It's that sad time of year when we say goodbye to the Auks (Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins), with very few being seen today. The Auks will be heading out onto the North Sea and North Atlantic where they will sit out the winter months before returning to the cliffs in the spring of 2018! However, there are still a lot of seabirds to be seen on the cliffs - Gannets, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Herring Gulls and Shags all of which have young birds. There are also the butterflies, dragonflies and cetaceans and of course the dramatic splendour of the landscape. Dramatic Splendour of Staple Newk!
Glorious Gannets!
Gannet Nursery!
"One flew over the Gannet colony!" Staple Newk
Spot the juvenile Kittiwake!
Gannet chicks are known as Gugas, and many have already fledged the cliffs, but a large number still remain on the ledges in various stages of development.
The Gannet colony on Staple Newk again with many Guga's at various developmental stages
"Say you're sorry and you can re-join us!"
"One flew over the Gannet colony!"
Lunch is served!
"This doesn't taste or smell like fish!"
Gannet Portraits
Gannets feet are very large, about the size of a mans hand! They obviously have to support the UK's largest seabird, but they are also used to incubate the Gannets egg! Very large veins enter the feet, bringing warm blood to enable incubation, with the feet cupped around the egg!
Gannets mature into their adult plumage over a period of five years! It is interesting to stand on a viewpoint and try to age them! This might help -
And finally, Todays Sightings: