Norm, et. al.

The White-faced Storm-petrel on August 28, 2004 may be 3rd Maryland State Record.  Life bird for me as well.  Also know as Frigate Petrel.

Mark Hoffman and Paul O'Brien already have White-faced Storm Petrel in Maryland, so Jim is, for now, numero uno (number one) on the state list.  

The race we saw was likely Pleagodroma marina eadesi according to the Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, edited by Stanley Cramp.  P.m.eadesi breeds on the Cape Verde Islands, returning to the nest sites in November.  The other race, P.m. hypoleuca (P. marina is polytypic - two subspecies/races) breeds on the Selvagens (near the Canary Islands), returns to this location in February, and departs at the end of September.  Both locations are off the west coast of Africa.  

This species seldom follows ships (Cramp), but as we know it runs away from them.  Like other pelagic birds, it only comes to land to breed.  It is reported to be susceptible to storm displacement.  Maybe some day it will show up in Charles County.

Cool bird.

George