Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), Martinez Lake, Yuma County

This Brown Booby was discovered and photographed by Gary Froehlich on 10 August 2010.  Gary's report: "I discovered a sub-adult Brown Booby () at Martinez Lake, near Yuma Proving Ground, north of Yuma, AZ. I saw the bird several times. Originally, it was sitting in the shade near a shed or out-building. This was during the hottest part of the day. As the sun got lower and temperatures moderated, the bird took flight, circling the lake several times and then flying out of site down an inaccessible channel.

There are only 9 previous records of this species, 7 from the Lower Colorado River Valley including one present at Martinez Lake from Sep 1958 to Oct 1960.  The most recent previous state record was in 1991 near Hillside. 

Dark brown back, wings head and chest; subadult based on buffy belly color. From immature Blue-footed Booby by underwing and tail pattern

10 August 2010, photo by Gary Froehlich