Posted by Toe on January 01, 1970 at 00:00:00
If the geese type were flying north very fast they're most likely one of several duck species that are heading back north. Most have already left. As to the shearwater types, it's highly unlikely that shearwaters would be circling high over the water. Shearwaters, as the name implies, rarely fly more than a couple of feet above the water, and will glide fast with occasional banking. On windy days they will also do arcs over the waves, but they never glide high. My guess from your description, and it's only a guess not having seen them, is that you saw Sooty Terns, which will sometimes circle like that. Gulls will also do that at times