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 Guillemot
Una aalge Length 40cm. Nests in large colonies (thousands)
on ledges on vertical cliff faces along coast and on
offshore islands. Lays single, pear-shaped egg directly
on to narrow ledge. Parents recognise their egg by its
appearance, their chick by its call. The young jump
off more or less all at the same time at late dusk during
a few evenings in July, still incapable of flight. The
young bird is then guided on the open sea by the male.
Heavy body, narrow wings, flies swiftly with propeller-fast
wingbeats close over the sea, often several individuals
in a line. Has fairly long and slender bill, distinguished
in other respects from Razorbill when perched by longer
and slimmer neck and shorter tail. Southern race (Ireland,
southern Scotland southwards) dull blackish-brown on
back, in intense direct sunlight looks dark grey-brown
on back, a major distinction from jet-black Razorbill.
Northern race (Scotland and N -Europe) is darker, closer
to Razorbill. Some individuals, known as 'Bridled' Guillemots,
have a white ring around eye and a white line running
backwards across top of cheeks. In flight neck is retracted;
looks hunch-backed in comparison with Razorbill; seems
to have larger hind body; feet well visible; white on
sides of rump much more restricted; underwing-coverts
not pure white, have some dark admixed. See also Brunnich's
Guillemot. In winter plumage, distinguished from Razorbill
and Brunnich's Guillemot by the fact that white on sides
of head extends higher upand is divided by a dark streak
running backwards from eye and also that sides of body
are streaked. Call a rumbling 'a-orrr, slightly 'happier'
in tone than Razorbill's. RS
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