uk fulmar chick

[kawwauser]

i went looking for a fulmar chick today at some cliffs near me, these birds are common at the cliffs but seeing chicks isnt so easy, the adults prospect nesting ledges for several years, books talk of nine-ten years before breeding takes place, the birds only rear one chick, this is certainly this pairs first brood as i have many pics of this pair sitting on the ledge dating back some years,
first pic shows the distance,15-17feet,

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/fulmarcw.jpg

with the teleconverter on

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/fulmarc2.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/fulmarc1.jpg
a second plus more level nest

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/fulmarc.jpg

[shannyD]

its so pretty. your so lucky to have such nice things to take photos of. im seriously starting to think i should get into macro because there is nothing to take a picture of.
very beautiful photos.
shannon

[ngannet]

Brilliant scenery and what a cute little fluffball. I love fulmars, and they can be nasty to intruders. You're lucky you didn't get too close!

PS: ShannyD...'nothing to take a picture of'? You live in California! I'm going there in October specifically to take pictures of seabirds, whales, seals, sea otters, sea lions, and some of the beautiful scenery there!

[Sindri Skulason]

Very nice shots. :-)

[kawwauser]

thanks for the replys,sindri i remember talking about fulmar chicks to you ,how are they doing over there?,these are the first two i have seen for a few years

[Cooper911]

Until you posted I had no idea what a fulmar was...and I guess they don't have much of a sex life. Looks like tough access to their nests and the kids look like big hunks of cotton. Nice exposure on these and thanks for illustrating their nesting habits...very interesting. Any pics of adults? Nice work here.

[kawwauser]

here is an adult cooper

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_9032.jpg

the fulmars full glory is its flight, they just soar ,no matter how long you watch them they never seem to close their wings

[Cooper911]

Geez...do these guys ever get off the cliff? I like the capture and the contrast of colour between the foreground and background which really makes this bird pop. Thanks for posting the adult pic...I take it that its a member of the Gull family.

[kawwauser]

they are a member of the petrel family, and never beg bread/food althought they do follow fishing ships, they also have a habit of coughing up foul substance if needed, i once encountered it from below a nest and needed hospital treatment, even from five feet away you will smell the offering a couple of days laterafter it was offered, watch any cliff climber movies in scotland and you will see them wearing goggles just down to this bird,yet its the most peacefull bird ever

[dancad]

I love the surroundings to this nest. Must be quite a view out to the sea! Great shots too...