Paws Not Claws



Claws not Paws 2.jpg - Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs On Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast in Ireland they have to share their burrows with the rabbit population. It is difficult to know when Rabbits were first introduce to Skellig Michael and you have to look hard to find them. I was lucky to spot a family of very young rabbits. Young rabbits tend to be exploratory in new space and were naturally inquisitive but the puffins always gave chase when the rabbit's curiosty took them too close. However, I did notice they shared the same entrance to the burrows so there must be some tolerance underground. Rabbits, being prey animals tend to freeze and observe when confronted with a threat. However they always ran when the Puffins gave chase.
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CLAWS NOT PAWS 2

Fulmar Spat At.jpg - These birds look superficially like gulls, but are unrelated, and are in fact petrels. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. It will spit and matt the plumage of avian predators, and can lead to their death. I managed to photograph a Fulmar on the receiving end of this foul smelling oil. I took this shot on the cliffs of Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry on the west of Ireland.
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FULMAR SPAT AT

Paws not Claws.jpg - Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs On Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast in Ireland they have to share their burrows with the rabbit population. It is difficult to know when Rabbits were first introduce to Skellig Michael and you have to look hard to find them. I was lucky to spot a family of very young rabbits. Young rabbits tend to be exploratory in new space and were naturally inquisitive but the puffins always gave chase when the rabbit's curiosty took them too close. However, I did notice they shared the same entrance to the burrows so there must be some tolerance underground. Rabbits, being prey animals tend to freeze and observe when confronted with a threat. However they always ran when the Puffins gave chase.
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PAWS NOT CLAWS

Puffin Portrait.jpg - Deep bill and two and a half grooves signifies that this is a four to five year old puffin. A puffin will only breed after four to five years at sea. As the lovable puffin spends most of the year far out to sea and this may be this puffin's first visit to land to breed it was a wonderful moment to capture this image in the very early morning light.
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PUFFIN PORTRAIT

Run Rabbit.jpg - Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs or crevices in clifftop earth or fallen boulders, in a colourful world of sea campion,thrift, lichens and blue sea. On Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast in Ireland they have learned to share their burrows with the rabbit population. On Skellig Michael they have learned to share their burrows with the rabbit population. It is unclear when the Rabbit was first introduced to Skellig Michael but the island was inhabited by monks in the 6th Century. I have visited Skellig Michael many times and had an occassional glimpse of a rabbit. Spotting these baby rabbits interact with the Puffins was a magical experience.They can also face competition from other burrow nesting animals such as Manx Shearwaters and occasionally Razorbills.
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RUN RABBIT

Skellig Michael Landing.jpg - Puffins spend most of the year far out to sea. They come to land to breed between March and August and can be found on islands and mainland cliffs off Ireland. This was taken on Skellig Michael 7 miles off the coast of Kerry in Southern Ireland. They nest in burrows or crevices in clifftop earth or fallen boulders, in a colourful world of sea campion, thrift, lichens and blue sea. The single egg is hatched after 39 days and the chick flies when about 38 days old. It will breed after 5 years at sea.
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SKELLIG MICHAEL LANDING

With This Weed I Thee Wed.jpg - The characteristic bright orange bill plates grow before the breeding season and are shed after breeding. The bills are used in courtship ritual. This pair are tapping their bills together and also one is collecting nest material. Male puffins perform most of the work of clearing out the nest area, which is sometimes lined with grass, feathers or seaweed. It was fun to catch this pair if Puffins multitasking!
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WITH THIS WEED I THEE WED

A Billful.jpg - Puffins spend most of the year far out to sea. They come to land to breed between March and August and can be found on islands and mainland cliffs off Ireland. This was taken on Skellig Michael 7 miles off the coast of Kerry in Southern Ireland. They nest in burrows or crevices in clifftop earth or fallen boulders, in a colourful world of sea campion, thrift, lichens and blue sea. The single egg is hatched after 39 days and the chick flies when about 38 days old. It will breed after 5 years at sea.Feeding areas are often located 100 km (60 mi) offshore from the nest or more, though when provisioning young the birds venture out only half that distance. Atlantic Puffins can dive for distances of up to 70 m (200 ft) and are propelled by their powerful wings, which are adapted for swimming. They use their webbed feet as a rudder while submerged. Puffins collect several small fish, such as herring, sprats, zooplankton, fish (shellfish), and sand eels. They use their tongues to hold the fish against spines in their palate, leaving their beaks free to open and catch more fish. Puffins normally line up the fish in their bills with the heads facing alternate ways and can sometimes have a dozen or more fish in its beak at once
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A BILLFUL

