Reader Rebecca Large-Swoope sent a very short video of a puffin taking off. I swear that these birds seem so awkward that I don’t know how they stay airborne. But this one appears to simply leap into the air, beating its wings frantically, and it’s gone:
I recently returned from a trip to Wales. I highly recommend going there. Below are pictures from Skomer Island. In a separate email I am going to send you a very short video clip of a puffin taking off. I love the background sound of all birds.
And Stephen Barnard sent three photos of two bird species, adding that, “Both these species of flycatcher favor the same post.” He added some pictures of nomming fish that are below the birds.
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
Western Wood Pewee (Contopus sordidulus):
And a fish:
How a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eats a Callibaetis mayfly:
Beautiful.
Really great stuff Stephen, thanks for sharing these!
the Kingbird and Pewee are a bit difficult to differentiate, but if I remember, the Kingbird has a whiter belly. My backyard Kingbird lands on the cloths line and flips sideways and backward to pick off flying insects in the air around her. Nice entertainment.
Flycatchers can be difficult to identify. A good field mark for the Eastern Kingbird is the white on the tip of the tail. At first I misidentified the pewee as an Olive-sided Flycatcher.
I’m always amazed at how quickly and efficiently a duck floating in the water can become airborne. I mean, two flaps and they’re up:
Whoops. Didn’t mean to embed…
Yes! As opposed to grebes, pelagics, etc., that have to run across the surface of the water to get up!
, curiously one of my oilfield buddies has been posting puffin photos from Skomer in the last few days. Small world syndrome?
In the take off video they change beat pattern after they’ve got enough ground clearance to do a full sweep. Avoiding hitting the ground with the wings probably reduces the energy-per-beat considerably, which would make take-off even harder.
Wonderful stuff. These are but a few examples of what gives life meaning– to see and experience and to know.
Really spectacular photos, as per usual, Stephen.
Thanks for posting.
I note, re Jerry’s article on pupil traits, that the fish has round pupils, yet hunt close to “ground”. A data point against?
Or is it hunting close to the “sky?” How does water and the water / air interface affect the optical problem?
See “Snell’s Window”.
Thanks, interesting. I was aware of this effect in general, but had never heard of Snell’s Window.
I suspect you’re being facetious, but no, it’s not a data point against. Trout are active and eat a great variety of prey, the large majority of it underwater, where it is decidedly three dimensional. They fall comfortably in that central cluster. It’s a data point for.
A Large-Swoope puffin, and a swooping pewee….
b&
King birds & peewees are lovely birds. I see them around only occasionally. I really like the one of the peewee coming in for a landing.
Great shots, Stephen, I esp. like the landing Peewees. Nice alulae on the first one!
Sweet vid, Rebecca! Hard to think of a bird more fun to watch than a puffin. Their walk kills me.