Bass Rock Gannets

I took a trip out round the Bass Rock a few weeks ago so I thought I'd share a few photos with you. It’s been two or three years since I last done this and this time around I decided to take the trip on the wee wooden boat called the Sula. I have to say that I picked a fantastic day for it as the wind was calm and the sun was shining. The boat may look quite small in the photo but I really can’t recommend it enough if you ever get the chance to take a trip out to the rock; great value as well at only £14 for a trip of around an hour and a quarter.

The Sula in harbour at North Berwick.

The main reason for going to the Bass Rock is to see the Gannets here. I think the numbers peak at over 150,000 birds, making it the largest Northern Gannet colony in the world. The rock is actually brown but looks white in summer due to the number of birds nesting here.

A view of the Bass Rock in the distance.

As you get a bit closer in, you start to see the vast numbers of birds on and over the rock.

A bit closer still.

Looking over towards the coast of Fife, there were plenty more birds to be seen.

I have to admit to a growing feeling of excitement as we got nearer to the rock and to the birds. Gannets are really quite large birds, and to see so many so close is a fantastic experience.

Another view as we neared the rock itself.

Looking inwards now, you start to get an idea of why the rock looks white from a distance.

The younger birds spook a bit easier than the adults do. They're used to seeing the boat coming round every day, but they still want to keep a bit of distance from you. This youngster with it's 'piano key' plumage makes a dash for safety.

Up above, the birds were nesting all the way to the top.

I don't fancy falling in from up there.!!

By this time there were birds everywhere. From a photographic point of view, it was becoming a bit confusing as to which bird to try to focus on.

I got lucky with this next shot though; I was actually aiming for the nearest bird.!!  :-)

As I've already said, it was a fantastic experience, with birds everywhere you looked.

Flying this way...

And that way.

This bird had been out gathering nesting materials, in the form of a bit of seaweed and a feather.

As you can see, there were plenty of Gannets around although I didn't see any of them fishing. I was told that they've been travelling up to sixty miles away to fish, but I don't know if the reason is lack of prey around the Forth Estuary or perhaps some other reason? There were more birds around though, not only Gannets. On the rocks we also have Guillemots.

Flying around...

And generally posing.!!

This next heavily cropped shot shows what I'm led to believe is a 'Bridled' Guillemot. Note the white markings at the eye, this is seemingly more common the further north you go.

There were also some Shag around.

Also with youngsters.

There were Razorbill around as well but I didn't get any decent shots of them so I'll sneak in a Razorbill shot taken on the Isle of May a few days earlier. (I'll tell you all about that another time).

Isle of May Razorbill.

Back at the Bass Rock, we have a final shot of the Gannets before heading back to shore.

A few Gulls were spotted as we sailed back.

A grumpy looking Herring Gull flying past...

Another Herring Gull coming in to land.

Nearly there now, just a few shots to go. I love seeing these next birds; Great Black-backed Gull. It never ceases to impress me when I see the size of these Gulls. Fantastic big lumps of birds.!!

A final shot of a Great Black-backed, showing its  impressive wingspan.

I hope you've enjoyed taking a trip around the Bass Rock. Thanks for looking.

Paul