Voyage from Liverpool to Boston - Off South Coast of Ireland.
1911.
August 2
(No 9)
[August 2, 1911]

Remarkable flight of Herring Gulls.
Larus marinus unable to glide far against wind

Striking obliquely against the vertical wall 500 feet long & 50 or
more feet in height* which the side of the steamer formed the wind
must have cushioned back in eddying, swirling currents but if these
assisted or affected the flight of the Gulls the fact was not evident.

*The Captain afterwards told me that the upper deck is 60 feet above the water
the hull of the ship somewhat over 600 feet in length

Most of the birds were moving along slightly above the upper deck
and hence fully exposed to the undeflected forces while very
many of these were so far out over the wake (some 50 yards or more) as to be
in air currents that could not be modified by the presence of
the ship. Yet one and all those moving well above the water
(ie at least 25 feet above it) seemed to progress with equal ease
and speed. But whenever any of them descended to within
sight or ten feet of the crests of the waves they seemed
wholly unable to advance against the wind without frequent
and energetic wing beats. 
Nor did they seem able or at least disposed to glide along our leeward side
although they could and did follow in this way over our wake above the level of our upper deck.
These points we verified by very many
observations. Another exceedingly interesting exception to certain of the
rules just formulated was afforded by two superb Black backed
(L. marinus) in full breeding plumage. For more than an