10 Seabirds to Watch Out For

 1: Phalacrocorax aristotelis

The shag is a medium-sized seabird that is similar to a cormorant but is smaller, and with a slimmer bill, more rounded head, and a thinner neck. It has green-black plumage with a bright yellow gape and chin and in breeding season, a crest on its head that curves forward.

It often stands with spread wings held at a straightish angle and can be spotted in large, loose flocks on the sea. It flies quickly and low over the water with it neck extended and short wings set back.

The shag is rarely seen inland and feeds at sea, diving for fish to depths of up to 45 m. Its call is a series of grunts and will emit a cackling alarm call when it’s at the nest.

Shags can be seen all around UK coasts. In breeding season look out for them on cliffs, rocky ledges, and small caves.

2: Alca torda

The razorbill is a black and white medium-sized seabird with a white upperbreast and dark upperparts, foreneck, and head, and a pointed tail. It has a blade-shaped bill with a white cross band and a fine white line through its eye. In non-breeding plumage the bill is blunt and it has a white throat and cheeks, and a white patch behind its eye.

It has a direct and rapid flight, flying low over the surface of the water with active wing beats. When taking off or circling over the sea the flight is butterfly-like. It feeds on fish and crustaceans within 15 km of the colony, bringing the caught prey back to the nest crosswise in its bill.

Razorbills are vocal during breeding season uttering a guttural, growling call. Young birds produce a plaintive piping sound at sea.

During the summer they can be found on rocky coasts and cliffs all around the coast of the UK. In the winter they migrate offshore only occasionally returning to land.

3: Uria aalge

The guillemot is a cliff-breeding dark brown and white seabird. On land it stands upright with is legs set far back while at sea it sits long and low in the water with its head and bill held horizontally.

During breeding season it has dark upperparts and white underparts. The rump is dark with narrow white sides. The head is dark with some showing a white line behind the eye. The tail is short and square, and the black bill is pointed. Male and females look the same.

Despite looking a little like a penguin, it has a strong, fast flight, performing steady wingbeats, and is agile when feeding often turning from side to side. It feeds by diving and swimming underwater pursing fish, and will also eat worms, crustaceans, and molluscs. On cliffs it produces a long, whirring call while away from colonies it is less vocal.

In breeding season, guillemots can be spotted on rocky coasts and cliffs. In winter it spends it time offshore but can be seen inshore after strong winds.

4: Fratercula arctica

The Atlantic puffin is a comical looking seabird sometimes known as the ‘clown of the sea’ or the ‘sea parrot’. It is a small, upright auk that waddles on its toes unlike the guillemot and razorbill that rest on the lower part of their legs. In breeding season, adult puffins have black backs and white underparts and a pale grey disc on the face. The large triangular bill is red, yellow, and grey, and it has bright orange legs and feet.

Out of breeding season, the face is much darker, and the bill is smaller and duller. Juveniles have smaller bills still and a dark face with dusky cheeks and plain black upperwing.

Puffins wings have evolved to propel them forwards underwater but they are capable of flight and fly with fast whirring wing beats reaching speeds of up to 80 km per hour. Away from colonies they tend to be silent but on breeding grounds make low, hard growling sounds.

Puffins are summer residents forming colonies with other seabirds on cliffs and rocky islands around the west and east coasts of the UK. In winter they return to the sea in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean feeding on fish and marine invertebrates. They are rare visitors inshore during winter.

5: Morus bassanus

The Northern gannet is a very large, elegant seabird with a bulky head and dagger-like bill, long wings, and a slim, pointed tail. On water it swims high and from a distance can look a little like a swan.

It is bright white overall with black wingtips and a golden wash on its head. The eyes are white with a pale blue eye-ring, the bill is pale grey, and the legs and feet are black. Males and females are similar.

In flight, it soars to great heights alternating rapid wingbeats with short glides and is controlled even in strong winds. It dives for fish and squid, circling overhead before entering the water at an angle with a splash that can be seen from far away. It utters loud, rasping calls and in colonies is very vocal producing a mechanical sounding chorus.

Gannets can be seen all year round both on and off shore. During breeding season they can be found on sea-cliffs, rocky islands, and sometimes on mainland coasts.

6: Rissa tridactyla

The kittiwake is a small marine gull with a rounded head, plump belly, slim, tapered wings, and short legs and tail. In breeding plumage, it has white upperparts and a grey back with triangular black wing tips. The small bill is yellow, and the legs and feet are black.

