A few odds and sods from Cromer, Norfolk last weekend. (1 Viewer)

KenM

Well-known member

• Sep 21, 2017

• #1

Apologies for these ''mostly'' distant poor images, however some may be ''do-able'' cheers.

The first image shows a line of Gannets with two birds in the last three at the end of line looking appreciably smaller than said Gannets, I think they were possibly Cory's Shears? If so are they known to tag on to ''Gannet lines?''

2nd and 3rd Images Diver sps., am assuming RTD?

4th Image looks to my eye...an immature Shag, presume not uncommon on this coast albeit the first one that I've found on the Southern North Sea coast.

Adding another Gannet line image (last image)....hope it helps? The two birds towards the end were (last and 3rd from last) certainly ''smaller''.

Cheers

 

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Last edited: Sep 21, 2017

kb57

Well-known member

• Sep 21, 2017

• #2

First image shows immature gannets tagging on at the end.

Divers seem to be showing an awful lot of white on flanks for RTD, 'sp. 3' also showing pale upperwing...possible BTD, but I'll leave others with more expertise to take over from here...

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• Sep 21, 2017

• #3

I'm not seeing anything to rule out RTD for the divers. Black-throated are as rare as hens teeth in Norfolk whereas there are literally thousands of RTD.

Shag, and gannets for the others, although there's not a lot to go on.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Sep 21, 2017

• #4

Fat Paul Scholes said:

I'm not seeing anything to rule out RTD for the divers. Black-throated are as rare as hens teeth in Norfolk whereas there are literally thousands of RTD.

Shag, and gannets for the others, although there's not a lot to go on.

Click to expand...

The two "tag ons" were c2/3 the size of the Gannets, essentially long-winged, short-tailed, grey brown uppers and mostly pale unders, Flight action not dissimilar to the latter....I can't compute anything other than one of the larger Shearwaters as nothing else comes near. Perhaps the main thrust of my question should have been...have there ever been any documented cases of either of the two larger Shearwaters ever "tagging on" to a line of Gannets. On the day there was a N.N.Easterly breeze bringing intermittent showers across the coast, also columns of the latter were mainly moving South, certainly into double figures during my hour's birdwatch from the pier.

Cheers

 

Vague Bird News

News you can't trust from the team you don't know.

• Sep 21, 2017

• #5

Yes undoubtedly Cory's Shearwaters. They have a strange parasitic relationship with Gannets and like to follow them about. At Bempton I have often seen them occupy Gannet's nests and demand fish!

 

S

SteveClifton

Well-known member

• Sep 21, 2017

• #6

Vague Bird News said:

Yes undoubtedly Cory's Shearwaters. They have a strange parasitic relationship with Gannets and like to follow them about. At Bempton I have often seen them occupy Gannet's nests and demand fish!

Click to expand...

Yes definitely Cory's-I've noted that begging behaviour in Gannet nests too 8-P

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• Sep 21, 2017

• #7

I don’t think it’s unusual for shearwaters to move with gannets - I’ve seen sooty and corys doing it recently.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Sep 21, 2017

• #8

Fat Paul Scholes said:

I don’t think it’s unusual for shearwaters to move with gannets - I’ve seen sooty and corys doing it recently.

Click to expand...

Interesting...I will follow ''Gannet lines'' in future, as I've only ever seen Cory's en masse...and invariably shearing.

Cheers

 

N

Nick-on

Well-known member

• Sep 22, 2017

• #9

Vague Bird News said:

Yes undoubtedly Cory's Shearwaters. They have a strange parasitic relationship with Gannets and like to follow them about. At Bempton I have often seen them occupy Gannet's nests and demand fish!

Click to expand...

:-O Who said sarcasm was dead ?