Pelagic Brambling
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla, Bristol Bay, 7 October 2009.
After spending the morning watching primarily Northern Fulmars, Short-tailed Shearwaters and few Least Auklets, my attention was diverted by this Brambling which made a brief appearance just after lunch as it flew past my bridge window. At the time we were heading southeast through western Bristol Bay and were approximately 73 miles south-southwest of Cape Newenham, the nearest point of land. The Brambling flew in from the east or northeast, checked out the bow, and then made a few laps around the ship before heading off to the southeast not to be seen again. I was able to snap off a few photos as it flew along side the ship. The nearest point of land in the direction it was flying is the east end of Unimak Island, 162 miles away.
Looks like it might be shaping up to be a good fall for Brambling. There is also a report of a Brambling today (7 October 2009) from California.
