Gannet

The Northern Gannet is a large seabird with bright white feathers, black tips on its wings, and a pale golden head. Adults grow to nearly a metre long with a wingspan close to two metres. Their sharp blue-grey beak and pale blue ring around the eyes are easy to recognise up close. Young birds are dark brown with white spots and slowly develop the adult feathers over about four years. They breed in groups on rocky islands and cliffs around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. Some of the biggest breeding sites are Bass Rock, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, and St Kilda. Outside of the breeding season, they spread out across the North Atlantic, sometimes travelling as far south as West Africa. Northern Gannets are amazing dive hunters. They fold their wings back and dive from heights of about thirty metres into the sea to catch fish. You can often see them from coastal headlands during migration, flying with steady, strong wingbeats mixed with gliding.