Troup Head

Once you find it, Troup Head is lovely - the couple of times I've visited it has been peaceful with only a handful of visitors.  On the ground, Gannets are pretty easy to take pictures of as they're nice & large!  Watch out for them greeting each other.

In flight they're relatively straightforward too - once you read their body language.  They tend to follow the same flight along the cliff edge, riding the updraft and will often cruise past and take a look at you as they do so (which is always a nice shot).  If there's an outcropping of cliff, they'll often hesitate for a second and look at the birds on the ground, which allows this sort of shot (this was actually at Bempton last year, but I haven't got round to processing all the Troup Head images from this year yet!)

100-400 will be fine - these two images were with a 600mm on a full frame sensor, so 400mm on a crop (if that's what you are using) will be fine (560mm equivalent FoV).  I was using a 100-400 on crop body for all my Troup Head flight shots with no problems & Mrs WJ was using 300mm with & without a 1.4x converter with similar success.

The key thing to look out for is over-exposure, especially if it's sunny.  It's really easy to blow the highlights and lose detail in the white feathers.  You may need to under-expose by a whole 2 stops.  Check regularly (if your camera has the feature, enable Highlight Alerts - it will flash the screen where the highlights are blown).

Other than that, stay away from the cliff edge if you suffer from vertigo, but most of all, make sure to take time to enjoy the spectacle :-)

Troup Head is fabulous. The Gannets will go by very close at eye level sometimes. This is uncropped, 420mm on 1.5x crop body (Nikon D300).

Hi Whistling Joe and aiki

Whoa, those are fantastic images. If I get anything near that I will be more than happy :)Really appreciate your responses. I have a few days to play with. Friday looks a little wet at the moment but keeping close watch. Beautiful looking birds. I'll keep you updated as to how I get on.

Aiki, will check out your blog and Flicker pages later this evening :)

Thanks again for your responses!

Best regards

Gary Watt

Aberdeen, Scotland.

Hi Gary, we have just got back from that area, we had great weather, also met the warden from loch of Strathbeg, who was doing a count, as said already its a great place for great views of the birds, if you want to see the breeding gannets walk to the left passed the camera, all the birds on the way although in pairs, are non breeders, if you want the guillemots etc., then go to the right hand path, there is also a pair of Ravens there, have fun. sorry my picture is not as good as others.

Thanks Goshawk 1

That a great picture. Mainly going there for the Gannets. Spend a few weekends at Fowlsheugh and photographed quite a lot of razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and the lovely little puffins. Just hope I don't get lost getting there. Should be just over an hours drive from Aberdeen. Early start!

Thanks again for responding. Will let you know how I get on.

Best regards

Gary Watt

Aberdeen, Scotland.

Hi Gary if you come along the b9031 to  dubford head down towards gardenstown, but before getting there, turn right keep going along this rd, where you will pick up the rspb sign, go through the farm and drop downhill until you get to the car park, you then walk out the bottom and head to the lower field you will see the footpath at the side of corn field, at the end of this field go slightly left you will then see a sign, going both left and right, if you go to the right that takes you to the guillemots etc., the other goes straight to the gannets, if you go on this one, when you get to the gate, go left you cannot miss them.

Thanks Goshawk 1

Been studying the maps so I should be OK. It's the turning into the farm that confuses me, don't want to end up on someones front lawn while they are having their breakfast :) I'm still on weather watch but will let you know.

Best regards

Gary Watt

Aberdeen, Scotland.

Don't know anything about Troup head sorry Gary but just wanted to say those pics are absolutely fabulous!!  

gaynorsl said:

Don't know anything about Troup head sorry Gary but just wanted to say those pics are absolutely fabulous!!  

Yes, totally agree, fantastic images, i would be totally satisfied if I cam home with that :)

Best regards

Gary Watt
Aberdeen, Scotland.