Pre-breeding migration of Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus in the Western Atlantic: new insight from a survey in Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles

A sea-watching routine set up from 2001 to 2004 in Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles, showed that large numbers of Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus regularly migrate through this area from February to May, peaking in March. It has been estimated that each year on average 26,000 (95% confidence interval: 17,000-38,100) individuals are passing within 4 nautical miles off the coast, while more birds could be passing further offshore. It is suggested that these birds follow a northwestward direction from northern Brazil, and probably continue following the Gulf Stream up to their main summer range in northwestern Europe.