As threatened.....
(A bit of intro on these birds, just because you cretins could use some more education.Most of these are pelagic species meaning they feed on the open ocean -- which is why we had to take a boat out to the Gulf Stream to find them. They have active glands that allow them to consume saltwater and tubes for nostrils that allow them to excrete the excess sodium.)
The shearwaters swoop in and just over the waves at 30-40 mph (hence the name "shearwater") which, when paired with a moving boat on 10-12 foot swells makes for some interesting photography --- I have a TON of pictures that were of a partial bird, no bird, or an out-of-focus birds.
Great Shearwaters:
Coming in low over a swell
Shearing the water
Cory's Shearwater
You can really see the tube nostril in those two pictures...
Audubon's Shearwater
You can see how close to the water they fly. It's really incredible to watch
Black-capped Petrels:
Wilson's Storm-Petrels -- the petrels are named for St. Peter due to how they seemingly walk on the water. These have a wingspan of only about 7 inches -- how they can survive out on the open ocean is beyond me. Just tiny
The next two were unexpected surprises.....
South Polar Skua:
This is a badass bird. It eats fish/shrimp, but will steal from other birds, and when near a nest, will kill and eat the chicks from other birds.
White-tailed tropicbird
The only one that the guides have sen all year. There have only been a handful sighted in the continental US this year. Definitely a treat.
They barely seemed to notice the squall that rolled in on us. It got wet and bumpy. They didn't care.
