Bass Rock - Slightly weird Guillemots? (1 Viewer)

L

Long_Tailed_Tit

New member

• Apr 30, 2010

• #1

UK - Bass Rock - Slightly weird Guillemots?

Hi All,

Long time lurker, but I think this is my first post.

I was fortunate enough to be on a landing trip to the Bass Rock at the weekend organised by the Scottish Seabird Centre (great trip - definitely recommend it).

As well as the numerous (aka thousands of) gannets, there were plenty of other seabirds, including a colony of guillemots. A couple of which slightly threw me though.

Firstly, there's one with yellow beak and feet - which I thought would be a juvenile - but not according to my bird books. Also, there's a character with white patches round his / her very beady eyes.

Presumably these are just variations on the usual guillemot - but if someone could confirm I'd appreciate it!

Cheers,

John

 

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gropperwinch

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2010

• #2

that white-eyed one might be a bridled on which you can't actually see the bridle, but it still looks pretty weird. And don't even get me started on that yellow-beaked one.

I can make a fiar stab at mister bright eyes but I am afraid the best I can say about yellowy is that he is a freak of nature, or has run into some hgihly improbable circumstances involving chemicals, dyes, paints etc.!!

 

A

Andy1979

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2010

• #3

Very, very weird!

 

Quercus

homo sarkensis

• Apr 30, 2010

• #4

Aye.. it's a weird guillemot!

A genetic abnormality affecting the colouration!.. Darwinism in action!... If it works, it's evolution.. if it doesn't.. its a blip!

 

B

birding maniac

Michael M

• Apr 30, 2010

• #5

The bird with the white eyes looks like a Bridled form, which get commoner the further north you go. The yellow beaked bird could be a aberrant form, like we get leuistic of albino birds.

 

Stephen Dunstan

Registered User

• Apr 30, 2010

• #6

There was an article in Birding World a while back about a Guillemot with a yellow bill. Not BW's finest hour I have to say, but interesting to see for yourself in the field obviously.

Stephen.

 

C

Cheshire Birder

Well-known member

• Apr 30, 2010

• #7

Bridled Guillemot for the bird with the eye ring. The other bird with the yellow beak/legs looks to be a leucistic bridled Guillemot.

CB

 

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Apr 30, 2010

• #8

That's one smart bird. If it's for real, which for once I am not really doubting

Yellow feet and an interesting upper plumage too.

 

phil baber

Clipped Wing

• May 1, 2010

• #9

Amazing bird! Leucism seems to be the cause. Affecting bare part pigments also.

Bridled face on also for me!

Welcome to BF LTT!

And what a fantastic way to start!!!!

 

L

Long_Tailed_Tit

New member

• May 1, 2010

• #10

Thanks to all for the replies (and for the nice welcome!) - I've had another look through the 1000+ pictures from that trip (how many close up pictures of a gannet do you really need?) and dug out another one of this pair.

Bit of a worse view of the yellow one (obviously feeling self conscious in this shot from the other guillemots staring at him) - but it gives a better view of the bridle on the other one.

Have googled that after it was suggested - interesting how it is a reflection of how northerly a bird is. Wonder why that started appearing.

Cheers again! Very interesting.

 

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Quercus

homo sarkensis

• May 1, 2010

• #11

It doesn't appear to have affected it's 'pulling' power!

 

ta brandreth

Well-known member

• May 1, 2010

• #12

Top dollar - i'd have strung a Penguin on that yellow one!!

Incidentally,won't it be Xanthistic rather than Leucistic if showing yellow?

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• May 1, 2010

• #13

Long_Tailed_Tit said:

.... but it gives a better view of the bridle on the other one.

Click to expand...

In your second shot, there is another bridled bird in the bottom left.

 

dantheman

Bah humbug

• May 2, 2010

• #14

ta brandreth said:

Top dollar - i'd have strung a Penguin on that yellow one!!

Incidentally,won't it be Xanthistic rather than Leucistic if showing yellow?

Click to expand...

I was thinking leucistic was wrong too, but wouldn't xanthistic have yellow plumage tones too?

Just some kind of genetic throwback/mutation, or does this have a name??