[Photo] The shearwaters begin their northern migration in the boreal (northern hemisphere) spring, using prevailing west to northeast winds to assist their travels across the equator to foraging grounds in the North Pacific. In the boreal fall, the birds begin their return trip, using the prevailing southeastern winds ??? to cross the equator in a narrow swath during a ten day window in October (October 7th give or take five days).

Each fall, thousands of sooty shearwaters appear in the waters of Monterey Bay, where these pictures of this lovely seabird were taken.

Photo by photographer Jeff Poklen.