Guillemot

The Guillemot is another Auk. How many of you, particularly from the younger generation, thought it was one of the members of a well known British Indie rock band?  

The Guillemot is slightly larger than the Puffin but of much plainer appearance with black on the head, back and wings, whilst it’s under parts are white. It has thin dark pointed bill and a small rounded dark tail. After it has moulted the face is white with a dark spur behind the eye. 

Guillemots breed in colonies at high densities and nesting pairs may be in bodily contact with their neighbours. They make no nest, their single egg being incubated on bare rock. Once again it’s unlikely to find these birds nesting on the coast between Findon and Downies although if you were to travel a mile either side of these villages it’s possible to see breeding colonies on the higher cliffs. Where you will see them frequently is out in the open sea where you will find individuals, pairs or even groups frequently flying past or swimming on the surface of the water. 

Slightly clumsy in flight the Guillemot more than makes up for this underwater, typically diving to depths of 100 to 200 feet, although depths of 600 feet have been recorded.