Stringer's Shearwaters

The 20th August 2016 will remain a special date for Seaton seawatchers for many years to come. Not only were several Cory's Shearwaters seen between 8am and 9:30am but this was followed by a remarkable midday and evening passage of Stringer's Shearwater Calonectris Stringerensis. Amazingly, both 'morphs' of Stringer's were passing Seaton on a regular basis. Most of them were the larger, Gannet-sized variant Calonectris Stringerensis Bassana of which 1,752 were counted. Smaller in numbers and smaller in size was the Fulmar-sized Calonectris Stringerensis Glacialis of which a mere 114 were seen. I unfortunately failed to see any Cory's but the vast number of Stringer's was a joy to see. The species is named after legendary Westcountry ornithologist Mr. I.B.Stringer who also gave us the diminutive morph of Goshawk Accipiter Stringerensis, which has since been re-classified as 'just a Sparrowhawk'. Here's to you, Mr. Stringer!