Very early occurrence of Craveri’s Murrelets off San Diego

[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2014] – Catching many seasoned observers by surprise, this very early calendar date pair of Craveri’s Murrelets Synthliboramphus craveri were passed off as Scripps’s Murrelets while being watched at close quarters aboard a pelagic out of San Diego on 07 June 2014. Steadfastly avoiding flight, the two murrelets paddled away from observers and did not reveal their characteristic darker underwing pattern. However the detailed examination of photographs, after the event, revealed all other characteristic field marks of this rarely seen enigmatic Southern California alcid visitor. Note the longer and thinner bill, with tweezer like mandible tips, the solid black face marking under the eye conjoining the chin, and the black colored spur on the breast side. In addition around the eye can be seen two very small white eye arcs, which I find from close up photographs are characteristic of this species. In general it is possible to see a small white fleck in front of the eye in many Scripps’s Murrelets. This white fleck mark is usually more pronounced in one individual in pairs that are seen together (I think there is perhaps a slight sexual dimorphism in the extent of white face coloration in Scripps’s Murrelets). No such mark exists on these birds, they show an evenly black marked face in front of the eye.

Craveri’s Murrelet – San Diego pelagic, San Diego County, California 07 June 2014

Craveri’s Murrelet – San Diego pelagic, San Diego County, California 07 June 2014

Craveri’s Murrelet – San Diego pelagic, San Diego County, California 07 June 2014

These Craveri’s Murrelets are well in advance, by some two months, of the more normal calendar date of first occurrence in Southern California for this species. But 2014 is shaping up poorly for breeding seabirds in Baja in general with several species now documented to have abandoned nesting rookeries and islands. Perhaps there is a failure of food stocks for many seabird species in the Gulf of California and we are just beginning to see this develop in our local area as failed breeders exit Baja and disperse more widely.

4 thoughts on “Very early occurrence of Craveri’s Murrelets off San Diego

  1. While I have not seen many Craveri’s Murrelets, another characteristic that seems to be indicative of this species is the way the tail is held cocked up, as can be seen rather well in the lower photo.

    • I agree Tom, the cocked up tail “Sora like” is also characteristic of Craveri’s Murrelets. These ones really slipped under our radar on Saturday!

  2. Nice! Gary, this is the best description I’ve seen all day with the goings around with this bird. Thanks for the education. And thanks for making a great pelagic with just a few scraps! Your birding friend, Tom F.

  3. You guys blow me away with your ability to capture nature at it’s regal best.
    To open an email from birding is like receiving a bouquet of special flowers that I enjoy
    day after day.
    Thank You.

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