The North Atlantic Gannet is Britain’s largest seabird with a wingspan of 6 foot. The Bass Rock, where this photograph was taken, is a 450 foot high crag at the mouth of the Forth of Forth, 30 miles from Edinburgh, Scotland. Bass Rock 10km off the coast is home to 70,000 gannets, and countless other seabirds. The Bass Rock is now one of the largest gannet colonies in the World.

The peak of the breeding season is a sight not to be missed. Not only will there be lots of breeding adults and young chicks, but non breeding youngsters will have returned to congregate around the edges of the Colony. It is a fascinating privilege to land on the Rock and watch the birds close up. Behaviour's such as bill-touching, sky pointing, nest guarding and displaying are all on show.

Both adult gannets fetch food for their chicks, taking it in turns to go on fishing trips that can last a whole day. Disgorging a meal of regurgitated herring, mackeral and sandeel on their return. Chicks are born naked but soon covered in a fluffy down, later replaced by dark brown feathers, until they reach maturity when the feathers are white. Gannets are often seen diving torpedo style for food, folding in their wings at the last moment, diving from 10 to 300 feet.