Larry's Gallery:   Flesh-footed Shearwater (1/3)

PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae

Ardenna carneipes  

These Shearwaters obtain most of their food by plunging into the water from in flight to take prey just below the surface.

They will also settle on the surface as seen here to snatch prey that comes along, sometimes pursuing prey a short distance underwater.

Not surprisingly the diet of the flesh-footed shearwater is fish, squid and crustaceans. They will also follow fishing boats for offal thrown overboard.

One followed our boat for a considerable distance as we were heading back to Southport but a pair of binoculars dropped overboard by some hapless birder would likely be its only reward.