 | Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) L45-50cm.WSpan.102-112cm.Seperated immediately from all gulls by stiff wings and rapid wing beats.Often glides low over water followed by rapid wing beats.Breeds on sea cliffs with other sea birds but will also prospect for nesting sites far inland.Present all year around the coastal cliffs of Britain.
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mapCory's Shearwater (Puffinus diomedea) L45-56cm.WS100-125cm. Slightly larger than great shearwater.Body looks front heavy.Greyish-brown upper parts (often with dark band over secondary coverts).Purer white underwings but lacks any dark markings here associated with great shearwater.No dark cap.Common in Mediterrranean and off West coast of africa around into bay of Biscay.Occurs regularly off south west coast of UK and Ireland.
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| | Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) L43-51cm.WS 100-118cm. Much larger than Manx shearwater with dark cap and brown / grey upper parts to body.Shows pale neck collar.Pale white tips to upper tail coverts are often quite visible.Often confused with above species but has black markings to underwing.
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| | Sooty Shearwater ( Puffinus griseus) L40-51cm.WS94-109cm.Dark sooty grey / brown colour and narrow wings.At distance looks completely black.White line to underside of wings seperates it from other petrels.Breeds southern south America and winters in the North Atlantic (our spring -summer).Regular in North Sea between July and October.
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| | Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) L30-35cm.WS 76-82cm. Britain's most common shearwater visible around all coastlines but breeding entirely on the west coast from Scilly to Shetland.Often in large numbers.Contrast betwenn black upper parts and white underside obvious in flight.Flies close to sea with wings appearing to 'Shear the water'.Good views - Ardrossan to Brodick (Isle of Arran) ferry Aug-Sept.
Skokholm,Rum etc.
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 | Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) L14-17cm.WS 36-39cm. Smaller than Leach's petrel (below) with more rounded stiffly held wings.Flight appears bat-like.Square ended tail with rectangular white rump.Shows a white band on underwing.Usually very close to surface of water.
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| | Leach's Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) L19-22cm. WS 45-48 cm.Larger than above with distinctive forked tail.Has more pointed wings than Storm petrel.Wing beats are strong and deliberate (somewhat like a Black-tern).White rump is much less obvious.
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 | Black-browed Albatross (Diomedea melanophris) L80-90cm.WS 213-246cm.The only Albatross species that is sighted with some regularity in the UK.Have appeared at Gannet colonies in Scotland although nearest breediers are in the South Atlantic.Resembles very large Great black-backed gull.Unmistakable.
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| | Gannet (Sula bassana) L87-100cm.WS 165-180cm. Large cigar shaped body and long thin wings.Head yellow-ochre coloured Black wing tips. Breeds in large colonies. Dives for fish, folding in wings at last moment before hitting sea, often from a great height.Best views - Scottish Seabird centre / Bass Rock Firth of Forth Scotland.
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| | Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) L80-100cm.WS 130-160cm.Large dark seabird.Often seen perched upright 'wing drying' with others on rocky coaslines, timber staithes, harbour structures etc.Feeds on fish by diving under water from surface (regular on inland rivers and lakes).Sometimes confused with shag below but larger and lacks curved crown tuft..
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 | Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) L65-80cm.WS 90-105cm.Smaller than cormorant.appears black but is greenish-black at close range.Oceanic in habits (never comes inland unless driven by severe storms).Common on West coast of Britain and on Farne Islands Northumberland.Best sites- try Treshnish Islands for truly magnificent close views (inner Hebrides Scotland).
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