Hi again,

Part of my second message got cut off -- While I was watching the adult Brown Booby sitting on the water west of Sunset Ave in Edmonds around 12:45 pm today (Sep 21), another bird flew south behind it that I could not positively ID. It had features of a booby sp., but I cannot eliminate jaeger sp. from consideration. I watched it for about 2 minutes, and it flew several feet above the water in a straight line due south the entire time. It was very distant and atmospheric disturbance made for less than ideal viewing conditions when my scope was cranked up to 60x. Flight was very direct -- had it veered at all I would've been able to at least see if it was a jaeger or booby. It would flap about 8-10 times and then glide for an equal amount of time. The flight was not buoyant like a gull.

Probability of occurrence suggests it was a jaeger (and see below), but I can't shake that my first impression was booby. Then again, I was watching a booby at the time of the sighting and the invasion of Blue-footed Boobies going on in California, so my mind might easily be fooled right now.

The adult Brown Booby was in view until at least 2:30 pm, at which time all birders left. It was mostly sitting on the water and slowly drifting north much of that time. At one point, it was harassed by a jaeger for about 5 minutes. It appears to be missing some of the inner primaries on its right wing. Can anyone comment on the condition of the wings of the one that escaped from the zoo?

John Puschock
Matthews Beach, Seattle
g_g_allin at hotmail.com
http://www.zbirdtours.com