Black Guillemots at Oban.

[Bobperry2]

After our recent trip to Mull we stopped at Oban for several days to see the Black Guillemots. I had seen these on one of Bill Oddie's programs, filmed on the North Pier with tourists feet unbelievably close to the birds as they sat in holes in the harbour wall. I have photographed Black Guillemots on Shetland but have never got that close.
On arrival we headed straight for the pier and soon spotted two pairs in residense. You can get within a couple of feet of them but it's a very awkward angle for a picture, leaning over the railings, and then only their head and shoulders were visible. A local boatman told us all the young had fledged and most of the adults headed out to sea for the day. Round by the ferry terminal we found the R.S.P.B. had a stand promoting Black Guillemots, what a coincidence! They had taken some great photographs early that morning and told us the birds were common all round the seafront, not just on the North Pier.
Next morning it was up at five thirty for me. The hotel was on the seafront but right round the north side of the bay, much quieter than the harbour area. Black guillemots lined the seafront in profusion. They are remarkably tame and allowed me to photograph them as near as I liked. They gather in little groups and twitter away to each other as if exchanging gossip from the day before! While lying still on a slipway one group of six each hopped over my ankles in turn as they followed the leader up from the sea. The best time was between six and seven, plenty of light as it was June but shortly after seven they all disapeared as joggers and dog walkers numbers increased.

[nightshade]

A nice series of shots, how crisp the black and reds look

[rlchew]

Great report and pictures Bob.

It does of course answer fully my question in response to your photo in the Gallery.

I can feel an Oban visit coming on when I am next up in the Highlands and Islands.

I did not realise that these birds were so approachable.

Richard

[Airehead]

There are always black guillemots at Oban. It seems to me that they are more common than 'common' guillemots on the Scottish west coast./

Incidentally, I wonder how many people have noticed how a guillemot on dry land looks very much like a penguin? When I was at the smoke house by Loch Fyne not long ago, there was one walking about and most of the viewers were convinced it was a penguin.