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Pair of Red-tailed Tropicbirds in Redland
Yes, I mean red-tailed, not red billed. Here's the story. I was busy at work (Old World Exotic Fish, near the intersection of 228th St and 202 Ave) when I heard the cackling calls of parrots or parakeets heading toward me, but they sounded a little odd. I looked up to see a pair of Tropicbirds flying right at me. They passed right over head, not more than 15 feet above me. I could have almost caught them with the dip net in my hand. Then I realized they had bright red tail streamers. I watched dumbfounded as they flew off to the southeast, calling to each other as they flew. Had I seen them from a mile away, I would have doubted my eyes, but I pulled out my phone anyway and looked up Red-tailed Tropic bird, and yes, that's what I saw (nothing else looks like a Red-tailed Tropicbird), then played the call, and that's exactly what I heard. I wish they would have stuck around, but they're surely out to sea now.
Comments
Troy, when did you move to Hawaii? ;)
OK, I'm trying to write this being totally objective, but to say I'm dumbfounded is a huge understatement. Red-tailed Tropicbird is a strictly Pacific and Indian Ocean species with no records anywhere in the Atlantic that I know of. I spent 10 days in Hawaii last summer, 7 of which on a cruise ship sailing between the islands. The only time I saw a Red-tailed Tropicbird was when the ship approached the coast of Kauai a few miles west of Kilauea Pt. where they breed and one approached the stern of the ship, where I just happened to be standing.
That said, here's the objective perspective. Is there another species that could have been mistaken for a tropicbird? Red tail streamers is not the only field mark for this species. Can you describe other field marks? Also, Tropicbirds are silent away from their nesting sites, so I don't understand why they would be calling. They are definitely not breeding in the Redlands.
Another remote possibility: could these be birds brought in captivity and released/escaped? I don't see any possible way for a pair of Red-tailed Tropicbirds to make it to the Redlands on their own. There must be another explanation to this really interesting and bizarre sightings. Either way, thanks for the report!
How about Caspian Terns tangled in red monofilament?
Several people have proposed Caspian Tern as a possibility, but, with all due respect, Caspians don't look much like TRTBs. These were all white, red bills, long red tail streamers. No other bird looks like that. And their calls were correct for that species. I got a good look at close range under ideal conditions. As improbable as it is, there's no doubt in my mind what I saw.
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