Black-footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes


Black-footed Albatross
Black-footed Albatross are typically found, sometimes up to twenty-five around a boat,  on both Spring and Fall pelagic trips out of Monterey or Half Moon Bay. The whitish areas on the head, undertail, and rump increase in size as the birds age, according to Birds of North America; other experts have told me that the white on the head results from sun-bleaching, and is not a reliable sign of age.


Black-footed Albatrosses
When they gather around boats, albatrosses are just as likely to fight for food as birds generally thought of as less dignified.


Black-footed Albatross
Above and the the next several below show an albatross gliding, the most common posture of these great ocean birds.


Black-footed Albatross


Black-fotted Albatross


Black-footed Albatross


Black-footed Albatross


Black-footed Albatross
Coming in for a landing, above; landing, below; and landed, the next one down.


Black-footed Albatross


Black-footed Albatross
When they land, they have to take off, see below.


Black-footed Albatross
 A Black-footed Albatross manages the water take-off, which requires the bird to build up considerable speed running along the water surface -- always a challenge, and the more so in this case with only the right webbed foot, the left one evidently having been lost in an accident.