[Birdtalk] 25Sept07-Lakefront: PARASITIC JAEGER

[Tim Avery]

I was headed out to check on the plover located yesterday in northwestern Salt
Lake County (a bird that was likely, and after some thoughtful responses by
several experts, an American Golden-Plover), when Colby called telling me about
the jaeger flyby on the boat.  I was just passing the International Center and
knew that I definitely wanted to head out to the marina and see if I could get
lucky and glimpse the bird.

I got to the observation deck around 11:30, and after 15 minutes, I finally
spotted the bird in quick pursuit of a California Gull.  The bird chased one
individual, then another, before finally breaking off of the chase after a
couple minutes, and resting on the water a good 1200+ yards off shore.
However, the bird wasn't down long, as about 3 minutes later it was up and
again, and flying directly south at a quick pitch, again on the tail of a
California Gull.  The bird made its way in to about 800 yards (the closest seen
to shore) and zig-zagged on the tail of a California Gull for several minutes
before tiring of the chase and flying around in a big loop twice.  The bird
finally came to rest, well over a 1000 yards from shore and stayed put for 15
minutes.  Then as if possessed (or hungry) the jaeger again took flight this
time heading northwest a good 1400+ yards off shore, sending 500+ California
Gulls in the air.  Despite the number of birds up and flying away in terror,
the jaeger stayed on target chasing a specific bird through the confusion.

Again, after several minutes of hot pursuit, the jaeger gave up, flew due east
and landed near a buoy about 1400-1500 yards off shore, where it sat till I
could no longer see it due to the convection on the lake that started to get
bad as the air temperature changed.  The whole experience was much like being
back on the south shore of Lake Michigan and watching a jaeger very far out on
the lake harassing gulls (only it was Ring-billed and Herring back east).

At the distance I observed the bird, no details could be picked up on in the
plumage that would help in the ID, only that it looked like a dark bird. 
However, on interesting feature noted was the flight style of this individual
when not chasing the gulls.  The bird appeared to maintain a steady fast flap,
much like a Falcon, consistent with my previous exploits with Parasitic Jaegers
in flight.

Other birds of interest:

1 Eared Grebe
1 Peregrine Falcon (out over the lake)
1 Northern Harrier (out over the lake)
1 AMERICAN PIPIT (came off lake)
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
6 Yellow-rumped Warbler

I also made it back to look for the Plover, unsuccessfully.

Cheers

Tim
Salt Lake City, UT
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.timavery.com