fulmarus glacialis
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California
For some reason I don’t recall, I recently decided to look back at my photos from the whale-seeking trip I took out into the Pacific Ocean off San Diego when I was out there for work several years ago..
I knew I’d taken photos of some other birds I’d seen from the boat, but since there was no naturalist and no other birders on the trip to consult with, I’d declined to identify them. But looking carefully at them now, I’m convinced that at least one of those other birds is identifiable as a Norther Fulmar.
It’s stocky, with all dark gray/brown plumage and a large bill that looks pale-colored. I can see a dark smudge around the eye, another Fulmar field mark. I only remember that it was quite a ways from the boat, traveling north in a straight line low over the water.
He’s my original photo.
And here’s a cropped and lightened version.
