4 
the month of September. However, numbers were not as large as last year when 
28,580 were recorded in only six days compared with 21,043 in 10 days this year. 
Last year the highest daily total was 14,985 while this year it was only 5153. 
Perhaps the larger number of birds will pass through the area later in the year. 
The largest numbers of this species were seen in the immediate Howland-Baker 
area. Flocks were seen flying within a mile of both islands. 
* 
Christmas Island Shearwater (l) 
One individual of this species was seen in a Sooty Tern feeding flock. 
Juan Fernandez Petrel (2) 
Pterodroma externa (2+1 nocturnal) 
This species was recorded in small numbers last month and none were seen 
last year. 
Phoenix Island or Tahiti Petrel (2) 
These two birds were probably Phoenix Island Petrels due to the closeness of 
the breeding grounds to the Grid. Three individuals were seen last month. 
Black-winged Petrel (12) 
Pterodroma hypoleuca (4) 
Black-winged Petrels decreased 24 percent from August. Six individuals were 
recorded last September. 
White-winged Petrel (3) 
Small numbers of this species have been recorded on previous cruises. On 
20 September a dark phase individual was collected. It was gray throughout except 
for the forehead, throat, and part of the underwing which had a thick black border 
and hash mark. 
Bulwer's Petrel (2) 
The same number of Bulwer’s Petrels were recorded last month. 
