North Atlantic
Ocean voyage. Montreal to Liverpool. Mid ocean
1911.
June 24
to
July 1
(No 6)

Oceanic birds.
Puffinus major
Fulmar

 June 29 [June 29, 1911]. Soon after breakfast I saw 4 birds about a mile off whirling
low over the ocean. They looked liked Greater Shearwaters. At 3 P.M. I had
a good view of what was certainly a bird of this species. It passed us
within an eighth of a mile in close company with a Fulmar. Their flight
was very similar in character but the Fulmar looked almost pure white
all over whereas the Shearwater showed plain brown above in contrast with
its white underparts.

A Swallow boards our ship 400 miles from land.

  A Swallow which I did not see but which was closely viewed by
several of the passengers and described to me as having a bluish back
and pure white underparts came aboard our steamer about noon
when we were still at least 400 miles from the nearest point on
the coast of Ireland. Although no one noticed that it had a 
white rump I think it must have been a European House
Martin. What could it have been doing at this season
so far from land?