Yes, shearwaters are seabirds that live and breed in the United Kingdom. The most common species of shearwater found in the UK is the Manx shearwater, which breeds on islands off the west coasts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
Shearwaters belong to the family Procellariidae, which includes petrels, fulmars, prions and gadfly petrels. There are over 30 species of shearwater worldwide, with 5 species regularly seen around the UK. These are:
- Manx shearwater
- Sooty shearwater
- Great shearwater
- Balearic shearwater
- Yelkouan shearwater
Of these, only the Manx shearwater breeds in the UK, with around 350,000 pairs nesting on islands and coastal cliffs. The other species are rare visitors or vagrants from farther south. Shearwaters get their name from the way they ‘shear’ or skim dynamically across the ocean surface using stiff wings and streamlined bodies.
Manx Shearwaters
The Manx shearwater is a medium-sized seabird around 30-38cm long with black upperparts and white underparts. It breeds in large colonies on small offshore islands and remote coastal cliffs. Their main UK breeding sites include:
- Skomer, Skokholm and Middleholm Islands, Pembrokeshire
- Rum and the Flannan Isles, Scotland
- Copeland Islands, Northern Ireland
- Lundy Island, Devon
- Bardsey Island, Gwynedd
Manx shearwaters nest in burrows dug into soil and among rocky crevices. A single white egg is laid in May-June, with parents sharing incubation duties. Chicks hatch around mid July and are fed by parents until fledging in September. After breeding, the shearwaters migrate south to winter off southern Africa, South America and into the North Atlantic.
Population and Conservation
The UK holds over 90% of the global population of Manx shearwaters, estimated at 330,000-380,000 breeding pairs. However, they face threats from invasive species, marine pollution, overfishing of prey species, and climate change. Conservation efforts include protecting breeding colonies, removing predators, and monitoring populations.
| Location | Breeding pairs |
|---|---|
| Skomer, Skokholm and Middleholm | 136,000 |
| Rum | 7,000-10,000 |
| Copeland Islands | 2,500 |
| Lundy | 5,000 |
| Bardsey Island | 2,400 |
| St Kilda | 60,000 |
| Total UK | 330,000-380,000 |
Other Shearwater Species
Sooty Shearwater
The sooty shearwater is a large shearwater (40-51cm) that breeds on islands off New Zealand and Chile. It is a rare visitor to the UK, mostly sighted off western coasts in late summer after breeding. Identified by dark plumage and long narrow wings.
Great Shearwater
The great shearwater breeds in the South Atlantic and migrates north to winter off South America. An irregular vagrant to the UK, but increasing in recent years as waters warm due to climate change. A very large shearwater around 46-56cm long.
Balearic Shearwater
The Balearic shearwater is critically endangered, breeding only in the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. It is a rare vagrant to the UK, occasionally sighted off southern coasts. Medium-sized with black cap and white underside to wings.
Yelkouan Shearwater
The Yelkouan shearwater is a small shearwater (28-33cm) that breeds around the Mediterranean. A rare vagrant to the UK, with scattered sightings off southern coasts. Identified by pale undertail coverts and white marking under wings.
Where to see shearwaters in the UK
The best locations to spot shearwaters around the UK coast are:
- Skomer, Skokholm and Grassholm Islands – take a boat trip to see huge rafts of Manx shearwaters
- Seabird colonies on the Western Isles of Scotland – look for Manx shearwaters and other species
- Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland – boat tours to see shearwaters and other seabirds
- Isles of Scilly – pelagic boat trips run to see migrating shearwaters
- Bardsey Island, Wales – Manx shearwater colony and chance of vagrant species
- Headlands in Cornwall and Devon – shearwaters pass by on migration
The peak time is late summer and autumn when most shearwaters are migrating past or leaving breeding colonies. However, Manx shearwaters can be seen at colonies from May to August.
| Location | Key species | Best time to see |
|---|---|---|
| Skomer Island | Manx shearwater | April to August |
| Isles of Scilly | Balearic, great, sooty shearwaters | August to October |
| Rathlin Island | Manx shearwater | May to July |
| Western Isles | Manx, great shearwaters | July to September |
| Bardsey Island | Manx shearwater | May to August |
| Cornish peninsulas | Sooty, Balearic shearwaters | September to November |
Shearwater watching tips
To have the best chance of spotting shearwaters around the UK coast, here are some useful tips:
- Use a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope – shearwaters can be quite far offshore
- Check weather forecasts for good visibility before going out
- Pick headlands or cliff tops that give views over a wide sea area
- Go on organised boat trips to get further offshore
- Look out for flocks ‘rafting’ on the sea surface
- Listen for their eerie nocturnal calling at colonies
- Distinguish similar species by size, plumage features and flight style
- Speak to other birdwatchers to get recent sighting news
Shearwater facts
Breeding
- Shearwaters nest in colonies of up to 1 million birds
- They lay a single white egg per season
- Parents share incubation duties lasting around 50 days
- Chicks are semi-altricial – born featherless and downy
- Parents leave the chick alone in the burrow during the day while fishing
- Chicks fledge at around 90 days old
Migration
- Some shearwater species undertake epic migrations of 40,000km+ annually
- They use celestial cues and magnetoception to navigate
- Shearwaters migrate in figure-of-eight patterns or huge loops
- Some populations fly from Arctic to Antarctic and back!
- They switch between slow gliding and rapid flapping flight
Feeding
- Shearwaters feed mostly on fish, squid and crustaceans
- They can dive to around 70m depth to catch prey
- Some species follow whales, dolphins and tuna to scavenge food scraps
- They snatch food items from the water surface while swimming
- Shearwaters also eat jellyfish, molluscs, offal and sewage
Threats
- Introduced predators – rats, cats, stoats attack eggs and chicks
- Habitat loss from development and tourism
- Fisheries bycatch in nets and on longlines
- Ingestion of plastics which fill stomachs
- Climate change affecting prey abundance and nesting
- Light pollution disorients night-flying fledglings
| Species | Length (cm) | Wingspan (cm) | Global population | Diet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manx shearwater | 30-35 | 81-90 | 330,000-380,000 pairs (UK) | Fish, krill, molluscs |
| Sooty shearwater | 40-51 | 91-105 | 20 million | Fish, krill, squid |
| Great shearwater | 46-51 | 117-127 | 5 million | Fish, squid |
| Balearic shearwater | 33-36 | 85-94 | 3,000-4,000 pairs | Small fish |
| Yelkouan shearwater | 28-33 | 72-82 | 14,000-56,000 pairs | Fish, squid |
Conclusion
In summary, the Manx shearwater is the UK’s most common shearwater species, breeding in internationally important numbers on Scottish, Welsh and Irish islands and coasts. Other species like sooty, great, Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters are rare vagrants, best seen from late summer to autumn from headlands in the west and south of the UK. Shearwaters are amazing seabirds adapted to life in the marine environment, spending most of their lives flying out at sea. Seeing these dynamic birds gliding past coastal vantage points is a special experience for UK birdwatchers and nature lovers.