All in one Dive.jpg - Puffins spend most of the year far out to sea. They come to land to breed between March and August and can be found on islands and mainland cliffs off Ireland. This was taken on Skellig Michael 7 miles off the coast of Kerry in Southern Ireland. They nest in burrows or crevices in clifftop earth or fallen boulders, in a colourful world of sea campion, thrift, lichens and blue sea. The single egg is hatched after 39 days and the chick flies when about 38 days old. It will breed after 5 years at sea. Feeding areas are often located 100 km (60 mi) offshore from the nest or more, though when provisioning young the birds venture out only half that distance. Atlantic Puffins can dive for distances of up to 70 m (200 ft) and are propelled by their powerful wings, which are adapted for swimming. They use their webbed feet as a rudder while submerged. Puffins collect several small fish, such as herring, sprats, zooplankton, fish (shellfish), and sand eels. They use their tongues to hold the fish against spines in their palate, leaving their beaks free to open and catch more fish. Puffins normally line up the fish in their bills with the heads facing alternate ways and can sometimes have a dozen or more fish in its beak at once
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ALL IN ONE DIVE

Ancient Steps.jpg - Evening Light on the North Steps- The north steps seem to go vertically downwards. i could not focus on the sea below for more than a few seconds without losing orientation. It must have been a feat to clamber up and down these steps on a daily basis. What it was like to find these huge slabs and build these near vertical steps 1,500 years ago I find impossible to comprehend
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ANCIENT STEPS

Beach Comber (Oystercatcher).jpg -
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BEACH COMBER (OYSTERCATCHER)

Beach Picnic.jpg - The Rock Pipit occupies a coastal habitat especially on rocky shores. Here on the northern shore of Inish More on the Aran Islands was a rare sunny warm day in March and the flies were suddenly in abundance.
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BEACH PICNIC

Call of the Wild.jpg - Barnacle Geese taken flying over Inishark off County Galway
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CALL OF THE WILD

Chocks Away.jpg -
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CHOCKS AWAY

Chough.jpg - A close up shot of a chough showing his red bill.
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CHOUGH

Choughs Away.jpg -
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CHOUGHS AWAY

Choughs on the Green.jpg - The Chough is confined to sea cliffs in Wales and Ireland. This pair live on the cliffs surrounding the Old Head of Kinsale in Ireland. They frequently feed on the greens of the Old Head Golf Links. They are using their long sharp beaks to probe for ants and other insects. They are easily identified by their red bill and legs.
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CHOUGHS ON THE GREEN

Coal Tit.jpg - A sudden appearance of a Coal Tit with a fly in his beak taken near Ennis and I had to shoot fast to capture the moment on a sycamore leaf
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COAL TIT

Come Fly With Me .jpg - These Puffins were nesting on Skellig Michael off the west coast of ireland. They are a small bird and it is a wonder to see them at such close quarters with their brightly coloured beaks and comical flight
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COME FLY WITH ME

Cool Dude ( Sanderling).jpg - Sanderling near Timoleague
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COOL DUDE ( SANDERLING)

Cormorant making tracks on Water.jpg -
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CORMORANT MAKING TRACKS ON WATER

Corncrake on Inishbofin.jpg -
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CORNCRAKE ON INISHBOFIN

Dipper Too.jpg - I kept following the Dipper up river as he flew between the rocks in the water. Sometimes he rested and disappeared under the water resurfacing a little further on.
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DIPPER TOO

Dipper.jpg - I kept following the Dipper up river as he flew between the rocks in the water. Sometimes he rested and disappeared under the water resurfacing a little further on.
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DIPPER

Early Bird.jpg - I shot this agile and chirpy little wren at dawn in Ireland. I thought the new Zealand Flax perfectly accentuated his sprightly character.
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EARLY BIRD

Early to Rise.jpg - Puffins spend most of the year far out to sea. They come to land to breed between March and August and can be found on islands and mainland cliffs off Ireland. This was taken on Skellig Michael 7 miles off the coast of Kerry in Southern Ireland. They nest in burrows or crevices in clifftop earth or fallen boulders, in a colourful world of sea campion, thrift, lichens and blue sea. The single egg is hatched after 39 days and the chick flies when about 38 days old. It will breed after 5 years at sea.Feeding areas are often located 100 km (60 mi) offshore from the nest or more, though when provisioning young the birds venture out only half that distance. Atlantic Puffins can dive for distances of up to 70 m (200 ft) and are propelled by their powerful wings, which are adapted for swimming. They use their webbed feet as a rudder while submerged. Puffins collect several small fish, such as herring, sprats, zooplankton, fish (shellfish), and sand eels. They use their tongues to hold the fish against spines in their palate, leaving their beaks free to open and catch more fish. Puffins normally line up the fish in their bills with the heads facing alternate ways and can sometimes have a dozen or more fish in its beak at once
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EARLY TO RISE

Egret.jpg - I shot this Little Egret fishing at Oysterhaven, Co Cork.Its plumage is all white. It has long black legs with yellow feet and a slim black bill. Its original breeding distribution was warm temperate parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Taiwan, and Australia.In Ireland the species bred for the first time in 1997 at a site in County Cork.his egret stalks its prey in shallow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling its feet.
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EGRET

Eider Duck.jpg - Taken on Innishtrahull Island off Co. Donegal
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EIDER DUCK

European Storm Petrel.jpg - At Sea off the south coast of Ireland
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EUROPEAN STORM PETREL

Fulmar and Chick.jpg - Taken on Skellig Michael the Fulmar is distinguished by its tubular nostrils. In defence of nest it will spit foul-smelling oil at intruders
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FULMAR AND CHICK

Fulmar Colony.jpg - Like other petrels, the walking ability of the Fulmar is limited, but they are strong fliers, with a stiff wing action quite unlike the gulls. It glides masterfully in wind and soars on cliffs with almost straight wings. To watch a Fulmar in flight was in complete contrast to the nesting colony of heavy bodied squatting birds defending their territory on the cliffs.This shot was taken on the cliffs of Innishbofin Island off the Galway coast in Ireland
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FULMAR COLONY

Golden Plover.jpg -
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GOLDEN PLOVER

Grace in Motion (Gannet).jpg - At sea off the south coast of Ireland
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GRACE IN MOTION (GANNET)

Grey Heron Antenna.jpg -
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GREY HERON ANTENNA

Grey Heron Plumage.jpg -
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GREY HERON PLUMAGE

Grey Herons in Kinsale.jpg - Kinsale a fishing village on the South coast of Ireland on the slopes around a well protected harbour. There is a 30 foot high cliff face running through part of the town shadowing some of the buildings below. Russian Vine from neighbouring gardens have established growth on the cliffs and the herons frequently roost there in complete safety. On a perfect early August morning last year I spotted this adult Grey heron who seemed to be asserting his higher position over the juvenile below.
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GREY HERONS IN KINSALE

Guillemot Nest Site.jpg - The Guillemot breeding colonies add life, noise and spectacle to a seabird cliff. It seems the most precarious position imaginable for them 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 off 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. It is remarkable that a pair of Guillemots are able to recognise each other and are concerned only with each other although they build no nest which could become a focal point. Although the Guillemot is an expert swimmer and diver he is not so manoeuvrable on land being heavy-bodied with short stiff wings. They come to the cliffs to breed between March and August but spend the winter at sea from the Arctic south to Iberia. They prefer to breed on high,steep cliffs so that the fledglings can plunge direct into the sea.
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GUILLEMOT NEST SITE

Henry Heron.jpg -
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HENRY HERON

House Sparrow.jpg - The House Sparrow has declined markedly in recent years. The once ubiquitous bird is now of high conservation concern. This is a male House sparrow looking cheeky which is part of his nature. The House sparrow goes wherever man goes. I took this bird in a garden in West Cork perched on a Corkscrew Hazel.
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HOUSE SPARROW

It's a Quacker.jpg -
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IT'S A QUACKER

