January 1965 - BCF cruise 2 Species Account Black-footed Albatross Numbers of this species increased to 82 in January from 55 in December. Distribution remained unchanged; birds were seen as far south as 22° in the east and in the immediate vicinity of Oahu in the west. On 21 January 3 birds were captured and banded, only one of which had an unfeathered brood patch. Albatross sp. On 23 January an albatross was observed resembling a Laysan Albatross except for a massive yellow bill with a dark nail. The bird was clearly seen at very close range. It may have been a Black-browed Albatross (Diomedea melanophris), a southern hemisphere bird previously unrecorded in the Central Pacific Ocean, but fitting the description accurately. Wedge-tailed Shearwater This species decreased further in numbers from 106 to 51, a 52% decline. Eight of these were southern dark phase birds. These were seen in the southwestern end of the area which is within 500 miles of the Line Islands. The greatest concentrations occurred around the high Hawaiian Islands, especially just east of Hawaii. Only three birds were observed east of 154°W. Many of the birds, especially in the vicinity of Hawaii, had distinctive immature plumage. Newell's Shearwater Only three birds were seen in January, two flying in close company at the southern end of the area and the third in the north.