Black-Browed Albatross-3480
Europe's only black-browed albatross - an exiled wanderer from the South Atlantic who can never return home - arrived at RSPB Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire
Albert Ross or Albie, a mature male who has lived in the northern hemisphere since 2014, spent most of last summer at the nature reserve and visited in 2017 and 2020, 2021 and now 2022.
The black-browed albatross is a medium-sized albatross, at 80 to 95 cm (31–37 in) long with a 200 to 240 cm (79–94 in) wingspan and an average weight of 2.9 to 4.7 kg (6.4–10.4 lb).[3] It can have a natural lifespan of over 70 years. It has a dark grey saddle and upperwings that contrast with the white rump, and underparts. The underwing is predominantly white with broad, irregular, black margins. It has a dark eyebrow and a yellow-orange bill with a darker reddish-orange tip. Juveniles have dark horn-colored bills with dark tips, and a grey head and collar. They also have dark underwings. The features that distinguish it from other mollymawks (except the closely related Campbell albatross) are the dark eyestripe which gives it its name, a broad black edging to the white underside of its wings, white head and orange bill, tipped darker orange. The Campbell albatross is very similar but with a pale eye. Immature birds are similar to grey-headed albatrosses but the latter have wholly dark bills and more complete dark head markings.
He is likely to have been blown off course, and equatorial winds mean he is unlikely to ever return to his species' breeding grounds in the Falklands and South Georgia. He is destined to never find a mate, though socialises with gannet colonies.
Albie spends the winter across the North Sea in Germany and Scandinavia.
Black-Browed Albatross-3480
Europe's only black-browed albatross - an exiled wanderer from the South Atlantic who can never return home - arrived at RSPB Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire
Albert Ross or Albie, a mature male who has lived in the northern hemisphere since 2014, spent most of last summer at the nature reserve and visited in 2017 and 2020, 2021 and now 2022.
The black-browed albatross is a medium-sized albatross, at 80 to 95 cm (31–37 in) long with a 200 to 240 cm (79–94 in) wingspan and an average weight of 2.9 to 4.7 kg (6.4–10.4 lb).[3] It can have a natural lifespan of over 70 years. It has a dark grey saddle and upperwings that contrast with the white rump, and underparts. The underwing is predominantly white with broad, irregular, black margins. It has a dark eyebrow and a yellow-orange bill with a darker reddish-orange tip. Juveniles have dark horn-colored bills with dark tips, and a grey head and collar. They also have dark underwings. The features that distinguish it from other mollymawks (except the closely related Campbell albatross) are the dark eyestripe which gives it its name, a broad black edging to the white underside of its wings, white head and orange bill, tipped darker orange. The Campbell albatross is very similar but with a pale eye. Immature birds are similar to grey-headed albatrosses but the latter have wholly dark bills and more complete dark head markings.
He is likely to have been blown off course, and equatorial winds mean he is unlikely to ever return to his species' breeding grounds in the Falklands and South Georgia. He is destined to never find a mate, though socialises with gannet colonies.
Albie spends the winter across the North Sea in Germany and Scandinavia.