Jackdaws.jpg -
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JACKDAWS

Linnet (Female).jpg - The Linnet is the commonest and most widespread of Ireland's finches. A bird of heaths and scrub but also a wide variety of man-made habitats. This was on the Old Head of Kinsale
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LINNET (FEMALE)

Love Birds (Jackdaws).jpg -
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LOVE BIRDS (JACKDAWS)

Lovin' Feeling.jpg - The courtship of the Gannet taken in May on the Saltees
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LOVIN' FEELING

Master Diver.jpg -
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MASTER DIVER

Meadow Pipit.jpg - Meadow Pipit taken on the Saltee Islands when the bluebells are in bloom
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MEADOW PIPIT

Mute Swans.jpg - Three Mute Swans flying in formation
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MUTE SWANS

Natural Grace.jpg - Gannet on the south coast of Ireland
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NATURAL GRACE

Nature's Palette( Lesser Black-backed Gull).jpg - It is striking how the colours in nature match and blend. I shot this Lesser Black-backed gull on the Saltee islands off Wexford
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NATURE'S PALETTE( LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL)

On Wings of Song.jpg -
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ON WINGS OF SONG

One Turtle Dove.jpg - I was surprised to discover this single Turtle Dove in a garden in the West of Ireland in May. This dove winters in Africa and is a rare summer visitor.
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ONE TURTLE DOVE

Peacock feathers( Rhapsody in Blue).jpg - Peacock feathers
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PEACOCK FEATHERS( RHAPSODY IN BLUE)

Peacock Pride.jpg -
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PEACOCK PRIDE

Perfection on Reflection (HerringGull).jpg - I managed to shoot this photograph by going out to sea on a small boat which put me low to the water level. The Herring Gull is the commonest gull by the sea but I hope this shot enables the viewer to see something special and beautiful in a much seen species.
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PERFECTION ON REFLECTION (HERRINGGULL)

Piece Offering.jpg - The Gannet collects vegetation to bring back to the cliff edge to build a nest on the Saltees.
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PIECE OFFERING

Puffin and Rabbit 2.jpg - Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs On Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast in Ireland they have to share their burrows with the rabbit population. It is difficult to know when Rabbits were first introduce to Skellig Michael and you have to look hard to find them. I was lucky to spot a family of very young rabbits. Young rabbits tend to be exploratory in new space and were naturally inquisitive but the puffins always gave chase when the rabbit's curiosty took them too close. However, I did notice they shared the same entrance to the burrows so there must be some tolerance underground. Rabbits, being prey animals tend to freeze and observe when confronted with a threat. However they always ran when the Puffins gave chase.
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PUFFIN AND RABBIT 2

Puffin and Rabbit.jpg - Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs On Skellig Michael off the Kerry coast in Ireland they have to share their burrows with the rabbit population. It is difficult to know when Rabbits were first introduce to Skellig Michael and you have to look hard to find them. I was lucky to spot a family of very young rabbits. Young rabbits tend to be exploratory in new space and were naturally inquisitive but the puffins always gave chase when the rabbit's curiosty took them too close. However, I did notice they shared the same entrance to the burrows so there must be some tolerance underground. Rabbits, being prey animals tend to freeze and observe when confronted with a threat. However they always ran when the Puffins gave chase.
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PUFFIN AND RABBIT

Puffin Nest Building.jpg - Male puffins perform most of the work of clearing out the nest area, which is sometimes lined with grass, feathers or seaweed. This shot was taken on Skellig Michael 7 miles off the coast of Kerry in Ireland
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PUFFIN NEST BUILDING

Puffin Power.jpg - These Puffins were nesting on Skellig Michael off the west coast of ireland. They are a small bird and it is a wonder to see them at such close quarters with their brightly coloured beaks and comical flight
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PUFFIN POWER

Puffin Taking Off.jpg - Atlantic Puffins taking off from the c loiffs of Skellig Michael
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PUFFIN TAKING OFF

Puffin Talk.jpg - Deep bill and two and a half grooves signifies that this is a four to five year old puffin. A puffin will only breed after four to five years at sea. As the lovable puffin spends most of the year far out to sea and this may be this puffin's first visit to land to breed it was a wonderful moment to capture this image in the very early morning light.
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PUFFIN TALK

Raven.jpg - I shot this raven on Sherkin Island. I wanted to get close enough to get a portrait shot as well as an action shot. In time he became accustomed to my presence and I got the shot I wanted.
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RAVEN

