At Sea, North Atlantic
1909.
Aug. 3 [August 3, 1909]
Noon observation Lat 50.45 N.; Lon 15.18 W.
  Weather, wind & sea almost precisely the same as yesterday.
Air a little cooler, yet soft and wholly free from chill.
  About 10.30 A.M. three Fulmars appeared, following the
wake of the vessel very much in the manner of Gulls,
coming up close under the stern, alighting for a minute or
two to pick up and devour some morsel, next rising and flying
past with rapidly beating wings to catch up again, occasionally
shearing off to one side and describing a half circle low over
the white-capped ocean before retiring to the seething,
creamy track of the steamer again. They looked almost
as white as Kittiwakes and about of the same size. At a
distance they might readily have been taken for that species but
for their different manner of flight. Their wings, like those
of all the larger Petrels with which I am acquainted, were
narrower than those of any Gull, were held almost perfectly
flat on horizontal (not bowed or bent at the carpal joint)
when motionless and were used with a succession of
quick, nervous, tremulous strokes (too numerous and rapid to
be counted) whenever the bird flapped them at all.
As compared with that of the large, brown-backed Petrels,
seen in such numbers yesterday & the day before, the flight
of these Fulmars was much swifter, firmer, more graceful,
giving one the impression of far greater momentum and
of more decision of purpose.
Fulmars
  The Fulmars left us about noon. In mid afternoon they
were replaced by two Kittiwakes one a young bird with black on
wings & tail. These were with us some two hours. Just before
sunset a Puffinus, probably P. anglorum, flew across our wake &
alighted. Later still I saw a big bird, perhaps a Gannet, a mile
or more away, soaring in circles against the rosy sky.