common guillemot

Guillemot de Troïl - Uria aalge - Common Guillemot

This was the first time I managed to see these two species. Brilliant birds in their own way.

Some of them end up inland or washed up the shore, starved to death. There is not enough fish in the sea for them.

This was taken from my sea kayak. I find that if I just drift along quietly in the wind and tide large rafts of auks will often come very close. I always give the birds plenty of time and space to get out of the way if they want without causing a mass panic. Some of these birds came to within...

Looking over the wall at the horn, was this huddle of Guillemots clinging to the cliff rocks. Well, got started on my holiday, then became unwell. Rest of trip is very sadly off. I'm staying with family in Wales for now, and will try and log on when I can.

Taking a deep breath and peering over the cliff edge, I spotted this little raft of Guillemots a few hundred feet below. A year tick obviously, I'd not seen any since my previous summer holiday.

Away beyond the Fulmar that I showed you yesterday, I could see a tumble of rocks with jaggy bits. Even my bins couldn't make out what was going on, so I took this picture. It wasn't until I downloaded it that I could see there were birds, but had to blow it up to make out what. Eventually I...

Common Guillemot ( Guillemot de Trol in french). Adult near the colony. Cap Frehel ( Brittany). June 2015.

Common Guillemots. Cap Frhel ( Brittany). June 2015.

Two Common Guillemots, basking in the Sun at Bempton Cliffs.

this bird was going through a nodding display with 2 birds above it

......back on the cliffs and pairing up.

Taken on Lunga,showing a few of the northerly `bridled` form

It always amazes me the way the birds land n the cliffs. It looks a hair-raising experience the way the hurtle straight towards the cliffs and then at the last moment apply the brakes. Some did indeed make crash landings or mis-judged things and had to veer away but most landed on the narrow...

Well actually it's a Guillemot, but let's not nitpick shall we. ;) So Paul and I went to Bempton yday.... and the place was covered in fog, a real pea souper! Certainly made the photography more of a challenge and gave my 200mm a good work out (didn't even use my dad's 100-400mm once, which was...

Triplets! Taken on Skomer Island,.19/06/08.