razorbill auks on machias seal island

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Above the Ice - North Coast of Canada

Endless Ocean: Blue World, Nintendo Wii

harp seals are so cool... i want to hug them and tell them how much i love them, but i know they probably wouldn't understand

Razorbill - Torda-mergulheira (Alca torda)

Setúbal/Portugal (13/03/2024)

[Nikon D850; AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5,6E PF ED VR]

Razorbill

Do you know how an Atlantic Puffin sounds? Though silent at sea, colonies are a cacophony of buzzy grunts that sound like chainsaw cords being pulled. You can hear some birds landing and stomping on the blind too. Listen for the high pitched wails of the Arctic Terns in the background.

This is a short video I took of the alcid colony at Machias Seal Island, New Brunswick, in June of 2023.

Razorbill, Isle of May by Tobias Verfuss

Penguins in the Mediterranean? 🐧

These are razorbills (Alca torda), the closest living relative to the extinct Artic penguins (nowadays there's only penguins in the Antarctic). Razorbills live in the Atlantic Ocean around Northern Europe, but in winter they move down south, reaching the Western Mediterranean. It's common to find them in the coast of the Catalan Countries.

Unlike penguins, razorbills are great at flying and diving (they can fish up to 7 meters deep), but they're bad at walking.

These pictures were taken in the coast of the Garraf area (Penedès, Catalonia), precisely in front of Vilanova i la Geltrú. Tens of razorblades have been seen this year in the Garraf coast.

Photos by park ranger J. Calaf. Info from Parc del Garraf.

19/03/2024-Radipole Lake and Portland

Photos taken in this set are of; views at both on a blustery day, beautiful Purple Sandpipers at Portland it was a pleasure to see this stunning group of birds my first of the year a precious species, Great Black-backed Gull at Portland, bluebells at Radipole perhaps my first of the year and perhaps the earliest I've ever seen this iconic flower in a year, Alexanders and Mute Swan at Radipole, the gorgeous and rustic sight of the Little Owl in the quarry at Portland my first of the year and what an honour to see one here again I love watching this bird, some of my first scurvygrass of the year one of the few flowers braving the headland at Portland Bill and my first cow parsley of the year at Radipole.

I also enjoyed seeing my first Sand Martins - bat like birds flitting through the air it's such a key moment of spring when the hirundines return - and possibly cukooflower of the year at Radipole and my first Razorbills, Shag and Gannet of the year and my first ever yellow field cap mushrooms at Portland as my bird year list soared to 149 the second highest one of my year lists has been at on this date in a year behind last year. Reed Bunting, Mediterranean Gull and Marsh Harrier at Radipole, Rock Pipit and Oystercatcher at Portland and Skylark seen from the car travelling between the two and primroses, bee and turkey tail fungi at Radipole were other highlights on an unforgettable day to bring to end my patch of leave around the weekend. A brilliant and packed few wild days.

Which auk will make it to the semifinals?

Razorbills, also called razor-billed auks or lesser auks, live across the North Atlantic but only come to shore to breed. They feed by swimming underwater to capture schooling fish, and can dive up to 120 m (395 ft) beneath the surface. Razorbills are monogamous and mate for life, and both parents spend equal amounts of time incubating their eggs and foraging for their chicks. They nest in rocky crevices along shorelines, with over half of the population breeding in Iceland. They are the closest living relative of the extinct great auk.

Little auks, or dovekies, live in the North Atlantic, breeding in the Arctic and wintering slightly further south. They forage underwater for crustaceans, primarily copepods, usually in the open ocean but closer to shore during nesting. They nest in large colonies on coastal cliffsides, laying a single egg in a rocky crevice.

BOTD: Razorbill

Photo: Dave Price

"This stocky, thick-billed auk is found only in the North Atlantic. It nests on northern islands and coasts, often in the same colonies as murres; similar to the murres, it has a longer tail, often cocked up above the water when swimming. In winter it lives in flocks well offshore. Hardy observers who go out to the coast during winter storms may see flocks of Razorbills sweeping past, low over the water. This species is probably the closest living relative of the extinct Great Auk."

- Audubon Field Guide

The razorbill (Alca torda) is recognizable for the thin white line extending from the eyes to the end of the bill. This example was on Lunga Island, Scotland.

Razorbill Lady

Razorbill - Torda-mergulheira (Alca torda)

Setúbal/Portugal (15/05/2023)

[Nikon D500; AF-S Nikkor 500mm F5,6E PF ED VR with Nikon AF-S TC-14E III; 1/2000s; F8; 400 ISO]

Common Murre in the middle of Razorbills