2 
was encountered less than 10 miles south of the harbour. Only one per¬ 
cent of the birds seen during 7 October were dark phase; this would be 
about the expected ratio for northern populations. 
On 8 October ( 2 nd day south of Oahu) Wedge-tails were still abundant 
but were associated with Sooty Terns in mixed feeding flocks instead of 
Common Noddies as on the previous day. Dark phase birds throughout this 
day had risen to 15 percent, however, indicating an intermixture of 
southern hemisphere birds. After 8 October only an occasional (usually 
dark-phased) bird was noted. 
Sooty/Slender-billed Shearwater No. of Birds Recorded: 26 
( Puffinus griseus/tenuirostris ) 
The few sightings represent late migration stragglers. All birds 
were headed in a southerly direction. On at least one occasion a bird 
was noted to go by an actively feeding flock of Wedgetails, terns and 
petrels without pausing or changing direction. Sixty-five percent of 
total sightings were recorded on 10 October; a few birds were still re¬ 
corded as late as 1 November. 
Christmas Island Shearwater No. of Birds Recorded: 2 
( Puffinus nativitatus ) 
The only two birds noted during the cruise were recorded on 8 
October in association with mixed Wedge-tail/Sooty Tern feeding congregations. 
Newell’s Shearwater No. of Birds Recorded: 1 
( Puffinus puffinus ) 
The single bird of the cruise was observed with four light-phase 
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on 8 October about 180 miles S-SW of Oahu. The 
entire group was traveling in a southerly direction. 
Audubon’s Shearwater No. of Birds Recorded: 2 
( Puffinus l’herminierl ). 
The two birds were seen about 10 miles SE of McKean and likely were 
from the large population of that island. Although observations on islands 
show that this species is predominantly a diurnal feeder, very few are ever 
recorded on diurnal at-sea observations. They may deliberately avoid ships. 
Juan Fernandez Petrel No. of Birds Recorded: 5 B 
( Pterodroma externa ) 
The typical wintering distribution of this race was noted during the 
present cruise. Birds usually avoid waters near the main Hawaiian islands; 
none was recorded on 7th of October, just south of Oahu. From 8 to 10 
October birds were common in roughly the area between l 8 ° 30 ’N and 9 ° 30 f N. 
South of this only an occasional bird was recorded. All birds viewed well 
