The second full day at sea on the approach to Ascension Island was another hot day at sea. There were a few Seabirds species, but all were in low numbers except for Sooty Terns, as we were still in very deep water & over 200 nautical miles from Ascension Island at dawn.
Bulwer's Petrel
Bulwer's Petrel
Bulwer's Petrel
Bulwer's Petrel
Cory's Shearwater: This is the borealis subspecies
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: This is one of a group of two Storm-petrels seen in the afternoon. We were around 150 nautical miles from Ascension Island. While this is the nearest breeding site, it not certain that they are from the Ascension Island population
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: Both of the Band-rumped Storm-petrels
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: Another photo of the two individuals
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: Another photo of the two individuals
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: One of the two individuals
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: One of the two individuals
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: Later in the afternoon, we encountered this Band-rumped Storm-petrel which is in heavy wing moult. As with some of the photos of Band-rumped Storm-petrels, they can at times show a slightly forked tail
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: Another view of the last individual
Band-rumped Storm-petrel: A final view of the last individual
White-tailed Tropicbird: This was our first White-tailed Tropicbird of the trip
White-tailed Tropicbird: This is the ascensionis subspecies which occurs on Fernando de Noronha and Ascension Island
Sooty Tern: This was the only species we saw a lot of during day. But perhaps not surprising as they are a pelagic Tern & there are around a half million breeding pairs on Ascension Island
Sooty Tern
Sooty Tern
Sooty Tern
Sooty Tern
In the late afternoon, we encountered our first Ascension Island Frigatebirds. The first ones were probably around a mile from the Plancius & even the closer ones, were quite distant. But it was good to see the first Ascension Island Frigatebirds even though we all expected to see large numbers while we were at Ascension Island. I have now seen all five species of Frigatebirds.
Ascension Island Frigatebird: A record shot of two individuals chasing a Sooty Tern
