Bird i.d. help needed

[Words]

I was out in a field today alongside some woodland. A bird shot past at a little above tree height (over open land). Dead straight and very fast.

These are the best shots I could get:

shot 1

shot 2

shot 3

[paulchandler6]

Any idea of the size? My first impression was Little Auk?

Paul

[Words]

Tricky, but larger than a marten, maybe around the size of a good sized wood pigeon. But it was quick, nice short wings (made me think of a duck), but it was over in a flash.

[Tursiops2]

That certainly looks like an auk (!) I'm not familiar with Little auk, but they do sometimes turn up inland. How far from the coast are you?

[paulchandler6]

I'm sure its an Auk, feet set far back, fast flight. Sound too big for Little Auk. I'd take a stab at Guillemot. Although bill size makes me doubt it, sorry.

Paul

[Africa]

I thought of a guillemot after seeing the first picture. Were you away from the sea? these birds fly very characteristically, with an apparent very fast wing beating and looking like they are making a lot of effort. I wouldn't expect them too far from the sea. I hope it helps.

[ChrisJB]

Almost certainly an auk, lost. It's feet look to be projecting beyond the tail, which means Guillemot. Razorbills have their feet tucked below the tail.

Regards, Chris

[Words]

Thanks everyone. I may have misled a bit on the size. Very difficult to judge, but it was quite hefty looking, and stocky. So a little auk sounds right. Obviously off course. I saw it about 6 miles inland, and it was heading further away from the water.

Glad I managed a few shots though! Can't imagine I'll see too many of them down here.

[Pigeon feather]

Yes I'd go for Auk too, I also thought Guillemot at first glance but having a closer look realised it wasn't as the beak is too short and wide and the bird too stocky plus it has white on it's face where a Guillemots would be brown.
Actually saying that juvenile Guillemots do have white on their face! but never the less this bird is still an Auk.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Words

Thanks everyone. I may have misled a bit on the size. Very difficult to judge, but it was quite hefty looking, and stocky. So a little auk sounds right. Obviously off course. I saw it about 6 miles inland, and it was heading further away from the water.

Glad I managed a few shots though! Can't imagine I'll see too many of them down here.

Little Auks are very small (Starling size) and have much stubbier wings than this.

I might be putting my head on the block here, but looking again, I'm pretty confident that this bird is a Guillemot. I don't have a problem with the apparent untypical Guillemot bill either. Because of the angle of the bird flying away it just looks thicker and shorter than normal.

I just hope the poor blighter finds its way out to sea again.

Regards, Chris