Good eyesight is a fabulous thing

The Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius, is a bird I’ve only ever seen in full breeding plumage. Where it breeds, it’s known as the Red Phalarope. This is why:

Give ’em enough Phalarope

It’s an exceptionally rare bird to see in the UK when there’s a female in full red breeding plumage.

We’re out on a boat trip (calling it a cruise might give you the wrong impression) when our guide, Mike Langman, calls out, “Grey Phalarope!”. As usual, it’s incredible that he’s spotted it. We’re miles from land and it’s a small grey wading bird on the deepening swell. Looks how tiny it is:

We’re approaching so we get a better view.

I particularly like how the reflection of the bird is the right way around. Light plays curious tricks when reflected off waves. They have the bizarre habit of swimming round and round to create a vortex which brings food up to the surface for them.

As we get even closer and I’m about to get some stunning photographs a Common Gull dive-bombs it and it plops under the water:

When it emerges it flies off pursued by the gull. It’s an ending Shakespeare would have been proud of: “Exit, pursued by a bear“, being one of the most difficult endings of a play to act out successfully.

What a wonderful experience.

Good eyesight is a fabulous thing.

More Grey Phalaropes