SEASHORE
CLIFF BIRDS
Puffin
The Puffin lives far out to sea, except
in the breeding season. It nests in colonies
in burrows on turfy cliff top and islands.
It has a bright bill in the summer.
Cormorant
This bird is seen mainly near the sea, but
can sometimes be seen inland on lakes and
reservoirs. Its wings are not waterproof, so
you may see it holding them out to dry.
Guillemot
The Guillemot perches on bare ledges without
a nest. It lays a single egg straight onto the cliff
ledge. The eggs are pear-shaped, so that they
spin when knocked, so that they do not roll off.
Herring Gull
As well as on the cliffs, the Herring Gull
sometimes nests on the ground and even on
buildings. It is noisy and is often seen inland,
as well as on coasts, where it scavenges for food.
Shag
The crest on top of the Shag's head is only
seen in the breeding season, in the spring.
It is found on Eastern Atlantic shores.
Fulmar
The Fulmar looks like a gull, except it is
fatter and fluffier. It glides along on stiff wings,
and flies with short wing beats. It spends most of
its time out of sea, off Eastern Atlantic shores.
Razorbill
The Razorbill's flat sided beck makes it easy
to distinguish from other birds. It likes to
nest in colonies in the cliffs, though some
will nest on ledges with Guillemots.
Kittiwake
This bird is a small gull and spends most of its time
out at sea, where it can be seen following ships.
When breeding, it makes a nest of green
seaweed stuck to the cliff with mud.
Great Black-backed Gull
This is a very large gull, with a wingspan of
1.5m. It is very aggressive and sometimes
kills and eats other seabirds. It is usually
seen alone or in small numbers.
Gannet
Gannets can be seen out of sea, where
they dive headfirst from a great height into the
water to catch fish. They nest on rocky coasts,
building messy nests around one meter apart.
Seeds of Knowledge
