Hi, my wife and I spotted a Puffin/Penguin like creature today on the sands at low tide on the Severn Estuary. We only had our mobile phones with us so we went back for our binoculars and my long lens camera but it had gone. I’d love to know if anyone can help identify this bird from this grainy photo which you have zoom in on.
Hi Steve, very difficult to make out much detail even zooming in. It looks too upright for a Puffin - you mentioned it was penguin like - and it appears to have an all black head.
My guess would be a Common Guillemot as below.
Another possibility is a Razorbill.
I would emphasise these are guesses. Strange place to see either of these species but they both breed on Lundy which is not that far away. Hope this helps
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
I can't zoom it in very much, Tony, but was wondering if it could be a seal, tail on to us, lying down, and the angle makes it look "upright birdie"? Looks a long way away, and the birds are quite small for that distance? Of course, I'm guessing even more than you are
I hadn't thought of that, PB. It would be less unusual for a seal to be in that location.
I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a peregrine. Would explain no other birds in the photo.
stealthybutnotthatstealthy said:I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a peregrine.
Good thought. I've seen a Peregrine at Slimbridge sitting on the bank of the Severn. We need some feedback from Steve.