Several Wilson's Petrels and White chinned Shearwaters following the boats wake. This continued until the 27th — the day north of Walvis Bay, when we left the cold Antarctic current. The Wilson's Petrels were noted as having an extensive white rump, spilling onto the sides of the tail and the blunt rounded wings. Several Skuas were seen, including Arctic, a couple of Pomarines (including one with a set of ‘spoons’). On the 25th several Cape Gannets were seen. Also a few Albatrosses seen, one Shy (dusky eye patch), Black browed and probably a Sooty as well.
One Tropic bird seen, probably disturbed off the sea surface by the boat. Two or three petrels seen, probably British Storm Petrels, from their rounded wings, continuing fluttering of wings and a circular flight pattern. No white seen on any of them. One Skua (probably Arctic) also seen.
Three Sooty Terns seen out at sea, (about latitude 0, longitude 0, 300 miles south of Takoradi, Ghana). Birds looked all dark, no white seen as they flew in the distance past the boat in a flight manner resembling a Common Tern.
Ashore in Ghana.
Blank days for birds, plenty of flying fish though.
About 250 miles South east of Sierra Leone, no birds first thing in the morning, but around 1030–1130 plenty of Madeiran Storm Petrels (c10), also 3 Bulwers Petrels. At around 1330–1400 4 more Madeiran Storm Petrels, from 1500–1530 3 white terns (Common Terns ?) seen plus a probable Tropic Bird disturbed off the sea. Finally c1700–1745, 3 or 4 Cory Shearwaters seen.
The Madeiran Storm Petrels looked sooty–brown in the sunlight and dark otherwise. The white rump was very obvious and extended onto the sides. The wings were broad and rounded with little or no carpal bend. No white other than the rump was seen. The birds flew with a zigzag (sometimes circular) progress, the tail was square and about as long as the rump was long. The birds flapped for a while and then flew in a shearwater manner.
The Bulwers Petrels were at least 50% larger with longer thinner wings, and a cigar shaped body with a pointed tail. Appeared all dark or black with no white seen. The kept low to the sea surface, and glided on bowed wings.
The Tropic bird was disturbed off the sea and was seen as an all white bird with very thin wings.
The Cory Shearwaters flew mainly low down over the water and only one towered. Appeared alternately pale brown and white as they rolled over the waves.
Wind moderate from the north, mainly sunny. 0630–0900 nothing seen. 1100–1130 3 Leach's Petrels, identified by feint, greyish rump, thin long, pointed wings cf Madeiran Petrel, appeared all black (apart from the rump). The petrels flew around like small shearwaters, very much swallow like, with long glides.
Going into Mindelo the only bird seen was a Corys Shearwater flying towards the land. On leaving Mindelo c1730 three Fea's Petrels seen plus two Corys Shearwaters. The Feas were all dark above and white over much of the underneath. They flew (in the stiff breeze – white tops on the waves) with a zig–zag motion and the classic ‘stood on the wings’ action.
A day spent in the NE trade winds, with a steady breeze giving a few white tops to the waves.
Three spells of watching:
0800–0900 —One Leach's Petrel
1300–1400 Four Maderian Petrels plus one Whale.
1600–1700 One tern sp probably Common Tern.
The Leach's Petrel showed a thin, narrow wing and appeared all dark, the Maderian Petrels had an obvious white rump, rounded wings and an almost continuous fluttering. In one birds a feint pale upper wing marking was seen.
The whale was seen to blow twice neither being high blows, it was dark brownish in colour and the dorsal fin was a flattened isosceles triangle in shape.
0830–0930 NE breeze a few white tops on the wave, No birds, One possible Shark, dark triangular fin seen, with a bit of the dark body.
1300–1400 NE breeze, more swell and more white tops on waves. Five Cory Shearwaters, all going north.
1700–1800 Even more choppy, 15 Cory Shearwaters following alongside the ship on the starboard side, no birds on the port side!
Arrived at dawn (which was 0800!!) so not many birds seen there.
1630–1730 Leaving Santa Cruz, still a choppy sea with a NE strong breeze, one gull and about 8 Cory Shearwaters seen. The Corys Shearwaters flew well, no or little flapping and no "towering".
Moderate sea and a moderate breeze.
0900–1000 One storm petrel (prob Leach's), 2 Cory Shearwaters, one sub adult Gannet. 1300–1400, sea calmer still, breeze reduced. One Great Skua (going North), one Cory's Shearwater plus one black right angled triangular fin, no idea what was underneath it. The Cory's Shearwater had to flap a lot more than the ones yesterday.
1630—1730 No birds, just an oil drum!!!
Ashore in Lisbon.
Still a moderate breeze from the north.
0900–1000 No birds, 2 Dolphins
1400–1515 Cape Finesterre 2 Gannets, 1 Great Skua, 2 Sandwich Terns, the Gannets were disturbed from the sea surface.
1700–1730 6 Lesser Black backed Gulls, 1 Great Skua, 1 pale phase Arctic Skua all either on or disturbed from the sea surface. The Arctic Skua had a white underbelly with a dark neck band, and also had a fat belly rather than a prominent chest as a Pomarine.
Sea calm, light breeze
0800–0930 100 miles sw of Brest, 2 Great Skuas on the sea, several Gannets and Lesser black backed Gulls, most of which were also on the sea
1400–1700 Sea flat calm, 1 Great Skua on the sea, many Gannets both on the water and in the air.
Any criticisms, corrections or comments to the author Derek Huskisson
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