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title: "Oiled Black-browed Albatrosses photographed at sea in the South Atlantic"
---

# Oiled Black-browed Albatrosses photographed at sea in the South Atlantic

During two hours of observations aboard a fishing trawler on 1 July 2011 assumed oil-stained Black-browed Albatrosses *Thalassarche melanophris* were recorded by Graham Parker at 45° 01'S, 60° 41'W on the high seas in the South Atlantic Ocean.

 Of the approximately 500 Black-browed Albatrosses present around the vessel, a minimum of 11 oil-stained individuals were recorded as being distinctly marked.  In the worst case the entire breast of the bird was darkly covered in oil, and in the least affected just a few marks were present around the neck and head regions.

 There were a large number of Southern Royal Albatrosses *Diomedea* *epomophora* and Kelp Gulls *Larus dominicanus* present but no oil stains were observed on either species.  No oiled-stained giant petrels *Macronectes* spp., White-chinned Petrels *Procellaria aequinoctialis* or Cape Petrels *Daption capense* were observed of these largely dark-coloured species.  No oil was present in the water around the fishing vessel.

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/B/Black_browed/lightly oiled dim.jpg)

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/B/Black_browed/mod oiled dim.jpg)

 ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/oiled dim.jpg "Oiled Black-Browed Albatross.  Photograph by Graham Parker")

 Oiled Black-browed (and other) albatrosses are occasionally seen at breeding colonies in the South Atlantic in small numbers, but sightings at sea appear rare.

 **Reference:**

 Huin, N. & Croxall, J.P. 1996.  Fishing gear, oil and marine debris associated with seabirds at Bird Island, South Georgia, during 1993/1994.  [*Marine Ornithology*24: 19-22](http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/24/24_3.pdf).

 With thanks to Graham Parker, Richard Phillips and Anton Wolfaardt for information.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 17 July 2011*