Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Manx Shearwater is one of the great seabirds — it migrates from South America each spring, breeds on island burrows in Wales and Scotland, then migrates back. In the Irish Sea, large numbers pass the Sefton Coast, banking and wheeling over the waves with stiff, rigid wings alternating rapid wingbeats with long glides — the 'shearing' flight that gives shearwaters their name. In August, northwesterly winds push good numbers close to the coast at Formby Point.
At a Glance
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Habitat | Open sea · Offshore |
| Diet | Fish, squid — catches prey by surface diving |
| UK population | Around 300,000 pairs — mainly on Welsh and Scottish islands |
| Sefton Coast | Regular offshore in summer and autumn; large movements possible in northwesterly winds |
| Conservation | UK Amber List |
Where to See It
Offshore from Formby Point. Sometimes in large numbers in northwesterly winds.
Identification
Medium seabird. Jet black above, white below. Stiff-winged shearing flight, alternating flaps and glides, banking to show black then white. Smaller and more contrasting than Fulmar.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Seawatch from Formby Point in August in northwesterly winds. Manx Shearwaters appear in small groups to large flocks, shearing over the wave tops. The black-and-white contrast and shearing flight are distinctive.
Conservation Status
UK Amber List
This species is on the UK Amber List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating moderate concern. Population monitoring and habitat management remain important for its continued recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far does the Manx Shearwater migrate?
Manx Shearwaters undertake one of the longest migrations of any bird — from UK breeding colonies to the South Atlantic (mainly off Brazil and Argentina) and back, a round trip of around 20,000 km. Chicks raised on Welsh islands have been tracked reaching the South Atlantic within weeks of their first flight. They can live for 50+ years and may accumulate over a million kilometres of flying in a lifetime.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.