Juvenile what?

[Kenn]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/kenliz/Birds/8may20091029-1.jpg

Is this a juvenile black guillemot or if not what? Several bobbing and diving in Scrabster Harbour last week.

[the_count]

with the dark eyeline i would have said guillemot but the common and not the black lizz :D

[nirofo]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/kenliz/Birds/8may20091029-1.jpg

Is this a juvenile black guillemot or if not what? Several bobbing and diving in Scrabster Harbour last week.


Hi Liz

Definately a common Guillemot, looks like a Winter plumaged bird but much too late. Perhaps it's a non breeder that hasn't fully moulted, can't say I've seen one in this plumage at this time of year before.

Here's a photo of one taken in February this year, the plumage is very similar.

Guillemot moulting into Summer plumage.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o71/nirofo/Birds/GuillemotmoultingintoSummerplumage.jpg

nirofo.

[Kenn]

That's another mystery solved!
I was surprised to see so many of them last week in the harbour at Scrabster and because the water was clear could watch them diving for fish which kept me highly amused.
What triggered the question was that on several occasions they were with Black Guillemots. elegant little birds with their white flashes and scarlet legs.and although the juveniles seemed similar in shape they were some what larger.
Only had my pocket bird book with me as we were travelling light.