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The Manx Shearwater is a migratory marine bird. Its underside is white and the upper parts are completely black. The bird can be distinguished from the Little Shearwater by its black face in the eye zone and because it is slightly larger. Its bill is thin, long, straight and black. In flight it is possible to see the dark undersides of the wing tips. The bird moves with great difficulty on land as it has very weak feet. The Manx Shearwater flies quickly, with long glides with a few changes in direction. It has a very rapid and strong wing beat. In the nesting season these birds gather on the sea at the end of the afternoon before heading for land.

Habitat

Marine and aerial within sub-oceanic waters of eastern North Atlantic from subarctic fringe to subtropical fringe of north Canary Islands, and in winter into tropical seas of eastern South America. Breeds normally on inshore islands from sea-level to c. 700 m. Visits only in darkness, often with minimum time on ground surface for alighting or take-off, but sometimes, especially non-breeders, may spend hours on surface. Land habitat otherwise subterranean, in dark burrows or crevices, mainly on flat tops or slopes of islands or promontories with fairly deep soil and rough herbage, often shared with rabbits and Puffins. On wing, keeps usually within 10 m of water surface, flight style being wholly adapted to this zone of airspace, deriving lift from airflow over sea.

Feeding

Fish, mostly small; also cephalopods, small crustaceans, and surface floating offal. Feeds by day by pursuit-plunging, pursuit-diving, and by surface-seizing; in varying numbers from single birds to small flocks.

Breeding

The bird excavates a deep nest in the rock, about 1 metre deep, and lays just a single egg in the sole annual laying. Incubation lasts about 50 days and the chick is fed by both parent birds for approximately 6 weeks before leaving the nest in July. The chick remains in the burrow for a further 70 days during which time feeding visits become progressively more frequent until, when the chicks are large, the parent bird may bring food each night. Towards the end of their time underground the chicks are deserted, most remaining on average a further eight days before leaving the island.

Migration

Almost total migrant to northern breeding areas, where rarely recorded November-January; majority perform long journeys, including regular post-breeding migration from Europe to South America by juveniles and adults.

By The Thames (2) - 13 January 2013 by John Oram

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GPN Walk Shard - Shadwell (first part)

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Flats by Patrick ♐

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I had dinner again tonight at Flat's Grille... this time with my daughter. These are tacked to the front of the pick-up counter.

Clear View by SImon Brookes

Flat Logo Design by Abid Alif

Flat Classroom Conference by superkimbo

flat out fin by ronald

Practising recall with our Jack-russel Pup fin, it also made a good photo opportunity.

Mulligans Flat Wetlands by Anna Calvert

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Sunrise at Mulligans Flat Wetlands

My heated towel rack!!! by Rebecca Forrest

My landlady let me use a space heater to dry my towels and clothes which was a lifesaver because it was fairly damp in the flat and I was having a difficult time getting things dry without it.

Flat Iron Adventure by BHTP Mate

Flat Iron Adventure

Flat Iron by Rita

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Flat Stanley w szkole 09/25/2008 by Wojtek Felendzer

Flat Iron by Dave Matthews

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flat by Megan KS

Thing with frills by Philip Stobbart

Geomag thing again, this time with additional hanging bits, which swing whilst the pyramid rotates, which keeps it rotating a bit longer. I have too much time on my hands, I need something like a thesis to take it all up...

Flat Party 14062008 by Stefan Weidt