photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
RAINBIRDER | all galleries >> SCOTTISH BIRDS >> Seabirds >> Auks >> Guillemot(Uria aalge) > Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) chick
previous | next
27-JUN-2009

Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) chick

Isle of May, Firth of Forth, Scotland

Guillemots (Murres) lay a very large single egg on a rock ledge devoid of nesting material. The egg is pear-shaped so that when it rolls it rotates around its apex & does not roll off the ledge.
Incubation lasts about 30 days. The youngsters usually leave the nesting ledges at 15-20 days of age -well before they have developed full feathering. The youngsters launch themselves off the cliff edge on immature stubby wings gliding steeply down to the sea below. Usually one adult is on the sea under the breeding ledge calling to encourage the youngster to leap whilst the other adult flaps down alongside the chick. The small family then paddles off into the sunset!!

Canon EOS 1D Mark II
1/400s f/9.0 at 700.0mm iso250 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
aluco16-Jul-2009 21:21
A very lovely pictutre of the guillemot
and the chicken!
Lillebror.
Yaki Zander.10-Jul-2009 16:07
Beautiful image. V
nicolebouglouan09-Jul-2009 13:38
Thank you for the explanations. Very nice shot! V
Guest 09-Jul-2009 06:20
Very interesting story and wonderful image. Very well done., V
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment