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Yelkouan
Shearwater - Middelhavslire
- Puffinus
yelkouan
Black Sea, 06 March 2010
Levantines lira - Medelhavslira - Vale
pijlstormvogel - Puffin yelkouan
Black Sea, 06 March 2010
My experience has
shown
that shearwaters
can be hard to see offshore in the Mediterranean, often it is
only
occasional birds that are seen. The Bosporus and the sea of Marmora is
a different story. In March 2010 I witnessed thousands of these birds
passing in both directions through the sea of Marmora - presumably
travelling between the Black Sea and the eastern
Mediterranean.
Fantastic - must be among my "Top ten" birding experiences"!
Oh to be in this boat!
Yelkouan Shearwaters
Yelkouan Shearwaters pass close to shore
Yelkouan Shearwaters seem to avoid larger vessels where possible
Another view in different light - showing the brownish look under these conditions
All content on this site, including Natural Born Birder logo, is copyright © 2007-2017
High resolution versions of most images on this website are available. Please contact me regarding use or for other enquiries.
Oh to be in this boat!
The
flocks seemed to keep halfway between any larger vessels but readily
passed small fishing boats at close range - a good tip for anyone
looking to photograph these wonderful birds.
Yelkouan Shearwaters
Yelkouan Shearwaters pass close to shore
Yelkouan Shearwaters seem to avoid larger vessels where possible
Identification
under these conditions were straightforward. The "flappy" flight and
flock formation struck me immediately - some I later read in Martin
Garner's "Frontiers in Birding". The projecting feet were not much use
- the birds would have to be very close indeed to see this feature.
Many birds showed the whitish curve up behind the ear but not so pronounced as on Manx. Some even give an almost "capped" impression owing to the smudgy neck markings.
Pictures of Balearic Shearwater can be found on this page.
Many birds showed the whitish curve up behind the ear but not so pronounced as on Manx. Some even give an almost "capped" impression owing to the smudgy neck markings.
Pictures of Balearic Shearwater can be found on this page.
Another view in different light - showing the brownish look under these conditions
All content on this site, including Natural Born Birder logo, is copyright © 2007-2017
High resolution versions of most images on this website are available. Please contact me regarding use or for other enquiries.