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RAINBIRDER | profile | all galleries >> SCOTTISH BIRDS >> Seabirds >> Auks >> Little Auk or Dovekie (Alle alle) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Little Auk or Dovekie (Alle alle)

It's strange to think that this rarely seen tiny wee pelagic Auk is probably the most abundant seabird in the world. It breeds on rocky islands in the high arctic & winters in the open ocean of the North Atlantic. Its habits rarely make it accessible to birders!
However large numbers can be displaced south through the North Sea following severe storms -particularly if associated with strong northerly winds. Such a 'wreck' of Little Auks hit the south-east coast of Scotland & northern England in mid-November 2007. Most of these birds missed the Fife coast presumably passing further out to sea.
Once the storms subsided the fit survivors retreated north but further strong north-easterly winds displaced some towards the Fife coast. The images that follow were all taken at Fife Ness on the afternoon of 25th November 2007. The weather at the Ness comprised of a bitter cold North-easterly with low thick cloud-cover & was associated with a surging high tide. These conditions pushed a number of birds well-inshore where some sought protection in the rocks whilst others bobbed about in the surf-zone.
All of the following images were taken in low light levels (ISO 800) in these bitter conditions. Unfortunately I did not have a flashgun with me -most of the images are crying out for fill-flash to provide a catchlight in the birds' eyes. Little Auks have a dark eye embedded in the dark head plumage though they also have a (variable) small white superciliary crescent which shows well from a distance & often resembles a catchlight (or even the nictating membrane).
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Little Auk -first views
Little Auk -first views
Little Auk -wee bird in a big sea
Little Auk -wee bird in a big sea
Little Auk -shelter behind a natural breakwater
Little Auk -shelter behind a natural breakwater
Little Auk -weary & desperate
Little Auk -weary & desperate
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
Little Auk
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