Shearwater

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Gelmir
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Shearwater

G'day all,
Can anyone ID these Shearwaters? Taken off Long Reef this afternoon.

Birdfreak
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Hi Gelmir,

the shearwaters are most likely wedgies (Wedge-tailed Shearwater). Their tail fans out very slightly and then points back inwards, like a wedge =) They are summer migrants to aus so you will start to see them in large numbers in the coming months.

Max Breckenridge,
Gladesville, Sydney...

P.S. Were they at the end of the rock shelf? Im guessing the tide was out.

Gelmir
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G'day Max.
Thanks, I was leaning towards Wedgetails as well.
There was at least a couple hundred of them about 100 metres off the tip of the reef. I was at the very tip off the reef, when I took this photo.
The tide was at midtide and receeding. The roosting Terns were heading out and feeding with them as well. I thought I saw an Albatross there as well, but by the time I had finished photograping the Pacific Golden Plover (a first timer for me), it was gone. So no possitive ID was made on that one.

Birdfreak
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Hi Gelmir,

most likely a Black-browed Albatross, but I have also seen Yellow-nosed off Long Reef before. Its good to see the summer waders returning too.

Max Breckenridge,
Gladesville, Sydney...

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