On Wings of Song

"It seems a precarious landing site for these Guillemots on the sheer cliffs of Great Skellig Island off the south west coast of Ireland. Even more unbelievable is that they manage to lay eggs and rear their chicks here too.The elongated pear-shaped egg would be blown of the cliff ledges on which it is laid were it not for its shape which causes it to roll round in a tight circle on its axis. The Guillemot is a fascinating ,elegant creature and I took many shots of this one before I got the one I wanted with the wings outstretched just before take-off. Guillemots catch fish in very deep dives using their wings to 'fly' underwater. Capturing the open beak at the same moment showing the orange inside was a bonus. The cliff face has provided a dark backdrop "