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Topic: Japanese Murrelet (Read 1345 times) |
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Forrest FONG
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Japanese Murrelet
« on: Feb 19th, 2006, 10:02pm » |
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During the Po Toi outing today, at least 9 auks were seen at the southern waters of Po Toi.
As all of them having black colour upperparts and pinkish bill, is it possible for them to be Japanese Murrelet instead of Ancient Auk (Ancient Murrelet)? 
 
Southern waters of Po Toi
19/2/2006
Forrest 
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| « Last Edit: Feb 19th, 2006, 11:08pm by Forrest FONG » |
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miket
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Re: Japanese Murrelet
« Reply #1 on: Feb 19th, 2006, 10:20pm » |
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Hopefully people from Japan and/or with experience of both species in non-breeding plumage will look at these photos and comment, but on a quick glance and quick flick though books and look at images elsewhere, I can't really see anything to suggest they are not Ancient.
Sounds like a great trip though and it's always great to get auks in HK.
Mike Turnbull
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subbuteo71
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Re: Japanese Murrelet
« Reply #2 on: Feb 20th, 2006, 8:40am » |
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I've had a look in Birds of Japan and Harrison's seabirds of the world, the colour pattern looks right for Ancient Murrulet. The birds looked much darker on the water and appeared a conisistent black but the photos do show a contrast between the black head and slatey coloured back- the difference is not as pronounced as illustrated in the HK Birds book.
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Anton
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Re: Japanese Murrelet
« Reply #3 on: Feb 21st, 2006, 12:44am » |
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A little bit more on the Murrelets~
9 of them in a row~
Southern waters of HK 香港南部水域
19/2/2006
Minolta Dynax 7D + Tamron 200-500
Anton
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Mike Kilburn
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Re: Japanese Murrelet
« Reply #4 on: Feb 22nd, 2006, 10:53am » |
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have a look atthe pix of Japanese Murrelet on the Oriental birding website. I see no white on the head of the birds in these pix so I don't see how they can be Japanese.
Please note that the pix from Japan were also taken in February, so the plumage should be the same.
In my opinion the birds photographed are Ancient Murrelet (and I wish I'd seen them!)
Cheers
Mike K
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Mike Kilburn
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Mike Chalmers
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Re: Japanese Murrelet
« Reply #5 on: Mar 14th, 2006, 12:14am » |
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Just to post my earlier summary to Forrest that having studied the photos, there is no doubt in my mind that these were all Ancient Murrelets.
At the time, with the poor light, the backs looked very black and we couldnt see the pale bills. However, the photos clearly show the mantles to be paler and contrasting with the sooty black heads, and the stubby pale bills can also be seen. Whilst these features fit Ancient Murrelet, they are also shared by the much rarer Japanese or Crested Murrelet. Japanese is poorly described in winter plumage but would be expected still to show some white striping to the rear of the head , which none of these have. Ancient is also indicated by the fact that at least one appears to be in full winter plumage with the white on the throat extending up to the chin, as well as up behind the eye, whilst others have the black extending down onto the upper breast and thus appear to be in partial breeding plumage.
Congratulations again to the photographers for snatching such clear shots in difficult conditions with such poor light and fast moving targets.
Mike Chalmers
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