Posted by Philip Kirkham on February 25, 2007 at 10:44 AM
I have recently found several Eider duck carcases on the shoreline near to my cottage, and I have also received reports of a Seal attacking the sea birds near here. Today I was fortunate to witness a Grey Seal which had caught an Eider drake and was devouring it.
I wonder if this is the result of gross overfishing of our waters and therefore little food left for the seals, Razorbills, Guillemots etc.?
Photo is a big crop as it was quite a distance away, so not really for critique.
1D2 500 with 1.4tc
Best wishes
Phil
Posted by Philip Kirkham on February 25, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Another image of the attack.
Posted by John MacTavish on February 25, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Hi Phil,
I wonder if this is the result of gross overfishing of our waters
I think you may find that it is the opposite in this case.
Mussell farms and fish farms are very much on the increase in our west coast waters and they are attracting huge numbers of Eiders here. One mussell farm a couple of miles up the loch from me here has decided to close down because it can not cope with the Eider numbers (over 750 were counted on the last count there). Seals are opportunist feeders and will take an eider with the same grace as they will a fish.
Good sequence of shots to have as a record of this behaviour though.
Posted by Rene de Heer on February 25, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Indeed an interesting sequence of shots. Never seen this behaviour before.
Rene de Heer
Posted by Richard Tynan on February 25, 2007 at 1:07 PM
Very interesting. I've not heard of this before either.
Reminds me of leopard seals catching penguins.
Posted by stewart canham on February 25, 2007 at 2:22 PM
I have just watched a Prog on Cape fur Seals, who have discovered that if they catch Gannets they then get the fish in their stomachs , so may this is the same behaviour>>
Stewart ...
Posted by Paul Gibbs on February 25, 2007 at 6:26 PM
Dont forget seals are pretty much sea wolves... i wouldnt want to put my hand in ones mouth... Seems like if there is a ready food source why waste it?
Posted by Rob Ashton on February 26, 2007 at 6:41 AM
Greys are known to take seabirds occassionally but not as a general rule. If one has acquired the taste though, it may make a habit of it.
Interesting and rare shots to obtain Phil.
Rob
Posted by Tim Munsey on February 26, 2007 at 7:35 AM
Blimey, you sure that's not leopard seal on holiday? Nought like a bit of bird.
Tim
Posted by Jim Greenfield on February 26, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Great behavioural images - very well done
Posted by Sean Bolton on February 26, 2007 at 4:32 PM
Hi Phil
Well caught behavioural shots. Don't tell the Eiders on the Farnes about this.... they might get a bit worried......
cheers
Sean
Posted by David Kjaer on February 28, 2007 at 7:26 AM
Discussion
12 repliesI wonder if this is the result of gross overfishing of our waters and therefore little food left for the seals, Razorbills, Guillemots etc.?
Photo is a big crop as it was quite a distance away, so not really for critique.
1D2 500 with 1.4tc
Best wishes
Phil
I think you may find that it is the opposite in this case.
Mussell farms and fish farms are very much on the increase in our west coast waters and they are attracting huge numbers of Eiders here. One mussell farm a couple of miles up the loch from me here has decided to close down because it can not cope with the Eider numbers (over 750 were counted on the last count there). Seals are opportunist feeders and will take an eider with the same grace as they will a fish.
Good sequence of shots to have as a record of this behaviour though.
Rene de Heer
Reminds me of leopard seals catching penguins.
Stewart ...
Interesting and rare shots to obtain Phil.
Rob
Tim
Well caught behavioural shots. Don't tell the Eiders on the Farnes about this.... they might get a bit worried......
cheers
Sean
Very interesting - thanks for posting!
David
Thanks for sharing this aspect of their behaviour with us