Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

[KevinA]

From Wikipedia 'Fulmars superficially resemble gulls, but are readily distinguished by their flight on stiff wings, and their tube noses. They breed on cliffs, laying one or rarely two eggs on a ledge of bare rock or on a grassy cliff. Outside the breeding season, they are pelagic, feeding on fish, squid, and shrimp in the open ocean. They are long-lived for birds, living for up to 40 years. Fulmars have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a strong saline solution from their nose.'

Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

 

[KevinA]

A poor photo of a Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis excreting a strong saline solution from its nose.

Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis

 

[Ben Egbert]

Beautiful bird and a great set of images but the back story takes the cake

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice background info on these birds. The in flight shot at the top makes it clear this isn't a seagull given the wing shape and how they fly. I have never seen a bird doing the salt ejection bit like this. Fascinating.

 

[KevinA]

Beautiful bird and a great set of images but the back story takes the cake

Thank you Ben

Nice background info on these birds. The in flight shot at the top makes it clear this isn't a seagull given the wing shape and how they fly. I have never seen a bird doing the salt ejection bit like this. Fascinating.

Thank you Alan. I was surprised I caught the salt ejection, didn't know until I got it home on the computer

 

[JimFox]

These are awesome Kevin. They do kind of look like a seagull, but they seem much stubbier.

Thanks for the info too. I find that very educational.

 

[KevinA]

These are awesome Kevin. They do kind of look like a seagull, but they seem much stubbier.

Thanks for the info too. I find that very educational.

Thanks for looking and commenting Jim, it's greatly appreciated

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Stellar bird photography as expected, Kevin

 

[KevinA]

Stellar bird photography as expected, Kevin

Thanks for looking and commenting Eric

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Another set of great images, Kevin. I love it when you add in the scientific information.

 

[KevinA]

Another set of great images, Kevin. I love it when you add in the scientific information.

Thank you Douglas, I found the information interesting and it explains the weird nasal tube