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Message: <blockquote data-quote="timwootton" data-source="post: 1272894" data-attributes="member: 37672">Excellent Thread!The most beautiful birds on our planet, without doubt.Intermediate forms seem to derive from northern populations, they're getting to be quite common on Fair Isle and I was watching one just a couple of days ago at Ness Point, Stromness (Orkney).Also intriguing to watch twin attacks on terns by arctics.  there's a mixed pair (pale and dark) which patrol the same area of coast at the same time of day (campsite, Ness) and they are particularly vigilant (and successful).  I suspect very strongly that this is a mated pair and not just partners in crime.  They spend a huge amount of time loafing together and I've seen them skydancing (as they would over territory - which they aren't) seemingly in celebration of a successful hunt. A note on bonxies.  At the moment the local birds are concentrating on the expanding gannet population.  Usually an individual (closely watched by one or two others) will dive bomb any gannet surfacing from a dive.  The gannet's defense is to crash-land on the water again and defend itself with lunges from its bill.  The bonxies will quite happily sit alongside the larger bird until it tries to take to the air again, when they put it back into the sea.  I haven't witnessed it yet this year, but they do succeed in taking the gannet down completely and drowning it.One also put a grey heron down last week.  I found it sitting atop the fresh carcass in the shallow water of Loch of Stenness, chomping away.I hope you'll excuse the indulgence of a drawing or two, in celebration of these fantastic birds.</blockquote>

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