Masked Booby

Seabird - Masked Booby

Today's photos were taken on November 4, 2013 in the open sea while aboard the Liberty of the Seas about a day from St. Maarten in the Caribbean.  I first saw two large birds circling the ship while I was taking my daily 4 mile walk around Deck 12 of the ship.  They were the first birds I had seen since leaving Spain and I was surprised to see birds so far from land. 

When I finished my walk the birds were still circling the ship so I went to my room for my camera.  By the time I got back to the top of the ship the birds were nowhere to be seen, but a few minutes later both birds appeared again.  I made a few photos of them before they flew away from the ship and landed on the water.


After checking my bird identification books, I think they are immature masked boobies.  I know several of you are birders, and while I don't consider myself a birder, I do enjoy photographing birds that I haven't seen before.  As well, because I photograph and later identify them, I have learned to identify many species of birds by sight, and several by sound.

Feel free to share today's photos with family and friends.

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