Sooty Squabble

The light-mantled sooty albatross are the least numerous and least intensively studied albatross on Bird Island, partly because they nest on steep slopes and cliffs. In November, early in the egg-laying season, we walked a stretch of coast counting and mapping all those sitting on nests. Today we repeated the route, noting how many are still present. By now they should all be sheltering small, fluffy grey chicks. In recent years chick survival has been very poor with this species (it is not fully understood why) but happily a good number were still present. A final check will be carried out in late April to see how many chicks make it to fledging age.
Near a couple of failed nests a small group of birds were circling, landing and squabbling. Perhaps established pairs bonding, perhaps young birds looking for partners.