Razorbill Kiss.jpg -
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RAZORBILL KISS

Redshank catching a Crab.jpg - Redshank catching a Crab near Timoleague- a frozen moment
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REDSHANK CATCHING A CRAB

Ringed Plover 2.jpg -
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RINGED PLOVER 2

Ringed Plover.jpg -
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RINGED PLOVER

Robin.jpg -
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ROBIN

Rock Pipit.jpg -
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ROCK PIPIT

Shags Love Too.jpg -
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SHAGS LOVE TOO

Shags.jpg - Shags are colonial nesters, using trees, rocky islets, or cliffs. The eggs are a chalky-blue colour. There is usually one brood a year. The young are fed through regurgitation. They typically have deep, ungainly bills and and here are seen vibrating their necks to cool down on a hot day on Innishbofin off Galway.
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SHAGS

Show Off (Brent Geese).jpg -
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SHOW OFF (BRENT GEESE)

Stay Awhile.jpg - Puffins on Skellig Michael
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STAY AWHILE

Stonechat.jpg - Stonechat
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STONECHAT

Swallow Dip.jpg - I watched the swallows swoop for insects on a stream in West Cork in Ireland and was eager to convey the reationship the swallows have with water. The moment of impact is so fast that I had to shoot at both a high ISO and fast shutter speed. Sometimes their contact with the water surface was delicate and at other times they seemed totally immersed.
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SWALLOW DIP

Swallow Splash.jpg - swallows swoop for insects on a stream in West Cork in Ireland and was eager to convey the reationship the swallows have with water. The moment of impact is so fast that I had to shoot at both a high ISO and fast shutter speed. Sometimes their contact with the water surface
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SWALLOW SPLASH

The Eye of a Merlin.jpg - This merlin swooped in under my feet as I clung to a cliff edge on Inishark.
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THE EYE OF A MERLIN

The Green Eye.jpg -
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THE GREEN EYE

The Nest is Ready.jpg - Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs. They can face competition from other burrow nesting animals such as Rabbits, Manx Shearwaters and occasionally Razorbills. Male puffins perform most of the work of clearing out the nest area, which is sometimes lined with grass, feathers or seaweed. The only time spent on land is to nest. Mates are found prior to arriving at the colonies, and mating takes place at sea.The Atlantic Puffin is sexually mature at the age of 4?5 years. The species is monogamous and has biparental care. A single-egg clutch is produced each year, and incubation responsibilities are shared between both parents. Total incubation time is around 39?45 days, and the chick takes about 49 days to fledge. At fledging, the chick leaves the burrow alone, and flies/swims out to sea, usually during the evening. Contrary to popular belief, young puffins are not abandoned by their parents. Synchronous laying of eggs is found in the Atlantic Puffin.
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THE NEST IS READY

The Sky 's the Limit(Great Blackbacked Gull).jpg - After a whole day out on a fishing boat we were steaming for our home port. It had been an overcast day with plenty of rain. I saw a rainbow develop and waited for the preconceived moment to occur. Luckily this Great Black-backed Gull obliged by flying into my frame in the right place at the right time. The boat was flying at 20 knots so I was pleased to avoid camera shake and obtain a level horizon.
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THE SKY 'S THE LIMIT(GREAT BLACKBACKED GULL)

Three's a Crowd (Guillemots).jpg - Guillemots on the Saltee Islands
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THREE'S A CROWD (GUILLEMOTS)

Two by Two(Gannets).jpg - A large Gannet Colony on the Saltee Islands. By observing closely you could pick out the individual pairs.
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TWO BY TWO(GANNETS)

Whooper Swan.jpg - Whooper Swan
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WHOOPER SWAN

Wings and Water.jpg - Gannet taking off
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WINGS AND WATER

Winter Morsel.jpg -
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WINTER MORSEL

Wren on Skellig Michael.jpg - Skellig Michael is host to abundant wildlife. A wren with a morsel
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WREN ON SKELLIG MICHAEL

Young Wagtail.jpg - Kinsale
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YOUNG WAGTAIL

Jonathan Livingston Seagull.jpg - I shot this flock of Kittiwakes while on a fishing boat off the south coast of Ireland
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JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL