Manx shearwaters are daredevil fliers when out at sea. Skimming along the troughs of waves with rapid stiff-winged flaps, they fly so low that their wingtips almost touch the water. Little wonder they're called shearwaters as they pull off spectacular banking and 'shearing' manoeuvers. It may come as no surprise that there was once a large colony of Manx shearwaters on the Isle of Man. Though devastated by introduced rats, this colony is once again on the increase. These brilliant fliers are also excellent swimmers, but dreadful walkers - only coming on to land to breed. Their cackling calls make a breeding colony a very noisy affair.

See a summer’s seabird ‘city’ spectacular.


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