The National Park Service (NPS) took to Facebook on Tuesday, June 7, to announce that a rare species of seabird was spotted on Ocracoke Island.
The Masked Booby, known scientifically as Sula dactylatra, is typically seen in the tropical open ocean and found itself on the Island. This large seabird may look like a Northern Gannet in disguise.
According to NPS officials at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, this sighting was likely brought to us by the effects of Tropical Storm Alex that has continued to produce powerful rip currents along the Outer Banks over the course of the week.