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Barons Haugh, Motherwell

Barons Haugh, Motherwell


Postby Stobart » Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:37 pm

Nuthatch, Little Grebe, Goldeneye, Cormorant at Barons Haugh 24/1/21

Nuthatch.jpg

Little Grebe.jpg

Goldeneye.jpg

Cormorant.jpg
Last edited by Stobart on Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Nuthatch, Little Grebe, Goldeneye, Cormorant

Postby nigheandonn » Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:39 pm

Do cormorants always stand on one leg? Mine was as well!
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Re: Barons Haugh, Motherwell

Postby Stobart » Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:43 pm

Think it's just what they do to keep one leg at a time warm.
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Re: Barons Haugh, Motherwell

Postby CharlesT » Mon Jan 25, 2021 7:01 pm

Stobart wrote:Think it's just what they do to keep one leg at a time warm.

That's correct, but although I don't know whether this applies to cormorants,some birds with their legs regularly exposed to near-freezing temperatures have an aligned arrangement of veins and arteries in their legs which allows the cold blood returning to the body to be warmed by the warm blood going into the legs, so that the bird has to use less energy to heat up the returning blood. Very cunning. Eider ducks are an example. However, birds can and do get frostbite, particularly if they go from a relatively warm environment to a very cold one too quickly.
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Re: Barons Haugh, Motherwell

Postby denfinella » Mon Jan 25, 2021 10:25 pm

A really interesting mix! I love the little grebe with the fish in its beak! :D
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