98. Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus)

The Balearic Shearwater is slightly larger than Manx and Yelkouan Shearwaters, and often appears slightly more well-built than these. It is a dusky brown below with no sharp contrast between black and white. As its name suggests it breeds on the Balearic Islands, but outside the breeding season it may occur as far north as southern Norway. It is classed as Critically Endanged by the IUCN due to its tiny breeding range and small population which is in decline.

Balearic Shearwater, ©jvverde, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Balearic Shearwater sketch.

This took me several false starts and it's still pretty rubbish. I blame the fact that I was tired from having it large at a castle in Cheshire on Friday night. Oh well!