Bird Overboard

[Neraida]

As we came into the marina this evening we spotted a bird struggling in the water that was too waterlogged to be able to get out. At first we thought it was a bat because it was quite small and had large wings but realised it wasn't and after a few attempts, managed to scoop it out onto the boat. It was obviously terrified as it then jumped ship, to the hovering/swooping seagulls delight, and we had to start all over again until we could get him back on the boat.

Didn't appear to be hurt, could see wings flapping etc whilst it was trying to get out of the water and it settled down once we got into the berth and had some bread and water and a bit of a shake down of the excess water on it's wings. He's asleep in the cockpit now and we're hoping he'll be ok in the morn otherwise will take to vet, with a table overhead for the rain and an empty can for shelter plus food and water. I'll get to the point now.......

This little fella is the weirdest looking birdie we have ever seen. It's black, little bit bigger than a swallow but with the same 'swept back' oversized wings. It has a little white mark on it's back where the tail feathers start, a hooked beak that has a little lump next to it's nose and WEBBED FEET!!! We haven't got a clue what it is and wonder if any of you guys know.........



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[Moose]

Its a vampire/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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L' Moose

 

[Neraida]

That'll explain the red and black cloak then. We have named him John.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Neraida on 01/10/2003 23:08 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Ohdrat]

Anything like this?

 

[BrendanS]

Storm Petrel at a guess. About 6 inches long? If you can get a look, is there a long whitish longitudinal patch underneath the wing.

If it's a Storm Petrel they are they Europes smallest sea bird, and only come ashore to breed. Sounds like this one was an accidental 'ashore'

Brendan

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[Neraida]

Looks like it could be a storm petrel but have just looked at photo's and can't see any webbed feet.

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[Ohdrat]

Re: Storm Petrol

Which would look like this.. and of course Martins don't have webbed feet... do they??

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[BrendanS]

I'm guessing <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/s/stormpetrel/index.asp>this one</A>

The white rump near tail feathers and lump at top of curve beak, with webbed feet, none of which are present in the land based birds you suggested, though I can see why you suggested them given the swallow reference


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[Neraida]

Can't see the pic on RSPB site but have been doing a google search and just found a picture with a chinese storm petrel that has webbed feet so it must be a storm petrel of some sort.

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[BrendanS]

Blimey, stretching knowledge a bit here, so got bird books out (no not penthouse or fiesta), Bird that fits description, with white rump feathers, bump on beak AND webbed feet is a very rare Wilson's Petrel (yellowish webbed feet?)


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[Neraida]

Webbed feet are black, it very small. What surprises me is that it was struggling, being a sea bird it shouldn't be should it? Wings aren't broken or damaged and it's quite lively, has been eating too. Can't find any reference on how they fish and am assuming that it may have been mobbed by seagulls, they were waiting/swooping for him to either drown or become exhausted when we scooped him out.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Neraida on 01/10/2003 23:52 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[BrendanS]

OK, I'm going with very small and lump near nose rather than end of beak, with black feet. It's a storm petrel.

Just about any marine bird can have problems on occassion , but storm petrels eat from the surface often following ships, and use their webbed feet to 'walk on water' and are not designed to dive, so quite probable once waterlogged it will have problems

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[Neraida]

Certainly looks like the photo's of storm petrels found on the web. Just hope it's ok in the morning, apparently they migrate up until October at the latest so he might have made a stop here and got into trouble. Funny you mention about them following ships, the QE2 had only just let go and was ahead of us when we found him.

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[BrendanS]

Nice site here <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rit.edu/~rhrsbi/GalapagosPages/Petrel.html> shows how they eat from surface</A>


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[Twister_Ken]

Variant on the Petrel theme

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/l/leachspetrel/index.asp>Leach's Petrel?</A>

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Neraida]

Re: Variant on the Petrel theme

Could also be one of those Ken, same colours.
Not sure about forked tail tho, couldn't tell, was too bedraggled and wet and don't want to disturb him and go onto the boat to check.
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[Neraida]

**** UPDATE ****

John has left the cockpit!!!

No sign of him, so we are v pleased here.

We are off to polish our halo's...

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[DavidMcMullan]

Sounds like a 'storm petrel' - "the smallest European seabird, looking not unlike a large square-tailed House Martin, white rump contrasting strongly with otherwise almost all black plumage; pale patch on underwing; feet black.'

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[BrendanS]

Re: **** UPDATE ****

One of the sea going felines from the other thread must have strayed over for breakfast! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Neraida]

Re: **** UPDATE ****

Not unless it knew the gate code

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