Razorbill in flight

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Razorbill in flight
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 201 W: 21 N: 759] (2333)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon 100-400L 4.5-5.6 IS USM, RAW ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Haraprasan's Favs [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-09 0:58
Viewed: 503
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A Razorbill flying at RSPB Bempton Cliffs nature reserve. Razorbills are quite difficult to keep on focus as they very fast fliers. I have earlier posted a picture of a Razorbill couple on the same cliffs.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Razorbill (Alca torda) is a large auk, 38-43 cm in length, with a 60-69 cm wingspan. It is the only living member of the genus Alca. Adult birds are black on their upperparts and white on the breast and belly. The thick black bill has a blunt end. The tail is pointed and longer than that of a Murre. In winter, the black face becomes white.
Their breeding habitat is islands, rocky shores and cliffs on northern Atlantic coasts, in eastern North America as far south as Maine, and in western Europe from northwestern Russia to northern France. North American birds migrate offshore and south, ranging from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland to New England. Eurasian birds also winter at sea, with some moving south as far as the western Mediterranean.
These birds forage for food by swimming underwater. They mainly eat fish, like sandeels, herring and capelin, also some crustaceans and marine worms. Razorbills usually nest in large colonies and lay their eggs on bare rock or ground. Each partner will forage, then come home to take over with caring for the egg or young. They may well fly more than 100 km out to sea to feed when during egg incubation, but when provisioning the young, they forage closer to the nesting grounds, some dozen kilometers away, and often in shallower water.
Well-known Razorbill colonies include:
• Heligoland, Germany (54°10' N) - near southern limit in Europe, a few pairs only
• Staple Island, Outer Farne Islands, UK (55°38' N) - breeding season May to mid-July.
• Runde, Norway (62°24' N) - 3,000 pairs
• Látrabjarg, Iceland (65°30' N) - 230,000 pairs, about 40% of the global population (mid-1990s estimate). Breeding season June - July.[1]
• Grímsey, Iceland (66°33' N)
Evolution and prehistoric species
While the Razorbill is the only living species, the genus Alca had a much higher diversity in the Pliocene. A number of fossil forms have been found:
• Alca "antiqua" (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lee Creek Mine, USA)
• Alca sp. (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lee Creek Mine, USA) - possibly A. stewarti
• Alca stewarti (Early Pliocene of Belgium)
• Alca ausonia (Yorktown Early Pliocene of Lee Creek Mine, USA - Middle Pliocene of Italy)
• Alca sp. (Puerto de Mazarrón Pliocene of El Alamillo, Spain) - may be A. antiqua or A. ausonia
As far as is known, the genus Alca seems to have evolved in the western North Atlantic or the present-day Caribbean like most other Alcini. Its ancestors would have reached these waters through the still-open Isthmus of Panama during the Miocene.
haraprasan, meyerd, uleko, iris, Royaldevon, Gert-Paassen, Jamesp, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To haraprasan: Flying penguins!joey 1 05-09 13:37
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pekka,
First I thought of a penguin is flying. I got astonished as I have read that penguins don't fly they swim. A lovely capture of this beautiful bird razorbill. The body work is lot similar to penguins I suppose. Very good composition and sharp details with excellent timing. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1705 W: 5 N: 2129] (11714)
  • [2008-05-09 1:41]

Bonjour Pekka,

Superbe spécimen et parfaot timing.
Félicitations.
Merci
Joseph

Hi Pekka,
an amazing and rare shot of a razorbill flying. It looks as if it was swimming in the air!
By the way, I saw an original preparation of the Giant Auk (Alca impennis) in my hometown Aarau/Switzerland.
Best regards
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2225 W: 168 N: 6442] (20242)
  • [2008-05-09 4:14]

Hej Pekka,
Unusual to see a capture of the Razorbill in flight. It's such a clumpsy bird but I love the interesting markings and its colours are beautiful. Excellent sharp capture against a fine background!
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 352 W: 36 N: 587] (1827)
  • [2008-05-09 6:07]

Good Lord, i would have thot this to be a penguin. You present us with quite a few interesting species.Wonderful capture again Pekka of this razor bill in flight.Great amount of details and well blurred BG.One cant just imagine these guys flying so fast and you have done a great job with this capture.
TFS & Cheers

Hello Pekka,

I have never seen a bird more resemble a dive bomber! He just doesn't seem to have that lovely streamlined look of most birds!

You really have captured him with great details and good composition.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 304 W: 0 N: 238] (1467)
  • [2008-05-09 9:54]

Hi Pekka
very nice image
Wonderful sharp and frozen action

Hello Pekka,

another great picture from you.
Razor sharp and much details.
very nice capture and pov.

Gert

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1499 W: 242 N: 4896] (17203)
  • [2008-05-09 13:36]

Another awesome in-flight shot but this time a Razorbill!
The composition is graet!
I love the pose too.
Superb DOF and BG.
Good sharpness.
Very fine work once again, Pekka!

Cheers,

Joe

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1174 W: 0 N: 4243] (12444)
  • [2008-05-09 15:10]

Hi Pekka

Another great action-shot nice contrast against the BG and good detail. Well observed and captured.


James

hello Pekka

excellent in-flight shot of the Razorbill, with a fine POV
from above showing the details of the plumage of the back,
fine framing with leaving a good space in front where he is going,
great sharpness and details of the subject and his plumage,

TFS

Asbed

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