Northern gannet

A bit of a misnomer, this one. The term ‘greedy gannet’ is a British colloquialism for a greedy person which dates from the mid-19th century, after the sea bird with perceived voracious eating habits. But some University professors did some research which indicates that gannets are not as greedy as their reputation suggests. In fact, they tend to stick, politely, to fishing in their own territories and rarely even fly over that of another colony. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t a very healthy appetite!

At Bempton cliffs in Yorkshire, there are puffins, razorbills, guillemots, and thousands of gannets at this, their only mainland breeding colony in the UK. A visit to the RSPB reserve is a must for any birdwatcher, nature lover or photographer and you can snap away with your camera or phone until your heart is content, from the cliffs above the North Sea. Or, a few times each year, you can grab a ride on the Yorkshire Belle to see the colony from the water. Helpful RSPB volunteers bring along a few buckets of mackerel to toss overboard and the result is a loud, chaotic, impromptu party. Hundreds of birds gather above the boat and those that first spot the bait, crash into the water in an attempt to bag the prize. Inevitably, there is confusion. Sometimes two birds catch the same fish or they surface together to find that another beat them to it.

If you have a half-decent camera, you can capture some wonderful pictures. A fast shutter speed will freeze the action and catch every drop of water dispersed by the crashing and diving birds. Your photos will be great reminders of a wonderful day out. Alternatively, leave your camera at home and just take it all in. Your senses will be bombarded by the action and the noise as you immerse yourself in this amazing avian experience – and, it will take your mind off that rocking and rolling that is an unwelcome combination of a small boat and the North Sea….