Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)
Number of individuals, sex, age, plumage: "lighter" individual
Locality:  South Jetty of the Columbia River
Dates:  June 21,2003
Time of Day: between 09:30 
Reporting observers address: Mike Patterson
                                                1338 Kensington Av.
                                                 Astoria, OR  97103
Light conditions:  overcast; good visibility
Optical equipment:  25x60 Bushnell spotting scope
Distance from bird: 150 to 200 meters
Duration of observation: about 1 minute
Habitat: near ocean surf and area just beyond main breakers
Behavior:  I picked up the bird in my spotting scope coming from the south.  It flew with rapid wingbeat interspersed with short glides.  I followed it as it flew just out side the breakers.
Description:  Small looking.  All dark above; all white below.
   Upperparts uniformly dark.
   Underparts uniformly white from chin to undertail coverts.
   Fairly crisp demarcation between dark forehead/crown/nape and chin/throat/ cheek.
   Bill all dark and thin-looking. 
Similar Species:  too small and delicate for a Pink-footed Shearwater; also fine, dark bill.  Pale belly and flight style eliminate Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters.  Very dark upperparts and clean, white vent and undertail coverts, should be sufficient to exclude Black-vented Shearwater.
Previous experience:  I have considerable experience with regularly occurring dark-bellied shearwaters, Pink-footed and Buller's Shearwater.