Cormorant? (1 Viewer)

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GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Oct 19, 2018

• #1

Found this fella along the shore today, near Brora in the Highlands, and he didn't look too happy. I deliberately moved in a bit closer to see if he was tangled up in anything and he got to his feet. No broken bones or wings, and he wasn't tangled up in anything, so after a wee chat I left him in peace. I can't ID him though. Is it a cormorant?

 

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Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 19, 2018

• #2

Gannet, juvenile.

 

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GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Oct 19, 2018

• #3

Thanks Andy, had no idea. Hope he's okay. I've never been up close to a gannet before.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 19, 2018

• #4

GeorgeMac said:

Thanks Andy, had no idea. Hope he's okay. I've never been up close to a gannet before.

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Probably not a well bird, I've never seen one on a beach?

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Oct 19, 2018

• #5

andyadcock said:

Probably not a well bird, I've never seen one on a beach?

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I have, once, and it was definitely unwell - I'd strongly suspect this one wasn't in the best of health either.

 

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GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Oct 19, 2018

• #6

No, he wasn't very happy, but he had some life about him, he wasn't tangled up in anything, and nothing was broken. I'll go check up on him tomorrow. Had no idea gannets were so big.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 19, 2018

• #7

GeorgeMac said:

No, he wasn't very happy, but he had some life about him, he wasn't tangled up in anything, and nothing was broken. I'll go check up on him tomorrow. Had no idea gannets were so big.

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Big birds, wingspan of 2m.

 

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GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Oct 20, 2018

• #8

No sign of him today. Went back, walked the coast up and down a few times, checked the shore and the bank, no sign of him, and no dead birds to be found. I suspect a happy ending here.

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 20, 2018

• #9

GeorgeMac said:

No sign of him today. Went back, walked the coast up and down a few times, checked the shore and the bank, no sign of him, and no dead birds to be found. I suspect a happy ending here.

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I hope so but if it died, a Fox or Marten could have scavenged the corpse or even finished it off so not sure I'd expect to find it?

 

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GeorgeMac

Sutherland

• Oct 20, 2018

• #10

Maybe he just had a sore head and needed a night's sleep and he's off diving with his mates again.