Unidentified (dead) seabird

[cazmanian_minx]

Sorry, me again.

Found this at the foot of a cliff together with a dead guillemot - really windy day, so I'm guessing they got gusted into the rock. Can anyone identify it for me? I'm afraid I only photographed the head, but it was a large bird (maybe 70cm long), white underneath, grey wings and back.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2576855029_2e30470ae9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22544094@N00/2576855029/)

Saw a little family of Eider ducks as well.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2576855185_8be004d9ba.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/22544094@N00/2576855185)

[Seabird]

Possible 2nd year Gannet would be my guess from the pic, also taking into account your measurment.

[the_count]

might be a diver such as a red throated diver juvenile head shape looks very similar but its very difficult with just a head shot lol:lol:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll318/countlicker/birds/P1030747.jpg

[domino]

Looks like a young gannet

[kas]

I would agree with the count and think it is a Red-throated diver, a juvenile. Its not a gannet as the bill is completely wrong. Look here

http://www.coventrybirder.co.uk/images/Juv%20Gannet%200496.jpg

[the_count]

it was the eye position that made me think diver rather than gannet as the eyes of a gannet tend to further forward towards the bill giving them a binocular view rather than the side of the head as in the case of the dead bird :D

[cazmanian_minx]

Thanks for all the thoughts - I was going to go down there again today and photograph the whole thing, but my legs are still recovering from the walk I did on Saturday afternoon! I'll try and get down there tomorrow and see if it's still there.

[cazmanian_minx]

Err, I may have left it a bit late, I'm afraid it's decomposed a bit. I was right about the size though, roughly 70cm from head to feet.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll302/cazmanian_minx/20080618018.jpg