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Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)
Above and below: A Manx Shearwater is spotted in an area rich in Sargassum off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (5/29/2011).
Below: A distant Manx Shearwater in Delaware waters on 12/11/2004 pelagic out of Lewes. These are poor shots, but were the best that light conditions and the deathly extent of my seasickness allowed at the time! The Manx Shearwater is seen annually off the Mid-Atlantic coast in migration, but is always a good sighting. Quite similar to the smaller Audubon's Shearwater (our smallest; see Audubon's Shearwater page), the Manx Shearwater is still small, but has proportions closer to the larger shearwaters (Sibley). Manx also prefers cold water, while the Audubon's prefers warm. Note this bird's white undertail coverts and dark auriculars (cheeks) with pale crescent behind.
