At Peel on the west coast of The Isle of Man. I have come to the conclusion that Donald the seagull in the first picture - who is joined by his friend George in the last picture - was indeed one-legged. He may have lost his missing leg in a fishing line incident. The second picture shows two adult seagulls with two of this year's newcomers. It may have been a family outing. And in the third picture you see a cormorant drying its wings ready for take off from the rocks. That's how it was in Peel today.
Often they will stand on one leg but this definitely looks like the one leg is gone.
ReplyDeleteI have five pictures of Donald and in every one there is just one leg.
DeleteIt's a seagull watcher's paradise, YP.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the seagulls it is a human watching paradise.
DeleteI've often seen one-legged pigeons here at the train station, or pigeons with crippled feet. I'm not sure whether it is a disease or there were some rather painful accidents. Poor Donald! But he seems to be thriving, and I suppose he won't have a problem finding food with one leg. One wing would be a different story.
ReplyDeleteIt is surprising that the humane and super-efficient German state has not found it in its heart to assist those poor pigeons by providing them with prosthetic limbs.
DeleteActually I think I see his three little black toenails in the top photo. I think the leg is still there and he's just got it raised. But it IS amazing how often one sees one-legged birds (and other creatures) and how well they adapt.
ReplyDeleteSteve - I took several shots featuring that bird. I think that what you can see is the broken root of his right limb.
DeleteI thought, like Steve, that I could still see his foot. But, as he says - they adapt perfectly well with one limb missing. We have a cock pheasant like that and he still manages to give the hens a good run for their money at this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought his leg was simply lifted but then when I looked back over the other shots I took at the time, it is clear that he is in fact one-legged.
DeleteHappy Birthday to Shirley!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteShe accepts your birthday greeting with great joy and bounces another one right back to you! Happy Birthday Jennifer!
DeleteTo me it looks like Donald has one of his leg curled up into this lower body...but I could be wrong. I usually am, but rarely admit it! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love seagulls and am honoured you named one after me!
I think if you magnify the area you'll find that Lee is correct.
ReplyDelete