Abstract

During a pelagic trip to the northern edge of the Seychelles Bank, we spent two days using chum to attract seabirds. Data were gathered on the distribution on abundance of several species, some of which are of particular interest to Western Palearctic birders, notably Matsudaira's Oceanodroma matsudairae and Black-bellied Storm-petrels Fregetta tropica. The results, including photographs, are presented here, together with comments on the identification of these two species in particular.