This has become an annual event now, as we all put our sea legs to the test and take a small vessel out into the Atlantic in search of seabirds. Again this year, Algarve Dolphin Lovers were our hosts and the friendly guidance of skippers/marine biologists - Debora and Rodrigo ensured we had a safe and enjoyable experience. The Company has taken delivery of a new vessel this year which is larger and very powerful, offering seating at the front and rear as well as under cover. So we made an early start in the Port of Sagres, quickly heading out in a SW direction off Cape St. Vincent. Generally, one doesn't go far before encountering the first shearwaters which in this case were small numbers of Balearic's, scooting along from West to East. A little further out we met our first Cory's Shearwater, a large shearwater told easily by the stout yellow bill which shows at reasonable distance, the clean white underparts and white patch towards the tail. On our way out to deeper water, we passed Gannets, Yellow-legged Gulls and at one point were joined by a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull. We reached an area with only a slight swell and began dispensing our oily, fishy 'chum' mixture in order to attract a variety of interesting birds. European Storm Petrels came to us within minutes. This first attempt at 'chumming' went fairly well and were surprised when a Great Skua came to see what was going on. Sailing to another sea area, we began 'chumming' once more and were soon seeing Great Shearwaters for the first time. I have only seen Great Shearwaters at a distance and was not aware that they are quite happy to feed around boats such as ours today. Told from the Cory's Shearwater by the dark bill and dark cap together with a white side to the neck. This became a great opportunity to watch these shearwaters at close range. Flying commences with a pattering of feet across the water surface. We were seriously chumming now and the results were astonishing:- We had 30-40 small petrels around the boat and it was time to look for some Wilson's Storm Petrels. The general consensus was that there were possibly three such birds in this feeding flock. Once identified, they were relatively easy to follow since they tend to glide for long periods, often with legs trailing or projecting from under the tail. This had been a great trip with the most petrels I have ever seen feeding together. We also came across a second Great Skua and a very brief look at an Arctic Skua too.
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