Flight ops.

As is so often the case, a vessels' helideck often proves attractive to passing migrants. I assume from the perspective of a migrant bird it is the most attractive, safe option- generally clear of obstructions, normally devoid of personnel due to the exhaustive HSE rules n regs. and in wet weather it is often similar to a fresh water pool- obviously attractive when flying over the open ocean. On my latest survey it attracted two cattle egrets, semipalmated plovers, a semipalmated sandpiper, two least sandpipers and several passerines including fork-tailed flycatcher and small-billed elaenia- the latter bird proving very difficult to identify as initially it was thought to be one of the Epidonax flycatchers moving down from North America. A short-tailed swift did a number of incredibly fast sorties around the ship and eventually roosted under the helideck for a nights rest. 

cattle egret

Fork-tailed flycatcher

Least sandpiper

Semipalmated plover

Short-tailed swift- at speed!

small-billed elaenia- photo. Chris McCullough.

'Semi P'

An intense tropical downpour yesterday forced a tiny wader onto the hell deck- not surprising really as the area quickly became the largest source of fresh water for well over a hundred miles. The bird hunkered down in the anti- slip matting but once the rain stopped the bird started bathing, preening and then drinking. I was delighted to see that it was a rather brightly coloured juvenile semipalmated sandpiper- a charming little wader that spent an hour or so onboard before continuing its' southerly migration. 

the partial webbing between the toes can be seen in this shot

note the slightly bulbous tip to the end of the bill

the peach wash and diffuse streaking on the neck is a good ID feature

and only faint white mantle 'V'