An observation of live prey capture by a black-browed albatross Diomedea melanophrys

At approximately 1300 GMT on 17 April 1995, whilst conducting bird observations on the RRS Bransfield at about 48 degree 04'S, 57 degree 21'W, en route from the Falkland Islands to Montevideo, an adult-plumaged Black-browed Albatross was seen to plunge dive from 3 m and seize a silvery-white eel-like fish about 30 cm in length, from just below the surface. Upon capture the fish wrapped itself around the bird's head and neck, wriggling constantly, and shortly afterwards the albatross took off with the fish. It was pursued by several other Black-browed Albatrosses until out of sight. The prey was captured during day-light, and the total time spent on the water was about two minutes; the entire sequence from the initial dive to flying out of sight lasted no more than five minutes. The elongate shape, behaviour and colour of this fish strongly suggest that it was a lamprey Geotria australis, which has been recorded as an infrequent prey species of Black-browed Albatrosses from South Georgia.