Mike: I believe you are right. Based on distribution and the Canada Goose mentioned by the photographer, It is more likely to be a sub-adult Northern Gannet. Naseem Reza ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Wilson To: va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: robin.ruth@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 10:44 AM Subject: [va-richmond-general] Re: Fwd: bird ID I think it would be helpful for alot of non-seabirders if there were some explanations included in the responses to Robin's photo. In my view, the photo that Robin posted is of a 2nd to 3rd year Northern Gannet. I feel that it can be distinguished from the Masked Booby by lack of a mask (i.e, the mask of this species fills out underneath the bill), white upper-tail coverts, and yellowish nape. There is a lot of white on the upperwing coverts that reminds me more of Gannet versus Masked. The remaining neck collar appears to be remnants of a brown breast (gannet) versus a brown hood (masked). I know these two species can be confusing, certainly to me, so If there are characters I am missing or mis-guided on I would like to learn more. I think the photo can be distinguished from the Blue-footed booby by the whitish head, white feathers in the upper wing coverts. Northern Gannets are quite common on the Atlantic Coast. Mike Wilson ----- Original Message ----- From: Naseem Reza To: robin.ruth@xxxxxxxxxxx ; va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 9:16 AM Subject: [va-richmond-general] Re: Fwd: bird ID Robin: It appears to be a juvenile Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) which was previously called Blue-faced Booby. This bird breeds on Dry Tortugas, Florida and are considered rare in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Some folks refer to it as a tropical Gannet. Naseem Reza ----- Original Message ----- From: Ruth Robin To: va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:55 PM Subject: [va-richmond-general] Fwd: bird ID Could someone help identify the bird in the attached photo?� I reduced the image size of the original so hopefully it will be OK for folks with dial-up. Robin Begin forwarded message: From: "Gillian Young" <gyoung@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: September 27, 2007 1:31:52 PM EDT To: <robin.ruth@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: bird ID Just wondered if you might identify this bird I saw on the beach at Nags Head last weekend. There were 2 within a mile of each other, and they didn't/couldn't fly. Body was the size of a Canada goose with short legs, but the head looks more like a heron. � If you don't reply until after 5 PM today, please reply to my home email gillianyoung@xxxxxxx � Thank you very much! � Gillian Young -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Could someone help identify the bird in the attached photo? I reduced the image size of the original so hopefully it will be OK for folks with dial-up. Robin Begin forwarded message: > From: "Gillian Young" <gyoung@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Date: September 27, 2007 1:31:52 PM EDT > To: <robin.ruth@xxxxxxxxxxx> > Subject: bird ID > > Just wondered if you might identify this bird I saw on the beach at > Nags Head last weekend. There were 2 within a mile of each other, > and they didn't/couldn't fly. Body was the size of a Canada goose > with short legs, but the head looks more like a heron. > > If you don't reply until after 5 PM today, please reply to my home > email > gillianyoung@xxxxxxx > > Thank you very much! > > Gillian Young