The Wildlife of
Holy Island

 
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Gulls - The Kittiwake

First seen on Wednesday 29th July 2020 at Holy Island

Kittiwakes should be common at Lindisfarne, as there is a colony breeding on the nearby Farne Islands. This is the only one I have seen so far, and it is a juvenile. Usually, juvenile gulls can all look a bit similar and it can sometimes be difficult to identify them. However the Kittiwake juvenile has this very distinct pattern on its wings looking like a black "M". When they call, they make a rhythmic wailing "kitti-a-waike" sound, which gives them their name. This one was flying along the coast near the Castle Garden.


 

The adult Kittiwake (below) has a plain yellow bill, black eyes and dark wing tips...