Perfect Formation

Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta

Cape Gannet Morus capensis

These guys are marvellously efficient flying machines. They can glide for seemingly never-ending periods of time without so much as a single flap of the wings. Energy conservation is the priority! Much of this gliding is done mere centimetres above the water surface so as to capitalise on the “drafting” effect of the wind flowing over the moving waves.

This mid-morning image was captured 25 nautical miles south of Cape Point, South Africa in the sub-Atlantic Ocean.