What are these birds?

Sue Deacon · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 5:49 pm Post subject: What are these birds?

Just got back from a weekend away. We saw these birds up in Derry. Sorry the photo's are not brilliant - they were quite far away. Can anyone identify them? It's driving me daft (er)

The last one looks a bit like a Razorbill.

I know they are not 'garden' birds, but this gardener would LOVE to know what they were.

tagwex · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 6:03 pm Post subject:

1. Pigeons!
2. Haven't a clue.
3. Definitely not a Razorbill, doesn't have the giveaway white beak marks.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 6:08 pm Post subject:

Aquatic pigeons? Shocked

Gee thanks Tagwex!

tagwex · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 8:09 pm Post subject:

Well in fairness they do look like a pigeon. Anyway its up north so genes would be all mixed up!

tagwex · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:47 am Post subject:

OK maybe the pigeons are a moor hen. Could you not get them to smile at the camera?

Blowin · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 6:44 pm Post subject:

1 Not a clue
2 Possibly a Kittiwake?
3 I hear what Tagwex says about it not being a Razorbill but it DOES have the rather distinctive white bar on its wing.

tagwex · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 9:11 pm Post subject:

Beak Blowin Beak.

Sue Deacon · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 9:46 pm Post subject:

Thanks Blowin, they really have me stumped. I was hoping there would be someone out there who might know. Kittiwake did cross my mind, but I thought there would be more than one.

Many of the identity charts show birds in flight - a fat lot of good! The first two were dipping rather than diving and spent some time chasing each other around in circles. The second was dabbling like a duck and the third was diving. I know what you mean about the markings on the beak Tagwex, but the beak is razorbill-shaped. It might be an auk (and before you say anything DON'T start on about the Lord of the Rings!) Perhaps juvenile or winter plumage?

They were all swimming about together. Please - is there anyone out there who is to bird ident. what Silver Surfer is to plant ident?

Sue Deacon · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 10:08 pm Post subject:

Just had a brainwave and googled juvenile kittiwake and juvenile razorbill - BINGO! 99% sure that's what they were. I also found a picture of a black guillemot in winter plumage which looks very much like another bird that I didn't get to photograph.

Two questions remain - what were the first pair of birds and what on earth is an odd assortment of birds doing hanging around the ferry jetty?

Thanks again Blowin. Your suggestion of kittiwake pointed me in the right direction. Now this happy bunny is off to bedfordshire to catch up on Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax. Very Happy

tagwex · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2016 10:26 pm Post subject: