We walked at Littleferry this morning on a beautiful day only slightly marred by a steady and cool southeaster, to find the main beach as crowded with humans as ever. So we sat for some time at the top of the beach, relaxing in the warmth of the sunshine, and watched the main show....
....which featured masses of gannets - I would guess at upward of a hundred spread along a kilometre of coast - diving for fish just off the bar running parallel to and about fifty metres off the beach. This is the largest flock of gannets I have ever seen, here or elsewhere
The photos are at extreme range for my camera but it was evident from them that most of the birds were juveniles, which was confirmed when we walked back towards....
I enjoy watching gannets fishing and this year was rewarded with a spectacle close off the coast of Islay where about fifty gannets were plunging for fish. The sun reflects off of their plumage with the addition of ultraviolet light which brightens their already pure whiteness and this, together with their black wing tips, make them a magnificent bird. Thank you for showing us the contrasting juvenile plumage in such detail.
ReplyDeleteIt was just SO good to see so many young, and to see that the bait fish were running.
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