Sooty Shearwater?

[AndyW]

20 to 30 of these passed Hartlepool on Friday evening (17th) between 17:30 and 18:45. Weather was very clear with occasional sun, wind was NW and there was a heavy swell. All flew north (right to left as you look at pics) and I assumed they were sooties at the time. However, looking at the photos, the underwing pattern has thrown some doubt on this assumption - juv gannets perhaps? (Although, if they were gannets, it would seem strange that only first year birds were passing and they just didn't look gannet like). All of them flew in typical shearwater fashion barely going more than a couple of feet above the water.  Sorry about picture quality - combination of distance, equipment and technique.

Any comments?

Also passing were 1 manxie, 1 bonxie and thousands of kittiwakes.

[Mark Rowbottom]

Hi Andy
I think you will find that they were all juvenile Gannets. I was there at similar times and only had a single close Sooty at about 17:15. There was a steady trickle of juvenile Gannets north during the times you quote.
Gannets have a habit of passing in small groups in tight formation often quite close to the waves. Gannets are also considerably larger than a Sooty which look wholly dark apart from obvious silvery underwings. I didn't see any adults.
Cheers
Mark R

[AndyW]

Thanks Mark, you have confirmed the conclusion I had reached.