Seabird - David Mathre Photography

Four-Years Ago (30-January-2016) — At Sea

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 25: At Sea, Traveling from Kobe, Japan to Shanghai, China.

There were a lot of fishing boats out in the East China Sea as we proceeded to Shanghai. Along with the fishing boats many Seagulls followed our ship. I think that I was able to identify Black-tailed Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake. I previously miss identified some Black-Tailed Gulls as Slaty-backed Gull. I admit gulls are difficult to identify since they go through several morphs over four years before getting to their adult state. I look at images in several books and internet sources.

alt_title. (David J Mathre) — Black-tailed Gull viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 149 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thirteen-Years Ago (24-January-2007) — At Sea, Norwegian Sea

Gone to See Norway 2007 Winter Family Vacation. Day 4: Hurtigruten MS Kong Harald Norwegian Coastal Voyage Northbound (Florø to Kristandsund).

Seabirds from the deck of the MS Kong Harald while traveling between Torvik and Ålesund. A Gull (not identified) in flight, and an European Shag taking off.

Gull in flight from the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram traveling between Torvik and Ålesund. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

European Shag taking off viewed from the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram traveling between Torvik and Ålesund. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec). (David J Mathre)

European Shag in flight viewed from the deck of the Hurtigruten MS Fram traveling between Torvik and Ålesund. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (17-January-2016) — Pacific Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 12: Crossing the Pacific Ocean.

At least three of the Masked Boobies remained with the ship overnight. At dawn one was up on the mast. Once the sun rose, they flew above the ship for a while, then flew away.

Four-Years Ago (15-January-2016) — Pacific Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 11: Crossing the Pacific Ocean.

As soon as the sun was up there were a number of Brown Boobies using the thermals above the MV World Odyssey as they searched for flying fish. As the sun was setting a Brown Booby landed on one of the ship’s mast and started preening. Later in the evening I came across a Masked Booby on the deck of the ship. We finally had close up confirmation that there were Masked Boobies following the ship. There wasn’t room for the large bird to take off from the deck. Crew members from the ship covered it with a blanket and brought it to an area that was windy and clear of obstructions so it could take off.

Brown Boobies soaring in the early morning sun viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

A large Masked Brown Booby Stowaway on the desk of the MV World Odyssey. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery. (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (14-January-2016) — Pacific Ocean

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 10: Crossing the Pacific Ocean.

During the voyage we had several discussions regarding the identity of the Boobies that followed the MV World Odyssey across the Pacific Ocean. We were in general agreement that the birds following the ship before Hawaii were Brown Boobies. Then after Hawaii, we had both Brown Boobies and Masked Boobies. The Brown Boobies had three color patterns — all brown; brown top with tan/mottled brown bottom; or brown top with white bottom. I now understand these are the different juvenile through adult forms of the Brown Booby. The Masked Boobies were mostly white with black on the ends of the upper wings. It was bright and sunny on this day. We had twenty plus of the Bobbies using the thermals from the ship to soar and then dive for flying fish. I actually captured a sequence of images where a Brown Booby caught a flying fish.

Brown Booby with dark brown top and bottom. The individual images in the slide show are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Brown Booby with brown top and and tan or mottled light brown bottom. The individual images in the slide show are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Brown Booby with brown top and and white bottom. The individual images in the slide show are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Masked Booby mostly white with black on the ends of the upper wings. The individual images in the slide show are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Brown Booby caught a Flying Fish The individual images in the slide show are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.