First record of Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui for Namibia, South Atlantic Marijke N. de Boer Premiere observation du Petrel de Barau Pterodroma baraui en Namibie, Atlantique sud. Un Petrel de Barau Pterodroma baraui a ete photographic a environ 96 km au large du nord de la Namibie (21°05’S 12°30’E) le 4 fevrier 2014. C’est la premiere donnee pour la Namibie et seulement la deuxieme pour POcean atlantique. C’est aussi la plus occidentale et, avec les observations recentes au large de 1’Afrique du Sud, elle pourrait indiquer une extension de l’aire de distribution vers l’ouest de l’espece. B etween 10 January and 6 March 2014, was immediately obvious. It was estimated to dedicated marine fauna observations were be slightly smaller than Great-winged Petrel undertaken 64-130 km off the coast of Namibia Pterodroma macroptera, which was regularly seen from a geophysical survey vessel. On 4 February throughout the survey. The photographs (Figs. 2014 at 07.46 hrs a grey-and-white gadfly petrel 2-3), supplemented by the features noted at sea, Pterodroma sp. was observed c.96 km off the coast identify the bird as a Barau’s Petrel P. baraui (21 °04’83”S 12°29’62”E; Fig. 1). The weather based on the following features: (1) distinct black was fine with slight cloud cover, a light south¬ cap and white forehead; (2) pronounced broken westerly wind (9 km/h) and a gentle swell (<2 neck collar; (3) white belly and underwings; (4) m). The sea surface temperature was 21.3°C, air dark tips and distinct blackish margins to the temperature 22°C, and the water depth at this underwings; (3) carpal bar extending across 75% location was 478 m. of the ’arm’ on the underwing; (6) grey upperparts The petrel approached from the stern and with blackish M-shape across the open wings was first observed flying high and directly over (not clearly visible from the angle at which the the vessel. It was rather long-winged and the dark photographs were obtained); and (7) a rather black cap contrasting with the white forehead long-winged appearance. Barau’s Petrel -- - 1500m - 1000m - 500m . 200m 100m 50m Study area Figure 1. Location of the sighting of Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui, the study area and bathymetric contours. Carte indiquant la position de l’observation du Petrel de Barau Pterodroma baraui, la zone d’etude et les contours bathymetriques. First record of Barau’s Petrel for Namibia: de Boer Bull ABC Vol 22 No 2 (2015) 211 - Figures 2-3. Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui, c.96 km off Namibia, 4 February 2014 (Marijke N. de Boer) Petrel de Barau Pterodroma baraui, a environ 96 km au large de la Namibie, 4 fevrier 2014 (Marijke N. de Boer) Several dark Pterodroma spp. with pale bellies November 2005 off KwaZulu-Natal (Ryan et and white underwings can be confused with al. 2006) and in September 2007 off Richard’s Barau’s Petrel (Harrison 1987, Flood & Fisher Bay (Southern African Rarities 2014). Since then 2013). Juan Fernandez P. externa, Hawaiian P. there have been more records (Southern African phaeopygia, White-necked P. cervicalis and the Rarities 2014), especially off KwaZulu-Natal and smaller Vanuatu P. occulata and Black-winged during the breeding season: 10 October 2008 off Petrels P. nigripennis were eliminated because Durban (n = 14); November-December 2010 of the petrel’s diagnostic underwing pattern off Richard’s Bay and Kosi Bay (n = 33); 7 May in combination with overall greyish-brown 2012 off Durban (n = 1); 21 January 2013 off St. upperparts, a dark cap and no distinct collar. The Francis Bay [n = 1); 5 October 2013 off Durban long-winged appearance and the bird’s estimated [n - 1); and 22-24 November 2013 off Durban size helped to eliminate other similar but smaller (n - 8). On 8 December 2008, the first Atlantic "Cookilarid petrels. The lack of a white hindneck Ocean record of Barau’s Petrel was made at the combined with the extent of black on the Subtropical Front (39°S 17°20’E), south of Cape underwing ruled out any remaining contenders. Town (Joiris et al. 2013). Barau’s Petrel is an Endangered petrel that The ocean off Namibia is strongly influenced breeds only on Reunion in the south-west Indian by the Benguela Current, a major feature of Ocean (BirdLife International 2014). Recent which is an upwelling with a high nutrient supply studies have demonstrated that it migrates up to to surface waters, which leads to high biological 3,000 km east from its breeding colony to the production and large fish stocks (Shannon et central and eastern Indian Ocean in winter (Pinet al. 2003). Consequently, this area should offer et al. 2009, 