Dear Readers, Sunday was World Albatross Day, and at Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire there is the only albatross in the Northern Hemisphere. The black-browed albatross can normally be found on the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, but somehow this one has  been blown off course, and for the last few years he has been spotted flying around the Baltic. This year he’s ended up in the North of England, and everyone was very glad to see him, as the last time he was spotted he was off the coast of Denmark being hassled by a gang of sea eagles, and was presumed dead. With an eight-foot wingspan he really is something, and the crowds gather on the cliffs to see him – for many people, this will be their only chance to see one of these magnificent birds. It does feel like a shame that no one can give him a lift back to the southern hemisphere, though – he’ll never find a mate here, and the female gannets remain distinctly unimpressed by their giant companion.

Anyhow, this made me realise that I have never done a quiz on the UK’s marine birds – with all that coastline we have a fine variety. So, as usual, see if you can match the photo to the name. The deadline to get your answers in the comments is by 5 p.m. UK time on Saturday 25th June, and the answers will be published on Sunday 26th June. As soon as I see your comments I will ‘disappear’  them. One or two people were still having trouble posting, so you can also pop them on my Facebook page if that’s easier.

And if these photos don’t make you ache to see the sea I’ve obviously picked the wrong ones. I can almost hear the birds calling.

Onwards!

Birds

A. Mediterranean Gull

B. Kittiwake

C. Arctic Tern

D. Sandwich Tern

E. Razorbill

F. Common Guillemot

G. Little Auk

H. Northern Fulmar

I. Storm Petrel

J. Little Tern

Photos