Although we rarely do any birds anymore, we remain fascinated by the Auk family, especially the Puffins. Since our son Rodrigo and his wife live in England, we decided to visit the rookery islands while spending time with the kids. There are a lot of cottages available for rent in Seahouses, base for the birding […]
Tag: Arctic Tern
Restless Muse on Migrating Birds
Aristotle was a brilliant philosopher and observer of nature. He pioneered the study of zoology, but he was utterly clueless about bird migration. The seasonal appearance and disappearance of the birds in his native Greece perplexed him. Similar appearing species must be “transmuted” into each other across seasons, he reasoned, to explain the disappearance of […]
Urgent action needed to protect seabirds, say RSPB Scotland
Scotland’s seabird populations are in need of “urgent action” to halt significant, long-term declines, according to a report. A study from RSPB Scotland proposes creating seven sites to be designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA) to protect key feeding areas. It claims that the Scottish government is in danger of breaking conservation legislation if no […]
Pectoral Sandpipers in Shasta County?
Well it’s not unheard of but pretty rare to see Pectoral Sandpipers in Shasta County. You see the Pectoral Sandpiper is a medium-sized sandpiper that breeds on wet tundra in both the North American and Siberian Arctic and winters mostly in southern South America1. I know range maps basically show the “average” or “normal” range […]
Atlantic puffin population is in danger, scientists warn
The Atlantic puffin population is at risk in the United States, and there are signs the seabirds are in distress in other parts of the world. In the Gulf of Maine, the comical-looking seabirds have been dying of starvation and losing body weight, possibly because of shifting fish populations as ocean temperatures rise, according to […]
Best Photo of the Week Ended 29 Sep 2012
We are pleased to announce the winners of our most recent “Best Photo of the Week” Competition. Fabiola Forns wins First Prize for her artistic photo “Arctic Terns”. Jefferson Silva wins Second Prize with “Short-eared Owl” and Rick Lieder wins Third Prize with “Staking a Claim”. See images below with links to the original articles. […]
Arctic Terns (with short feeding video) by Fabiola Forns
Arctic Tern (Sterna Paradisea) – They are medium sized sea birds, with the longest migration known to any animal, from the Northern Oceans to Antarctica and back. They see more sunlight in a year than any other animal. The long forked tails developed in the summer, are particularly attractive as they fly and glide through […]
Inner Farne
A few images I took yesterday afternoon on Inner Farne, Northumberland. Kittiwake Chick Some of the ugliest chicks you could ever see, the Shag. Close Up. A mindful Shag. Adult Shags have the most stunning of eyes. Arctic Tern Nest and Eggs. A second of peace in the air. Arctic Tern. Puffins.