Little auk? (1 Viewer)

[Ant]

I photographed this on the ferry on the way home from Islay yesterday, I I know the larger bird is a guillemot, but can someone confirm that the smaller one is a little auk?

 

[martin kitching]

I photographed this on the ferry on the way home from Islay yesterday, I I know the larger bird is a guillemot, but can someone confirm that the smaller one is a little auk?

It's a juvenile Guillemot.

martin

 

[Frenchy]

I can confirm that the smaller bird is.....a guillemot.

Its a chick. They jump off the nesting ledges before they can fly and then follow Dad to the feeding grounds. They're a common sight miles from land at this time of year.

Not sure what Mom does....

 

[Th_SQ]

Not sure what Mom does....

Shopping ? :gn:

 

[jpoyner]

I photographed this on the ferry on the way home from Islay yesterday, I I know the larger bird is a guillemot, but can someone confirm that the smaller one is a little auk?

Little Auks breed in the Arctic and are a vagrant to Britain usually in winter and in particular after northerly gales. It is not normally a summer visitor to these waters which should be a good id clue also.

John

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

I photographed this on the ferry on the way home from Islay yesterday, I I know the larger bird is a guillemot, but can someone confirm that the smaller one is a little auk?

The reason why it is a juvenile Guillemot is because the mantle is all black, a Little Auk would have white 'scratch-like' markings along the length.

I can see why you went for Little Auk though, the rest of its features look similar.

 

[Docmartin]

Little Auks breed in the Arctic and are a vagrant to Britain usually in winter and in particular after northerly gales. It is not normally a summer visitor to these waters which should be a good id clue also.

Another giveaway is when they follow the Guillemot making a high pitched whistling noise and being occasionally fed fish :-O

 

[dbradnum]

Little Auk would have a much shorter, stubbier bill as well.

 

[Jos Stratford]

can someone confirm that the smaller one is a little auk?

Being totally pedantic, quibbling over the use of capitals, I would say the smaller bird is indeed a little auk, i.e. a young Guillemot. It is not though a Little Auk.

Sorry Anthony, I'll crawl back into my hole now

 

[dbradnum]

Being totally pedantic, ...

If it's any consolation, it's not just you - I nearly posted something along the same lines earlier!

 

[Docmartin]

Being totally pedantic, quibbling over the use of capitals, I would say the smaller bird is indeed a little auk, i.e. a young Guillemot. It is not though a Little Auk.

Now I'm confused. I saw a little ringed plover. But I think it was a banded juvenile lapwing. How many species is that. How do I tell?

 

[dbradnum]

Now I'm confused. I saw a little ringed plover. But I think it was a banded juvenile lapwing. How many species is that. How do I tell?

Read the ring number.

 

[Frenchy]

Its a pain. Working for the RSPB, their "house style" is to use lower case for bird names. I hate it, but have to do it whenever i write anything for work, so keep myself in practice by trying to do it all the time. Get the feeling this could develop into a whole new thread....!!!

 

[Jos Stratford]

Had a superb starling in my garden earlier this week and heard there was a wooden grosbeak on the loose in the UK not so long ago (cheap version, I would have preferred the oak myself)!

 

[robinm]

Get the feeling this could develop into a whole new thread....!!!

There was a very long thread about this a while ago - can't find it just at the moment. I think the consensus was that capitals made a lot of sense and avoided confusion. I am definitely in favour.

 

[jpoyner]

Its a pain. Working for the RSPB, their "house style" is to use lower case for bird names. I hate it, but have to do it whenever i write anything for work, so keep myself in practice by trying to do it all the time. Get the feeling this could develop into a whole new thread....!!!

Shouldn't that be the RSPb then?

 

[Edward woodwood]

could certainly make interesting reading when the Rough-faced Shag is under discussion

my fave

sorry

 

[Tully]

Had a superb starling in my garden earlier this week and heard there was a wooden grosbeak on the loose in the UK not so long ago (cheap version, I would have preferred the oak myself)!

On a recent non-birding trip to Kenya, some Scottish lassies renamed the aforementioned Superb Starling as a Bonnie Starling. Perhaps someone could inform the powers that be of the change