

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