Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Themes
  • Videos
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Themes
Videos
App & Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United Kingdom
  3. 2020
  4. July 28
  5. Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) in flight, Troupe Head RSPB Reserve, Aberdeenshire
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) in flight, Troupe Head RSPB Reserve, Aberdeenshire

July 28, 2020

Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) in flight, Troupe Head RSPB Reserve, Aberdeenshire

© Dave Pressland/Minden Picture

Ready to dive in. The spectacular dives of the northern gannet

Soaring high over the cliffs of Troup Head in Aberdeenshire, these northern gannets are on the lookout for something to eat. These striking creatures are the UK’s largest seabird, with wingspans of up to 2m, and yet are also incredibly aerodynamic. Known for super-fast plunges into the sea from a great height, they fold their wings back as they hit the water at up to 60mph. Torpedoing up to 10m beneath the surface, they snatch herring, mackerel and sandeels in that dagger-like beak and swallow them before resurfacing and taking to the air – all in the space of a few seconds. Despite hitting the water at break-neck speed, their necks usually remain intact, thanks to some special muscles and air sacs in the face and chest which act like bubble wrap, helping to cushion the blow.

Northern gannets can be spotted around our shores between January and August, before they head south for the winter. Troup Head is Scotland’s largest mainland gannet colony, which is saying something as the UK is home to between 60% and 70% of the world’s gannet population, the bulk of which live around Scotland’s coast. Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth is one of the most famous gannet-spotting places, but be warned: It’s said you can smell its colony ten minutes before you arrive, so it’s not for the faint hearted - or those with sensitive noses.

bird water animal outdoor seabird goose wave swimming

Related Images

Brown bear mother and cub in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USABrown bear mother and cub in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA
Two Old World swallowtail butterflies on a flowerTwo Old World swallowtail butterflies on a flower
Southern cassowary father with chicks, Kuranda, Queensland, AustraliaSouthern cassowary father with chicks, Kuranda, Queensland, Australia
Elephant walking in the Okavango River, BotswanaElephant walking in the Okavango River, Botswana
Long-beaked common dolphin pod and diving Cape gannets hunting Pacific sardines off the Eastern Cape, South AfricaLong-beaked common dolphin pod and diving Cape gannets hunting Pacific sardines off the Eastern Cape, South Africa
An indigo bunting at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania, USAAn indigo bunting at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania, USA
Scarlet macaw in Costa RicaScarlet macaw in Costa Rica
Hyalite Creek in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana, USAHyalite Creek in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana, USA

Today on Bing

School of sea goldies in a coral reef with feather stars, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

School of sea goldies in a coral reef with feather stars, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Jul 28, 2021
Carhenge, created by Jim Reinders, in Nebraska, USA

Carhenge, created by Jim Reinders, in Nebraska, USA

Jul 28, 2019
American flamingo chicks at the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

American flamingo chicks at the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Jul 28, 2018
A waterfall at St Nectan's Glen near Tintagel, Cornwall

A waterfall at St Nectan's Glen near Tintagel, Cornwall

Jul 28, 2017
Castelluccio in Monti Sibillini National Park, Italy

Castelluccio in Monti Sibillini National Park, Italy

Jul 28, 2016

Related Tags

animal outdoor bird grass colorful water swimming ground rock bear mammal brown bear carnivore kodiak bear grizzly bear butterfly moths and butterflies invertebrate insect cassowary
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2022 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.