Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2021

40°F. 10mph NNW Wind. Light overcast.

42×122 Nikkor spotting scope.

5 or 6 or (+?) storm-petrels (no records at hand)

Flying directly south, and close to the water, a primarily ALL-brownish "swallow" immediately recognized as a Storm-Petrel from previous sightings (and a lifetime familiarity with field guide illustrations).

Crystal clear viewing at the viewing distance. (Atmospheric distortion occurring only at longer, mid-lake distances.)
Circa only 250' ... based on the size of a Purple Martin decoy as later viewed within the 122mm objective lens at 250'.
Length of observation: brief — I was looking somewhat south of the center of my field view of the lake when the Storm-Petrel flew past the spotting scope lens. I followed the Storm-Petrel until viewing was blocked by cedars. (If viewed during approach, the observation time could have been >5x as long, despite the closeness to shore.)

Flying directly south, and close to the water, a primarily ALL-brownish "swallow" immediately recognized as a Storm-Petrel from previous sightings (and a lifetime familiarity with field guide illustrations).
Slightly forked tail. Minimal white on the rump; none on the undertail coverts. No time to analyze any fine details.
Size, shape, coloration, and flight easily eliminated any other bird species — including any other eastern Storm-Petrel species.
Per BNA account #233, " ... Atlantic populations; rump patch [color] varies within colonies."
A recent weather pattern was ideal for directing birds toward Lake Champlain via the St. Lawrence River.

Purple Martin size.

dark brown

short beak; no feet showing

dark brown

essentially brown!, minimal lightness

shades of brown

dark brown

dark brown; slightly forked

The overall dark color, and the lack of a white-rump field mark immediately easily eliminated all other possible East Coast storm petrels.