BajaNomad

What bird are we saving?

shari - 9-5-2012 at 10:00 AM

Last evening at the beach we found this little guy near dead rolling in the surf so we pulled him out and he started to perk up a bit when he got drier. He is resting now and we will see if he can fly at dusk...the kids studying birds at the islands here said it was a nocturnal Murre but I'm not sure about that due to the curved beak.

Big Oly...what do you think? or anyone else of course...



Here is a cousin of his praying for his recuperation. It was when I stopped to take this raven's photo when we saw the drowning bird.

Osprey - 9-5-2012 at 10:52 AM

Nice save, great pix. My book says Red Breasted merganser

Bird

tehag - 9-5-2012 at 11:11 AM

Pigeon Guillemot - Cephus columba

Pretty much a guess. Bird appears immature. Seems much too small for a merganser.

Taco de Baja - 9-5-2012 at 11:16 AM

Looks like an immature Albatross to me.....But I'm not a birder :)

shari - 9-5-2012 at 11:19 AM

looks like a merganser curved bill at the tip...my book says guillemots have straight bills...hmmm

DENNIS - 9-5-2012 at 11:56 AM

Good save...whatever it is.

tripledigitken - 9-5-2012 at 11:56 AM

juvenile frigatebird?

After looking at more photos of fb's, I don't think it is one, they don't have webbed feet.

[Edited on 9-5-2012 by tripledigitken]

Bob H - 9-5-2012 at 12:03 PM

Possibly a very young Black Footed Albatross

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-footed_albatross/id

shari - 9-5-2012 at 12:19 PM

his/her beak is black and feet are pinky gray/black

still a mystery then

Skipjack Joe - 9-5-2012 at 12:38 PM

Petrel? or a Jaegar?

I think it's too small to be a jaegar. So I'll go with petrel. But I have little confidence in that because I've never seen one before.

I don't think it's any of the forementioned species.

Taco de Baja - 9-5-2012 at 12:40 PM

According to a bird expert at my office it's a black-vented shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas). Lots out on Isla Natividad.
Quote:
The Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) is a species of seabird. The bird is 30–38 cm in size, with a 76–89 cm wingspan. Formerly considered a subspecies of the Manx Shearwater, its actual relationships are unresolved[1].

This species is pelagic, occurring in the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. It comes closer to land than most other shearwaters, so it sometimes can be seen from shore[2]. It predominantly nests on offshore islands off north and western Baja California, namely Isla de Guadalupe, Islas San Benito and Isla Natividad. It is fairly common off the United States coast of central and southern California during the country's colder months.

Black-vented Shearwater is thought to feed on mainly small fish. This bird nests in burrows and caves; it is a colonial nester.

In the past, this bird had been threatened by feral cats and other predators on its breeding islands[3], but the problem seems to have been largely eliminated. There is some loss of birds from commercial gill netting, and the species is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN mainly due to the uncertain impact on it by the expanding fishing industry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-vented_Shearwater



[Edited on 9-5-2012 by Taco de Baja]

Bird

tehag - 9-5-2012 at 03:57 PM

Black-vented shearwater sounds good to me. I took another look at that bill, and it is just right for that species. Size and range right on.

shari - 9-5-2012 at 04:59 PM

I think we may have a winner...the beak sure is similar.....here are some more photos of Suzie shearwater...she's still very weak so she may have to spend another day in mi casa.





BigOly - 9-5-2012 at 05:53 PM

I agree, Black-vented Shearwater. Me and this European Starling wish him/her the best.

Bob H - 9-5-2012 at 06:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tehag
Black-vented shearwater sounds good to me. I took another look at that bill, and it is just right for that species. Size and range right on.


Or, with those pink feet, possibly a pink-footed shearwater.

http://www.pinkfootedshearwater.org/

We are praying for Suzie shearwater's recovery soon !!

willardguy - 9-5-2012 at 06:54 PM

oh my! I hope thats not a red breasted black footed crowned loggerhead turtle killing nocturnal shearwater!
I'll go ahead and apologize in advance.:rolleyes:

redhilltown - 9-5-2012 at 11:23 PM

Wishin the best for Suzie...the name made me laugh :tumble:

I LOVE reports such as these on Nomads.

Iflyfish - 9-6-2012 at 07:32 AM

Now that's one very lucky bird! I would change places with it in a heartbeat! Good one Shari!!

Iflyfish

shari - 9-6-2012 at 08:04 AM

thank you oh noble bird brains for solving the mystery of our house guest...I knew you would! Suzy is doing well today and we will see if she can fly.

Bajagypsy - 9-6-2012 at 08:50 AM

These pictures brought back memories of when we first meet you many moons ago, and you had a pet owl. Mr. Gypsy and I thought that was the coolest thing we had ever seen!

I also remember the kid gypsy's being excited when you had a sea gull (i think maybe a pelican) in a milk crate that you were saving.

motoged - 9-6-2012 at 08:52 AM

Shari,
Have you given Suzie some of your coffee yet? It always got me going in the morning :biggrin:

That pic of the raven on the cross is tremendous :coolup:

shari - 9-6-2012 at 12:35 PM

gracias Ged....as Gypsy mentioned we often have birds at the Inn....but Suzie checked out this morning after a lovely rest with us....she flew over to the kelp bed for breakfast and we hope she has fully recovered....wonder who our next feathered guest will be?

Bob H - 9-6-2012 at 06:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
Suzie checked out this morning after a lovely rest with us....she flew over to the kelp bed for breakfast and we hope she has fully recovered....wonder who our next feathered guest will be?


Wonderful news. What did you do to save her?