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Fulmar Love
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[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A pair of (Northern) Fulmars shot on their nest at RSPB Bempton Cliffs nature reserve. Do not mix this magnificant bird to seaguls.
I may later post a photo in flight. These are very difficult to photograph in flight as they are very skilled and fast fliers with unpredictable turns. Success rate in pictures is very low.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The two Fulmars are closely related seabirds occupying the same niche in different oceans. The Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), or just Fulmar lives in the north Atlantic and north Pacific, whereas the Southern Fulmar (F. glacialoides) is, as its name implies, a bird of the southern oceans. These birds look superficially like gulls, but are unrelated, and are in fact petrels. The northern species is grey and white with a yellow bill, 43-52 cm in length with a 101-117 cm wingspan. The southern form is a paler bird with dark wing tips, 45-50 cm long, with a 115-120 cm wingspan.
Two prehistoric species have been described from fossil bones found on the Pacific coast of California: Fulmarus miocaenus from the Middle and Fulmarus hammeri from the Late Miocene.
Both Recent species breed on cliffs, laying a single white egg. Unlike many small to medium birds in the Procellariiformes they are neither nocturnal breeders, nor do they use burrows;their eggs are laid on the bare rock or in shallow depressions lined with plant material. Nesting birds and chicks can eject an evil smelling stomach oil up to 2 m, which repels unwanted visitors. It will matt the plumage of avian predators, and can lead to their death. Northern Fulmars historically bred on St. Kilda, and spread into northern Scotland in the 19th century, and to the rest of the United Kingdom by 1930. For example, establishment of colonies at the Fowlsheugh Reserve in Scotland was one of the first areas to be developed for new permanent Fulmar breeding areas.
They are highly pelagic outside the breeding season, like most tubenoses, feeding on fish, oil or offal. Recent studies in the North Sea have shown them especially susceptible to plastic discards. The range of these species increased greatly last century due to the availability of fish offal from commercial fleets, but may contract because of less food from this source and climatic change. The population increase has been especially notable in the British Isles.
Like other petrels, their walking ability is limited, but they are strong fliers, with a stiff wing action quite unlike the gulls. They look bull-necked compared to gulls, and have short stubby bills. They are long-lived, with a lifespan of 40 years not uncommon. |
goldyrs, jaycee, mariki, uleko, nglen, Argus, gracious, Adanac has marked this note useful Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- mariki
(9477) - [2008-04-09 2:49]
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Hello Pekka,
Superb picture of these fulmars. Excellent POV, DOF and sharpness. Great soft colours. You are the specialist of the sea birds, I think.
Very well done,
Cheers,
Mariki
Wow!Pekka,
This is an amazing shot,they're so cute!
Cheers!
Goldy
- jaycee
(25460) - [2008-04-09 9:45]
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Hi Pekka,
I'm sure I have never seen a Fulmar before. This pair is soooo adorable. You caught them in wonderful poses so we get a side view and a front view. Nice colors and good details of the feathers and faces. The bills are so unusual looking.
Jane
- uleko
(10940) - [2008-04-09 11:33]
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Hello Pekka,
Lovely shot of this beautiful pair on the narrow cliff shelf. Great POV, sharp details and lovely colours. A very fine composition! I'd love to see these birds!
Many thanks, Ulla
Hi Pekka,
nice captured, good of sharpness, and beautiful natural colors.
i prefer a lower pov, but overall an good photo.
Regards Gert
- nglen
(36145) - [2008-04-09 12:10]
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Hi Pekka.I have never seen one in the wild so thanks for posting. You have captured good detail in the feathers and bill. with natural looking colours. well done TFS. good notes to.
Nick..
- Argus
(50626) - [2008-04-09 13:15]
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Hello Pekka,
Very nice capture of apair of Northern Fulmars at their nest. Excellent POV and composition and good overall sharpness.
Thanks for sharing this fine image,
Ivan
Hello Pekka,
A very fine image of Fulmars in such good closeup!
the exposure and focus is spot on with total sharpness, nice colour and perfect details to view and enjoy!
many thanks too for the informative notes
best regards
Tony
- Adanac
(21378) - [2008-04-09 20:19]
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Hello Pekka,
Lovely image of this pair that are very good friends. Wonderful details and colors in this marvelous composition. thanks for sharing Pekka.
Rick