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Little Auk (Dovekie) - Alkekonge - Alle alle
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Migrating Little Auks (Dovekie)
Little Auks, Hernar, Øygarden, October 2011

This is one of my favourite seabirds - a charismatic, charming and hardy little bird that is often associated with winter storms.  Having picked them up exhausted on the beach I have had these birds swimming around in my bath chasing shrimps I caught for them. Little Auk are usually a common bird during the winter in Øygarden. I have seen them in the Barent's Sea but never in big numbers - nothing like the experiences I have had in Northumberland or off Norway.


The best identification book for seawatchers in Europe!


I have seen this species diving under a vessel at night on the Shtokman field in the Barent's Sea - startling the Fulmars whenever it surfaced.






Migrating Little Auk (Dovekie)

In south-west Norway Little Auks often move in large numbers under very nice conditions in late October and early November. They regularly head down the fjords rather than the open sea at this time.



Migrating Little Auk (Dovekie)


All Pictures on this page were taken with a DSLR and a 400mm telephoto lens.

Migrating Little Auk (Dovekie)

For more details about this species occurrence off Skogsøy, SW Norway click here



Migrating Little Auk (Dovekie)
Migrating Little Auks, Hernar, Øygarden, 24 October 2011

Migrating Little Auk (Dovekie)
Little Auk, Skogsøy, November 2011

Most European birders associate Little Auks with winter storms and often see them under the kinds of conditions pictured above and below.

Migrating Little Auk (Dovekie)
Little Auks heading into southerly gale, Herdlevær, Øygarden, Norway, November 2011


Little Auk get caught by Hooded Crow
Little Auk are deemed as fair game by gulls, crows and most raptors and are often easily caught.
This one could have easily escaped had it been on the water a few metres away instead of on the ice. A simple dive would have saved its life...




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