Razorbills in Dumfries and Galloway

RazorbillA smart looking black and white sea bird, the razorbill is the largest member of the auk family. Their name comes from the shape of their bill, which resembles and old fashioned razor. They arrive at our coasts in early spring, staying until mid summer to raise one chick, before heading out to sea again for autumn and winter. Razorbills do not build a nest, but lay their eggs directly onto the bare rock on cliff ledges. Along with the other auks, razorbills are deep divers, regularly diving to depths of over 100 metres to find sand eels, sprats and herring. You can see razorbills on almost any clifftop walk in our region. From the Mull of Galloway in the far west to the cliffs at Meikle Ross, Balcary and Colvend coast.