This is the heartstopping moment a three-week-old guillemot chick leaps from the top of a hundred-metre-high cliff as it flies the nest for the first time.

The tiny bird shuffles to the edge of the sheer drop before jumping from the top, furiously flapping its wings to stop it falling to the ground.

Thankfully, it successfully made its way to the surface of the sea off the Isle of May, Scotland.

Photographer Sam Langlois, 26, said: “Guillemot chicks jump from the cliff ledges approximately three weeks after hatching and are known as "jumplings" when they are ready to leave.

“When they are ready to jump, their dads will call to them, and guide them down to the sea, before teaching them how to forage for themselves.

"Watching the 'jumplings' leave the cliffs is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles we can see in the UK. They are difficult to witness, however, as conditions need to be right. It’s mindblowing stuff.”

Incredibly, guillemot chicks develop an instinct to leave the rocks they’re raised from just weeks after being born.

They must leave while still completely flightless, to avoid falling victim to avian predators who roam the area, but they are still very vulnerable.

But they’re joined by their fathers as they flee the nest and taught to forage before being left to fend for themselves.

Sam, who is currently carrying out seabird research on the Isle, said: "Despite having spent the past three weeks within less than half a square metre of rock and being unable to fly, their instinct tells them it is time to jump.

"Depending on the location of the colony, these jumps can be anything from a handful to 100s of metres high.

"The chick is always aided by their dad on this journey down the cliffs and out to sea.

"The dad is the one who will guide it for the next few weeks and will teach it how to forage for itself.

"The mum, on the other hand, will stay in the colony after the chick fledges to make sure their nesting site is protected from other prospecting guillemots and is ready for next year."

This is the heartstopping moment a three-week-old guillemot chick leaps from the top of a hundred-metre-high cliff as it flies the nest for the first time.



The tiny bird shuffles to the edge of the sheer drop before jumping from the top, furiously flapping its wings to stop it falling to the ground.



Thankfully, it successfully made its way to the surface of the sea off the Isle of May, Scotland.



Photographer Sam Langlois, 26, said: “Guillemot chicks jump from the cliff ledges approximately three weeks after hatching and are known as ‘jumplings’ when they are ready to leave.



“When they are ready to jump, their dads will call to them, and guide them down to the sea, before teaching them how to forage for themselves.



"Watching the 'jumplings' leave the cliffs is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles we can see in the UK. They are difficult to witness, however, as conditions need to be right. It’s mindblowing stuff.”



Incredibly, guillemot chicks develop an instinct to leave the rocks they’re raised from just weeks after being born.



They must leave while still completely flightless, to avoid falling victim to avian predators who roam the area, but they are still very vulnerable.


But they’re joined by their fathers as they flee the nest and taught to forage before being left to fend for themselves.



Sam, who is currently carrying out seabird research on the Isle, said: "Despite having spent the past three weeks within less than half a square metre of rock and being unable to fly, their instinct tells them it is time to jump.


"Depending on the location of the colony, these jumps can be anything from a handful to 100s of metres high.



"The chick is always aided by their dad on this journey down the cliffs and out to sea.

"The dad is the one who will guide it for the next few weeks and will teach it how to forage for itself.

"The mum, on the other hand, will stay in the colony after the chick fledges to make sure their nesting site is protected from other prospecting guillemots and is ready for next year."