Caribbean Sea Gulls

[FrankMi]

Sometimes we would be tracked for miles by groups of sea gulls. They flanked the ship and seem to be watching the ship's wake. Every now and then would dive headfirst into the ocean, pop back up to the surface about 20 seconds later and take back to the air shortly thereafter.



Most of the shots taken were at the extreme range (840mm FFE) of my Canon SX40 but they seemed to come out OK.

Does anybody know the correct name, other than simply Sea Gulls, for these birds?

[Otavio]

Sometimes we would be tracked for miles by groups of sea gulls. They flanked the ship and seem to be watching the ship's wake. Every now and then would dive headfirst into the ocean, pop back up to the surface about 20 seconds later and take back to the air shortly thereafter.

Most of the shots taken were at the extreme range (840mm FFE) of my Canon SX40 but they seemed to come out OK.

Does anybody know the correct name, other than simply Sea Gulls, for these birds?

Hi, Frank. They look like Brown Boobies to me. See some images here, so you can compare: (https://www.google.com.br/search?q=b...w=1280&bih=885)

[FrankMi]

Hi, Frank. They look like Brown Boobies to me. See some images here, so you can compare: (https://www.google.com.br/search?q=b...w=1280&bih=885)

That certainly looks correct for the brown one. The matching image I see at that web site for the white one is labeled as a Nazca Boobie with a location given of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. If that is correct then they are a bit far from home. Either way, these birds are listed as Boobies and not Sea Gulls and are likely relatives of the Blue Footed Boobie nesting on the Galapagos Islands. Now THAT is exciting to discover!

I really appreciate finding this out, Otávio. Thank you very much!

[NorthernFocus]

Interesting. I spent some time in the Caribbean and don't recall those guys. Then again it was in my youth before I paid quite as much attention to such things. Not bad shooting with that gear.

[Otavio]

...I really appreciate finding this out, Otávio. Thank you very much!

No problem, Frank. I am glad to be of help. I have seen both these boobies here in our beaches, occasionally (definitely not as common as seagulls, though ).

Galápagos is on my bucket list, by the way...

[Wavelength]

A nice image; three stages of swinging the wings; well done

[IzzieK]

I have not seen a brown one before...that is very good. For comparison, the sea gulls in Australia is smaller than the ones I have seen here in the US...

And oh, btw, I would rather refer to them as sea gulls than boobies. I am not going there...

[GrahamS]

Two Blue-footed Boobies and a Brown Boobie, which may be a juvenile. Just as well this is a photo forum, Facebook won't allow one to post an image titled "juvenile boobies".......

[FrankMi]

Galápagos is on my bucket list, by the way...

Although I'd love to see the Galápagos, the cost is a bit pricy for my budget so I am really looking forward to seeing your results when you are able to check that one off your list!

Thank you Nandakumar!

Much appreciated comments Isabel and Grahame. I had not seen this species of bird before either so I wasn't sure what they were. It does make you wonder how some things get their names, doesn't it.