Gannets

I will post more birds from the Farne Islands soon. But on the morning of Day 2 of my trip to Northumberland I travelled north, early in the morning, to the small harbour town of Dunbar in Scotland. My destination was the site of one of the greatest wildlife spectaculars in this country - and probably the world - Bass Rock!

Bass Rock is a small island off the Scottish coastline that is home to approximately 150,000 Gannets. Landing is restricted to special trips run by the Scottish Seabird Centre and is very weather dependent. You travel with 11 other people and your guide, Maggie, in a small fishing boat called the Fisher Lassie (pictured below). The boat lies low in the water making it easier to land against a rock step that has been cut into the rock face. There are numerous reports of people trying for year after year without successfully landing. I have been incredibly lucky. July 2013 was my third trip and I have landed every time - on each occasion on bright sunny days with clear blue skies.   

Fisher Lassie - the boat for Bass RockBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland

Bass Rock is a magical place. The trip lasts about 5 hours in total, with about 3 - 3.5 hours on the island itself. You land near the island lighthouse before making your way up the steps, birds all around you.

Bass Rock LighthouseBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland

The sky is full of Gannets, but at this stage the true spectacular is yet to unfold. Maggie expertly leads you up more steps, at all times surrounded by birds, so close you could touch them. Herring Gulls also nest near the steps and you have to take care not to step on or disturb their chicks too. Maggie leads you to an area higher up the rock, which she marks off with a rope. Here you can leave your equipment at one end and move around more freely, still getting incredibly close to the birds. At all times Maggie keeps a careful eye on birds and photographers alike to ensure no bird is disturbed in any way.

These first set of images show groups of Gannets, giving you an idea on the scenes in front of you (although they don't really do it justice by any stretch of the imagination).

Gannet colonyBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland

Gannet colonyBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland

Gannet colonyBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland Gannet colonyBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland

Gannet colonyBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland

GannetsBass Rock, East Lothian, Scotland

In my next post we will get a bit closer to the Gannets, some of which had chicks with them.