Flying through water

Did you know that birds can fly through water? Some seabirds hunt by flying over the water and swooping down on fish. Others hunt by ducking under the water and ‘flying’ after their prey. This is the strategy of the Razorbill, a gregarious black and white small seabird common in rocky coastlines of the north Atlantic.



From the side of the harbour wall in Brest, we watched a pair of Razorbills hunting in a shoal of small fish. They darted here and there at terrific speed, chasing the fish, a few centimeters below the water’s surface. Having caught one, they surfaced with the silver fish flapping in their sturdy beaks, eating it on the surface before diving down again to catch another. Passers-by were transfixed by the sight, and parents explained to their young children what was happening.



There are several species of birds here in the marina, and it’s a real pleasure taking Quirky for her early morning walk and watching them get themselves ready for the day’s activity.