Winter Seabirds on the Shelf Break

Pelagic Seabirds The term pelagic is from the Greek meaning “open sea”. Many of the following species are pelagic in that they spend their lives at sea except when breeding.

Tubenoses Shearwaters and petrels are part of a large family of birds known as tubenoses. There is a ‘nose’ on top of the bill which expels excess salt, and is extremely sensitive to smell, allowing them to sense the presence of prey being fed upon miles away.

Audubon’s Shearwater, Puffinus iherminieri Until the Long Bay series of cruises this species was thought to visit the South Atlantic Bight only during the warm months Eric Bowles

Great Shearwater, Puffinus gravis They are erratic visitors to our waters. At times there have been significant die-offs, apparently due to starvation, yet other species do well. Eric Bowles

Great Shearwater, Puffinus gravis One of the few species that breeds in the Southern Hemisphere and migrates into the Northern Hemisphere, the opposite of most other shearwaters. Eric Bowles

Cory’s Shearwater, Calonectris diomedia Shearwaters glide over wave tops picking up air turbulence from the wave action to help them keep aloft. They are more at home in rough seas than calm. Russ Wigh

Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus This is ordinarily the only species of shearwater seen in winter on the South Atlantic Bight. At 13 ½ inches it is one of the smallest of it family Eric Bowles

Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus Notice how shearwaters have long wings to assist them in soaring just above the wave tops without expending energy in their constant search for prey. Steve Calver

Black-capped Petrel, Pterodroma hasitata The Black-capped Petrel is usually found only in the deeper waters east of the Gulf Stream during warm months Steve Calver

Black-capped Petrel, Pterodroma hasitata Breeds only on cliffs of the island of Dominica in the Caribbean Sea. It is now threatened because of habitat destruction. Eric Bowles

Birds that take several years to reach sexual maturity may spend three years or more at sea, out of sight of land.

Parasitic Jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus Primarily a bird of colder European waters, it follows the gull and tern migrations. It is sometimes seen from shore in winter. Eric Bowles

Parasitic Jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus The jaeger is an aggressive predator chasing other seabirds to force them to drop their catch which the jaeger then consumes. Eric Bowles

Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicaria This small shorebird like species gathers on the shelf in flocks by the thousands each winter, typically seen about 20 miles offshore. Eric Bowles

Razorbill, Alca torda This member of the Auk family was recently thought to appear in our waters during winter only during the coldest periods in its North Atlantic waters. The winter of 2012 was one of the mildest on record. Another surprise. (Bonaparte’s Gull in the background). Eric Bowles

The Sooty Tern is thought rarely, if ever, to rest on the ocean while at sea. It is continuously in flight. Some albatrosses cover thousands of kilometers from the breeding grounds foraging for their young. Seabird Secrets

Common Loon, Gavia immer winter (basic) plumage The loon is a bird of small Canadian and northern lakes where it breeds and makes its haunting call. In winter they can be abundant off our Southeastern coast. Russ Wigh

Common Loon, Gavia immer Notice how far back the legs are on this bird. The species is designed for water and walking on land is difficult. A video has been captured of a foraging loon at a depth of 90 feet. Eric Bowles

Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides This is a juvenile bird. It is ordinarily found in Eastern Canada and New England waters. It is rare in the Southeastern U.S., but gulls commonly range far from their natal colonies after the breeding season. Steve Calver

Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus The gannet dives straight into the sea from height after its prey. It can frequently be seen in winter from land on the horizon. Eric Bowles

Group Foraging Over Fish Schools How many species can you count in this photograph? Steve Calver

Plumages You have no doubt noticed that seabirds are all some shade of black, white and grey. Many of them nest in burrows on land and then spend the rest of their lives at sea where cryptic coloration is unnecessary.

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Stenella frontalis Common on the Gulf Stream, but rarely seen near shore Russ Wigh

Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta caretta The picture continues to brighten for this species which nests on most of the island beaches on the South Atlantic coast. Steve Calver