My wife and I went to Minsmere yesterday, yet another very hoy day, and wife went for a swim to cool off. This was at about 6.00pm and while swimming she saw a bird swimming towards her, the Guillemot pictured below. It was heading south and dived and reappeared the other side of her and disappeared rapidly diving and resurfacing as it went.
It was only a few feet out from the beach and a few minutes later we saw another coming along which may have been the same bird having gone back round without us seeing it. This time I saw it earlier and was able follow it along the beach while it dived to get ahead of it when came back up. The sun sinking behind us gave beautiful light and in some shots it can be seen the the birds eye.
We've never seen a Guillemot this close in this far south before. Possibly a juvenile?
Best Wishes,
Trevor
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.