Large Seabird Any Ideas?

[mrjohn]

Not sure where to post this.

Two days ago I saw a huge seabird in the sky off Rawai beach in Phuket. It had a white body and head with grey to black wings. The beak was large, yellow and hooked. It’s flight was stunning. it would flap its wings a few times and then soar with wings outstretched, its head crooked, looking for food in the shallows below. I would say it was bigger than the common Kites seen all over the island.

My immediate thought was of an albatross. I tried to check it on various websites but all the info seems to suggest that Thailand is way outside the usual areas for an albatross.

Any ideas? Do any bird experts have any idea what it might have been.

[Geekfreaklover]

That would be a White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucogaster).

[sbk]

There is a wonderful site Birds of Thailand that a member pointed out in this forum a while back. Worth perusing.

www.pbase.com/peterericsson/birds_of_thailand

[mitmig]

Or maybe these guys can help you out http://www.thaibirding.com/

[phaethon]

The good news is if it lands in Phuket it should be good for 30 day visa exemption as it arrived by air...

[Geekfreaklover]

White-bellied Sea Eagle. See the pic.

[mrjohn]

White-bellied Sea Eagle. See the pic.

I am seriously impressed by your speed of response and thanks for your help but I don't think that was it.

From memory it did not have those "fingers" on the end of the wings. Which would have had me thinking"eagle" immediately.

Actually the wife doesn't think that was it either.......course we could both be wrong!

Any other possibilities?

[Geekfreaklover]

black-headed Ibis? This has a wing span of 80cms and has a long hooked bill.

[mrjohn]

Definitely not the black headed ibis.

It was this

[mrjohn]

Definitely not the black headed ibis.

It was this

Sorry that didn't upload properly.

It was definitely not the Black Headed Ibis. For one thing it did not have a black head. It was one or other of the albatross pics.

Is it really not possible to see an albatross in Thailand??

[Goshawk]

my immediate reaction was/still is White bellied Sea Eagle..

but, as you've ruled it out on not showing flight 'fingers' and are drawn to a more straight/narrow winged sea bird..

this is a Great Crested Tern

wings are grey above & it's the only other largish seabird likely off Phuket with a "The beak was large, yellow and hooked" description that i could think of..

Alabatross is highly unlikely from that location

[p_brownstone]

my immediate reaction was/still is White bellied Sea Eagle..

but, as you've ruled it out on not showing flight 'fingers' and are drawn to a more straight/narrow winged sea bird..

this is a Great Crested Tern

wings are grey above & it's the only other largish seabird likely off Phuket with a "The beak was large, yellow and hooked" description that i could think of..

Alabatross is highly unlikely from that location

But a Tern would not soar in flight.

Having said that - I have no idea what it might have been!

Patrick

[Goshawk]

But a Tern would not soar in flight.

that is incorrect, they can and do..

[Geekfreaklover]

I don't think a Tern would not be large enough. only 45cm wingspan.Mr John wrote that it was bigger than a Kite.

A Masked Booby (85cm) perhaps?

Like the Goshawk I've never heard of an albatross sighting on Thailand shores before.

[Goshawk]

A Masked Booby (85cm) perhaps?

thought of that too.. but this paricular bird would be almost in the same category as an Albatross just off Rawai beach in Phuket - highly unlikely..

edit:

From memory it did not have those "fingers" on the end of the wings. Which would have had me thinking"eagle" immediately.

Actually the wife doesn't think that was it either.......course we could both be wrong!

(probably was the Eagle after all...)