In non-breeding plumage, adults are similar but acquire a dusky spot on the cheek, and a grey nape. Juveniles have a dark band along the wing, a black collar, and a black bill.

Kittiwakes do not walk or forage on the ground. They hunt by dipping or plunging into the sea to seize small prey such as fish, worms, and crustaceans, usually far offshore. They have a loud, wailing, nasal call which gives them their name, and will produce long, high notes around the colony.

During breeding season, they form large colonies on narrow cliff ledges and coastal buildings all around the UK. They spend the winter out at sea but can be seen during migration in spring and autumn.

7: Sterna hirundo

The common tern is a medium-sized tern, similar to the Arctic tern but with a longer bill and legs. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘sea-swallow’ due to its forked tail and fast flight. In breeding plumage, it is grey-white below and paler grey above, with long tail streamers and red legs. On the head is a black cap, and the bill is scarlet with a black tip.

Out of breeding season, the forehead and underparts are white, while the bill and legs are black. Juveniles have white underparts and a brown back, and the bill is orange with a black tip.

Common terns feed mainly on fish, as well as crustaceans, worms, and leeches. It forages by flying over the water and hovering before plunging below the surface. It will also dip its bill just below the surface to catch prey. They often feed in flocks and will steal food from other terns.

Common terns are strongly migratory. The best time to see them in the UK is between April and September when they arrive to breed on coasts, islands, inland lakes, and rivers before leaving to spend the winter in warmer waters.

8: Stercorarius skua

The great skua, sometimes known as a bonxie, is a large, heavy, gull-like bird with broad shoulders, a short, blunt tail, and powerful flight. It has warm brown plumage with buff streaks, and a broad, white flash on its outerwing. The face is paler, and many have a dark cap, while the bill, legs, and feet are black. Juveniles are dark with buff bars on the upperparts and rufous below. The white wing flash is smaller.

It is an opportunistic feeder and will often harass other birds forcing them to drop their food. It forages in flight by dipping to the surface or catches prey while swimming. Around breeding colonies, it will also prey on other birds including kittiwakes and puffins, and will also take their eggs and chicks.

Great skuas show little fear of humans and will aggressively defend their nests, dive-bombing anyone who gets too close. They arrive in the northernmost parts of the UK in April to breed on coastal, rocky islands before departing again in July. Until November it can be spotted offshore on migration along the eastern and western coasts.

9: Fulmarus glacialis

 

Related to albatrosses, the fulmar is a medium-sized, gull-like petrel that can be identified by the tubular nostrils that sit above its thick, stubby bill. It has pale grey upperparts and white underparts with dusky tips on the upperwing and a plain grey rump and tail. The head is white or pale yellow with a dark eye patch, and the bill is yellow with dark nostrils. Both adults look alike as do the juveniles.

On land, fulmars cannot stand or walk although they will occasionally shuffle while sitting, but it is a good flier gliding low over the sea even in heavy winds. At its breeding grounds, it will fly high up the cliff face on air currents holding its wings at an angle.

Fulmars feed in flocks out to sea eating mainly fish and invertebrates as well as offal and carrion. It usually takes prey while sitting on the water but will also plunge dive. They will gather in large numbers around trawlers fighting for the food provided.

Fulmars breed in colonies on the narrow ledges or hollows of cliff faces. They strongly defend the nest territory, spitting foul smelling stomach oils at any intruders. They will also perform displays including head-waving, and emit loud, throaty, cackling calls.

Fulmars can be found around the coast of most of the UK. Except when breeding, they are almost always offshore.

10: Larus marinus

The great black-backed gull is the largest member of the gull family with a powerful build, big head, and broad wings. In breeding plumage, it has a black back with white tips to the wings, and a white trailing edge that can be observed in flight. The massive bill is yellow with an orange or red spot near the tip, and the legs and feet are pink. In non-breeding plumage the head has grey or brown streaks, and the bill is duller.

Juveniles have boldly chequered black and brown upperparts with grey streaks on the underparts. The head is white, and the bill is black.

The great black-backed gull is a widespread species and can be found on open sea, coats, estuaries, reservoirs, as well as inland. It is an opportunistic feeder and will take small mammals, the eggs and chicks of other gulls, seabirds, and ducks, as well as fish, insects, carrion, and berries. It is very aggressive, often stealing food from other gulls, and can kill adult birds.