Gannet robbing cormorant

On 3rd August 1981, a mixed group of seabirds was apparently feeding in Loch Ainort, Skye, Western Isles. Gannets Sula bassana and Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo were feeding on a shoal of mackerel Scomber scombrus , and auks (Alcidae), gulls (Laridae) and terns (Sternidae) were possibly feeding on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British birds 1984-01, Vol.77 (9), p.418-418
Main Authors: Tasker, M L, Taylor, A E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Marine
Phalacrocorax carbo
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:On 3rd August 1981, a mixed group of seabirds was apparently feeding in Loch Ainort, Skye, Western Isles. Gannets Sula bassana and Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo were feeding on a shoal of mackerel Scomber scombrus , and auks (Alcidae), gulls (Laridae) and terns (Sternidae) were possibly feeding on the mackerel's prey species. The authors saw a Cormorant surface with a mackerel about 25 cm long held across its beak; almost immediately, one of the Gannets, circling about 25 m overhead, plunge-dived and surfaced beside the Cormorant, seized the fish and swallowed it while taking off into the wind from the water.
ISSN:0007-0335