A common seabird on our coastal cliffs in summer, Guillemots lay their eggs on the thinnest ledges of the cliff face. They lay very pointed eggs so that, should an adult touch off the egg when leaving the cliff, the egg simply rolls in on itself instead of rolling off the cliff edge. Guillemot chicks grow fast and demand more food as they do so. This leaves the adults in a dilemma: leave the chicks alone where they might fall prey to gulls or stay with the chick, which would mean less feeding. Guillemots have solved this dilemma in that, when the chick is about 10 days old, they jump from the cliffs and join the adult in the water below. They then swim out to sea where they fledge. This Guillemot and chick were photographed on Great Saltee Island, Wexford in July 2009.