2011). Records at sea tend to show foraging opportunities to vagrants such as Barau's a seasonal variation in distribution, with most Petrel. birds observed in the south-west Indian Ocean, The sighting reported here is the first 200-2,000 km south of Reunion, during the for Namibia and the westernmost to date. breeding season in September-April (Gill 1967, It complements the recent records made off Jouanin & Gill 1967, Frost 1981, Bourne 1989, KwaZulu-Natal (Southern African Rarities 2014). Stahl & Bartle 1991). Although this increase may reflect the greater The first Barau’s Petrel for Mozambique was number of pelagic trips, improved identification recorded in November 1987 and for South Africa skills or awareness and the use of digital cameras, off northern KwaZulu-Natal in October 1988 no records of Barau's Petrels were documented (Lambert 2001), with a further record there during pelagic surveys in the 1970s off KwaZulu- in November 2003 (Sutherland 2003). On 5 Natal (I. Sinclair pers. comm.). The increase January 2000, one was observed between Cape in sightings therefore may indicate a westward Town and Marion Island at 40°40’S 26°55’E (B. movement of the species as previously suggested Dyer pers. comm.). More records were made in by Lambert (2001). 212 - Bull ABC Vol 22 No 2 (2015) First record of Barau s Petrel for Namibia: de Boer Acknowledgements jouanin, C. & Gill, F. B. 1967. Recherche du Petrel de These observations were made during a geophysical Barau Pterodroma baraui. Oiseau 37: 1-19. survey by Tullow Kudu. I thank Dave Bolger (Tullow Lambert, K. 2001. Sightings of new and rarely reported Oil) for his support. Special thanks to Bob Flood seabirds in southern African waters. Marine (Scilly Pelagics) who identified1’ the petrel and to Ornithol. 29: 115-118. Andy Williams for recognising the importance of this Pinet, P., Salamolard, M., Probst, J. M. & Russell, observation. Peter Ryan (Percy FitzPatrick Institute of J. C. 2009. Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma baraui: African Ornithology, University of Cape Town) and history, biology and conservation of an endangered Trevor Hardaker (South African Rarities Committee) endemic petrel. Marine Ornithol. 37: 107-113. provided valuable information regarding the KwaZulu- Pinet, P., Jaquement, S., Pinaud, D., Weimerskirch, Natal records; the former also made useful comments H., Phillips, R. A. & Le Corre, M. 2011. that improved the accuracy and presentation of this Migration, wintering distribution and habitat use note. of an endangered tropical seabird, Barau’s petrel Pterodroma baraui. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 423: References 291-302. BirdLife International. 2014. Species factsheet: Ryan, P. G., Graham, ]. & Sutherland, A. C. 2006. Pterodroma baraui. www.birdlife.org (accessed 15 Pelagic birding trips in the southern Mozambique April 2014). Channel. Bull. ABC 13: 197-204. Bourne, W. R. P. 1989. Seabird reports received in Shannon, L. J., Moloney, C. L., Jarre, A. & Field, J. 1987 and 1988. Sea Swallow 38: 7-30. G. 2003. Trophic flows in the southern Benguela Flood, B. & Fisher, A. 2013. Multimedia Identification during the 1980s and 1990s. J. Marine Syst. 39: Guide to North Atlantic Seabirds - Pterodroma Petrels. 83-116. Isles of Scilly: Pelagic Birds & Birding. Southern African Rarities. 2014. www.rarities.co.za Frost, P. G. H. 1981. Seabird distribution in the (accessed 15 April 2014). subtropical and subantarctic zones of the Indian Stahl, J. & Bartle, J. A. 1991. Distribution, abundance Ocean. In Cooper, J. (ed.) Proceedings of the and aspects of the pelagic ecology of Barau’s Symposium on Birds of the Sea and Shore, 1979. Petrel (Pterodroma baraui) in the south-west Indian Cape Town: African Seabird Group. Ocean. Notornis 38: 211-225. Gill, F. B. 1967. Observations on the pelagic distribution Sutherland, A. C. 2005. Barau’s Petrel Pterodroma of seabirds in the western Indian Ocean. Proc. US baraui off the east coast of southern Africa. Bull. Natl. Mus. 123: 1-33. ABC 12: 48-49. Harrison, P. 1987. Seabirds of the World: A Photographic IMARES Wageningen University, Institute for Marine Guide. London, UK: Christopher Helm. Resources and Ecosystem Studies. Postbus 167, 1790 Joiris, C. R., Humphries, G. R. W. & De Broyer, A. AD Den Burg, Netherlands. E-mail: marijkedeboer@ 2013. Seabirds encountered along return transects sevenseasmarine. nl between South Africa and Antarctica in summer in relation to hydrological features. Polar Biol. 36: Received 28 June 2014; revision accepted 11 September 1633-1647. 2014. First record of Barau’s Petrel for Namibia: de Boer Bull ABC Vol 22 No 2 (2015) - 213