On 26 August an ABA Code-5 Great-winged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera) was photographed on a Shearwater Journeys' pelagic trip out of Monterey Bay, California, first spotted by Abe Borker and Jeri Langham.
The previous three ABA-area records of Great-winged were also from California waters, the 18 October 1998 sighting was from Monterey Bay where it became the cover photograph for ABA’s NAB: 53. The individual that was photographed on 18 September 2010 was also from Monterey Bay. The three ABA-area records are of the subspecies P. m. gouldi (ABA Checklist, Seventh Edition, Pranty et al.). This subspecies has been elevated to species rank by some authors where it is then called Gray-faced Petrel.
The Great-winged Petrel subspecies, P. m. gouldi, is endemic to New Zealand, breeding mainly off the northeast coast of North Island. At sea, it is usually solitary, sometimes making fly-bys of pelagic boats. Compared to P. m. macroptera, P. m. gouldi has a stouter bill, longer wings, and a paler face (Albatrosses, Petrels & Shearwaters of the World, Onley and Scofield).
Great-winged Petrel is a Southern Hemisphere species normally found in the southeast Atlantic, southern Indian, and southwest Pacific oceans between 25⁰ and 50⁰ S.
More information along with excellent images can be found at:
http://shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/08/breaking-news-great-winged-petrel.html
This most recent record, 26 August 2011, was also of the "gouldi" race, or as it has been split by others in the world of seabirds, Grey-faced Petrel.
Posted by: Debi Shearwater | September 02, 2011 at 10:14 PM