This weeks WBW birds are again from Bempton Cliffs in East Yorkshire in the UK. These birds are Kittiwakes - or to give them their world wide common name Black-Legged Kittiwakes.
There formal name is Rissa tridactyla and these birds from the Atlantic are unusual in that they have a very small hind toe, or even no hind toe at all. This is not the kind of thing you find out everyday!
Anyway, I rather like these fine looking birds, and the places in which they nest and raise chicks are remarkable.
Now it's over to you and your blogs - so click on the link below and off you go. I'll be in touch when I get back home! SM
This is a really interesting bird that I have yet to see any form of:) Hopefully next month, we'll get to spot one. They are super interesting! Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteFabulous images again Stewart.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of cliff nesting. I can't imagine trying to parent in such a small space, but they seem to make it work.
ReplyDeleteObviously they are not afraid of heights. :))
ReplyDeleteI love to see but mostly I love to hear Kittiwakes. Unfortunately the only Kittiwakes here on the west coast are silent fly pasts usually after or during storms or westerly winds.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is remarkable, Stewart! Good thing they can fly.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, Stewart! Talk about living on the edge!
ReplyDeletePrecarious!
ReplyDeleteHello Stewart, they are new birds to me! Some day I hope to see one! Your photos are awesome. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThose nests are certainly resistant to predators. I did not realize that they built such substantial nests of mud. I have seen them in Alaska, but never got this close to their nests.
ReplyDeleteWe saw these on one of the boat tours in Alaska. Unfortunately, the one where the narrator wasn't very interested in birds, so didn't give us time for a good view really.
ReplyDeleteWhat a place to nest! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI drool when I see your beautiful photos of Kittewake. Beautiful images. I'll link up my post tomorrow (Wednesday). Greetings, Jo
ReplyDeleteand we don't let our chicks go to the park alone.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am a bit surprised that you didn't scale the cliffs so you could catch a picture of the foot with the missing toe. But, that said, what an interesting little bird and how brave they are to nest on the narrow ledges of those very steep cliffs. I am curious as to what the phonetic pronuniation of Kittiwake is ... I can think of several options, but don't know which is correct. Fun, interesting and informative as always, Sterwart. Be safe on your travels ...
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Hey Stewart! Great photos! It's impressive how little space they have to nests and chicks :-)
ReplyDeleteNot a species I get to see very often but their call is unmistakable.
ReplyDeleteFormidable little birds! Great shots, Stewart. Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos. They seem very precarious nesting on the those little ledges.
ReplyDeleteLove the name, I feel I have heard it way back in the old brainbox but maybe this is a case of deja vu. Great photos Stewart, I am very impressed how they build nests on such narrow ledges.
ReplyDeletebeautiful cliff dwellers.
ReplyDeleteGives new meaning to 'hangin in there'.
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart,
ReplyDeleteThe Kittiwakes are definitely pretty. I want to say they look like a combination of a dove and a Seagull.
In the first photo, I see the little baby Kittiwake in the nest, which is on an edge/rock on the hill.
So, the way these guys raise their young is remarkable! I am sure there are other fine aspects to that.
I love your natural, nature photos of the Kittiwake.
Thanks for hosting.
Have a Beautiful Day!
Peace :)
Great photos of the Kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs. I wonder how they teach the little ones to be safe - or do some of them drop over?
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, I re-read your post in the light of day and am fascinated that you zoomed in on their nests. I love the detail about their small hind toe. Brilliant! Thanks for hosting this meme. I'm a bit lean on the birding front while in SA (and during winter) but hope to soon have new spring birds to post. Greetings Jo
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, these Kittiwakes nest in such small spaces on vertical ledges. Loved the shots. Thanks for hosting. Hope you trip goes well
ReplyDeleteNow there must be a reason they select such narrow places, right? The height of the cliffs totally makes sense for fledglings with the water below. Great photos!!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteI was trying to figure how you took these wonderful pictures. Were you in a boat? Could you wade or walk to the place you shot from? I have not seen these birds so thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteStewart, marvelous birds. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAmazing birds with their precarious nesting habits! Love your photos! Hope your trip is going well.
ReplyDeleteThey look like small Pigeons..I hope they forgive me..Not a very friendly habitat..Great shots..
ReplyDeleteThey must have great balancing ability. I like the name Kittiwake.
ReplyDeleteKittiwakes, oh I do enjoy saying that, what a great name for such a great looking bird. I love these shares from up high you have done, and how these birds nest. Very wonderful work presented~
ReplyDeleteThe cliff photos are amazing,
ReplyDeleteLovely shots.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing shots! You must have been hanging on to the cliff by your toenails to capture them.
ReplyDeleteI hope to see you at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/08/bennett-place-bit-of-history.html, and please join us each week for Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)!
Un blog maravilloso.
ReplyDeleteFelicidades por tan buen trabajo.
Saludos desde España.
What a great series Stewart! I love their rather dangerously situated nests and you even managed to capture some young birds. I gather they are part of the gull family based on looks?
ReplyDeleteBlack-legged Kittiwakes nest on the most improbably small ledges, but seem to prosper in such an environment, although I suspect that more than a few eggs and chicks are lost from time to time. I once saw a Great Black-backed Gull at Percé, Québec swoop down on a Kittiwake nest and pluck a youngster from it. It just chucked its head back and the prey was swallowed in one gulp.
ReplyDelete