22 March 2016

Seabirds

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.

14 comments:

  1. Often they will stand on one leg but this definitely looks like the one leg is gone.

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    1. I have five pictures of Donald and in every one there is just one leg.

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  2. It's a seagull watcher's paradise, YP.

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    1. And for the seagulls it is a human watching paradise.

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  3. I'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.

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    1. It 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.

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  4. Actually 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.

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    1. Steve - I took several shots featuring that bird. I think that what you can see is the broken root of his right limb.

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  5. I 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.

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    1. At 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.

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  6. Happy Birthday to Shirley!!!! :)

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    1. She accepts your birthday greeting with great joy and bounces another one right back to you! Happy Birthday Jennifer!

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  7. To 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! ;)

    I love seagulls and am honoured you named one after me!

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  8. I think if you magnify the area you'll find that Lee is correct.

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