Brent Stephenson / Buller's shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in flight against the sky, showing the underwing pattern. Off the Three Kings, Far North,New Zealand, April. Vulnerable species.

Brent Stephenson / Fluttering shearwater (Puffinus gavia) taking off from the surface of the sea, showing the underwing and worn feathers at the end of the breeding season. Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand, February.

Brent Stephenson / Wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) on the ground outside its nesting burrow. Meyer Islets, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, November.

Brent Stephenson / Juvenile Little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis) on the ground near its nesting burrow. Meyer Islets, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, November.

Brent Stephenson / Fluttering shearwater (Puffinus gavia) on the ground near its nest site. Mokohinau Islands, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, October.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Persian shearwater (Puffinus persicus) in flight, Oman, October

Robin Chittenden / Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) Portugal, October.

Robin Chittenden / Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) Portugal, October.

Robin Chittenden / Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) in flight, Portugal, October.

Robin Chittenden / Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) with wings stretched, Portugal, October.

David Tipling / Manx Shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) gathering at dusk in St Bride's Bay, with boat in the background, off Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK, August.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) in flight low over the sea, south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) group in flight skimming low over the sea, off coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) in flight, off south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) taking off from the sea, of the south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) taking off from the sea, off south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) in flight low over the sea, South coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) in flight low over the sea, south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) taking off from calm sea, south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) taking off from calm sea, south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) taking off from calm sea, south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) flock feeding on the surface, south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) flock feeding on the surface. South coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Mike Potts / Diving Gannet (Morus bassanus) with Manx Shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) feeding at the surface, south coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK.

Tui De Roy / Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus subalaris) taking flight, Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island, Ecuador

Rob Drummond / Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes), Victoria, Australia

Robert Royse / Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus), California

Glenn Bartley / Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus), British Columbia, Canada

Glenn Bartley / Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus), British Columbia, Canada

Glenn Bartley / Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus), British Columbia, Canada

Glenn Bartley / Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus), British Columbia, Canada

Rob Drummond / Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis), Australia

Tui De Roy / Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) female predating on Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus subalaris), Plazas Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Mark MacEwen / Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) pair outside nest burrow, Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Taken with infra-red camera.

Mark MacEwen / Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) outside nest burrow mutual grooming at night, Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Taken with infra-red camera.

Mark MacEwen / Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) at night, Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Taken with infra-red camera.

Mark MacEwen / Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) outside nest burrow, Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Taken with infra-red camera.

Roland Seitre / Wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) chick at nest, New Caledonia

Laurent Geslin / Short tailed shearwater on nest (Puffinus tenvirostris) Southern Australia

Bert Willaert / Nesting cavity of a Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus) between tree roots, Mocha Island National Reserve, Mocha Island, Chile, December. Vulnerable species,

Michael Pitts / Particulates of plastic debris fed to Fleshfoot Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) chicks by parent bird. These pieces taken from one dead chick, Lord Howe Island. Australia, April 2012

Michael Pitts / Scientist removing plastic particulates from the stomach of a Fleshfoot Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) Lord Howe Island, April 2012

Markus Varesvuo / Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus Griseus) in flight over Atlantic ocean, Madeira, August

Yukihiro Fukuda / Wedgetailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) incubating egg on nest that is underground, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, July

Yukihiro Fukuda / Wedgetailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) exposed egg in nest that is underground, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, July

Yukihiro Fukuda / Christmas Shearwater (Puffinus nativitatis) pair, Christmas Island, July

Tui De Roy / Galapagos shearwater (Puffinus subalaris) in flight over Pacific ocean surface, Isabela Island, Galapagos

Mark Payne-Gill / Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Short tailed shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) mass feeding on krill in Aleutian Islands, off coast of Unalaska, Dutch Harbour, USA August

Mark Payne-Gill / Short tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) rafting and Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) mass feeding on krill in Aleutian Islands, off coast of Unalaska, Dutch Harbour, USA August

Mark Payne-Gill / Short tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) mass take off after feeding on krill in Aleutian Islands, off coast of Unalaska, Dutch Harbour, USA August

Mark Payne-Gill / Short tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) rafting and mass feeding on krill in Aleutian Islands, off coast of Unalaska, Dutch Harbour, USA August

Mark Payne-Gill / Short tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) rafting and Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) mass feeding on krill in Aleutian Islands, off coast of Unalaska, Dutch Harbour, USA August

Mark Payne-Gill / Short tailed shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris) alongside Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) mass feeding on krill in Aleutian Islands, off coast of Unalaska, Dutch Harbour, USA

Brent Stephenson / Sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) taking off from the water from above. Foveaux Strait, Southland, New Zealand

Brent Stephenson / Buller's shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in flight low over the sea, off Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Brent Stephenson / Buller's shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in flight low over the water, off the Three Kings, Far North, New Zealand.

Brent Stephenson / Greater shearwater (Puffinus gravis) flying low over the water, off Stewart Island, New Zealand

Brent Stephenson / Buller's shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in flight low over the water, showing upperwing. Off Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand.

Brent Stephenson / Flesh-footed shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) in flight low over the water off Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Brent Stephenson / Flesh-footed shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) in flight showing the underwing and flesh-coloured feet, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand, November.

Brent Stephenson / Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) bobbing in the waves. Off Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) in flight. Off Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand, October.

Robin Chittenden / Great shearwater (Puffinus gravis) on sea surface, Algarve, Portugal, October

Robin Chittenden / Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) on water, Algarve, Portugal, October

Robin Chittenden / Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) in flight over water, Algarve, Portugal, October

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) adult in flight over the sea, near the Isle of Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) flying over the sea, Isle of Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) adult in flight over the sea, Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Flock of manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) in flight over the sea, Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) adult in flight over sea, near the Isle of Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) adult in flight over the sea, with wing almost touching the water, near the Isle of Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) adult in flight over the sea, Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) adult in flight over the sea, Coll, Inner Hebrides, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Flock of Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) taking flight over sea, near Ardnamurchan Point, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Raft of manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) out to sea, some beginning to take flight, Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) adult in flight over the sea, Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Raft of manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) on sea, near Ardnamurchan Point, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Robin Chittenden / Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) in flight above sea. Algarve, Portugal, October.

Brent Stephenson / Raft of Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) on the sea surface, off Kayak Island, Alaska, United States, July.

Troels Jacobsen/Arcticphoto / A raft of Greater Shearwaters (Puffinus gravis) resting on the sea. Gough Island, South Atlantic Ocean.

Brent Stephenson / Buller's Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in flight showing upperwing, skipping over wavelets. Off North Cape, New Zealand, April.

Brent Stephenson / Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) in flight low over the sea showing the upperwing. Off North Cape, New Zealand, April.

Brent Stephenson / Buller's Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) water skipping and swallowing food, with a view of both lower and upper wing. Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Flesh-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) in flight low over the sea, cutting the water with its wingtip. Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Buller's Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri) in flight showing underwing. Off North Cape, New Zealand, April.

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) in flight over Irish sea off Pembrokeshire coast, Wales, UK, August 2010

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) in flight over Irish sea off Pembrokeshire coast, Wales, UK, August 2010, Endangered species

Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION / Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) in flight over Irish sea off Pembrokeshire coast, Wales, UK, August 2010, endangered species

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) flock on water, off the Lleyn Peninsula. North Wales, UK, June

Mike Potts / Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) in flight low over the sea, off the Lleyn Peninsula. North Wales, UK, June

Claudio Contreras / Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) head portrait lying against rock, Negro Islet, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Claudio Contreras / Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) head portrait lying against rock, Negro Islet, Guadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, March

Chris Gomersall / Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) a rare visitor to British waters, off the Pembrokeshire coast, Wales, critically endangered

Mike Potts / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) resting on the sea surface, off the South coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK

Mike Potts / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) resting on the sea surface, off the South coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK

Mike Potts / Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) searching for food below the sea surface, off the South coast of Anglesey, North Wales, UK