The Fulmar Triathlon
Fulmars are one of my favourite birds. All animals have some sort of compromise in their bodies because of the range of functions they have to fulfil and Fulmars seem to compromise just like others. Fulmars have to compete in the triathlon of walking, swimming and flying. A Fulmar’s weakest triathlon event is definitely walking. With legs too far back for efficient walking, they are ungainly and awkward on land. They are beautiful, but out of their element on Earth.
The Fulmar’s second best triathlon event is swimming. They have large feet with fully webbed toes and can make powerful strokes to propel themselves.
They are very confident on the sea.
Their strongest triathlon event is definitely flying.
Fulmars are complete masters of the skies and live to cruise the wind.
Earth, wind and water, Fulmars live in and on them all, but the wind is their true calling.
Feeding Fulmar - It’s rare that I get close photographs of Fulmars eating. They’re normally well offshore when I see them feasting on something. This adult has clearly been successful because it’s come back to feed its chick. It’s regurgitating food carefully into its chicks small beak. The care they take and the …
An evening amongst the Sea Mayweed - The end of a long summer day on Westray. I love the low evening sunlight at the Castle o’ Burrian. So does this Fulmar.
Fulmar chick - Fulmars only lay one egg. That’s not a surprise when you see the size of the egg compared with the size of the bird. BTO Bird Facts states that the average Fulmar egg weighs 98g, while the adult’s body weight is between 595 and 970g. That means the chicks start …
The beauty of Mallimacks - Fulmars have a strange reputation. Being able to spit foul-smelling fishy oil accurately from quite a distance is clearly something which hinders their recognition as beautiful souls. I’m willing to overlook that and see their deeper character. Magnificent, aren’t they? I’m clinging to barnacle-encrusted rocks at the waterline watching one …
Chattering - Chattering Fulmars are the best. They raise their chins, open their mouths wide, shake their heads and wave their heads from side to side on flexible necks. Then they chatter to each other. One starts and the others can’t resist it. It’s infectious, just like smiling.
Mallimack in Sea Pinks - A garden of Sea Pinks makes every bird photograph look better. This incubating Fulmar has the perfect vantage point, surrounded by a garden of Sea Pinks. I hope she has laid a large egg so their chick has the maximum chance of survival.
Touching waves with wing-tips - I love to walk along the Sands o’ Maesan, climb the rocks at the end of the beach, and make my way to the Knowe o’ Skea. It’s an important Iron Age burial ground with stunning views out towards the island of Rousay. There were over 100 burials here and …
Mallimack surprise - The Fulmars on Westray are littering the coast with their ungainly earthly forms, as well as flying effortlessly along the cliffs with their aerial selves. They look so beautiful, and oddly wise, in this late evening sunshine. It’s good to have long evenings after work to see them. I keep …
A Scootie Allan attacking a Mallimack - A Scootie Allan attacking a Mallimack. An Arctic Skua attacking a Fulmar. A Stercorarius parasiticus attacking a Fulmarus glacialis. Dramatic, isn’t it, in any language? This Fulmar strayed a little too close to the territory of a pair of Arctic Skuas and was pecked and mobbed into the distance. The Arctic …