Maybe we can be like these playful gannets, and entertain ourselves with ordinary, everyday things while we stay home to keep safe.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 2500
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
Portland is one of my favourite places to visit. There’s nothing quite like a sea of sea, and a sea of gannets. It’s the only gannet colony on the mainland and the noise, bustle and smell are all memorable. As is the constant reminder of gannet poop that amazingly missed me but landed neatly on the inside of my lens hood where it refuses to budge from the non-reflective, flocked lining.
Ideally I get to the rocky promontory before sunrise and stay until sunset. These huge birds have a wingspan of up to 2m (yep, that’s a lot of poop inside my lens hood). Despite their size they are graceful and agile in flight. It’s fascinating to watch them carrying odd bits and pieces as they return from the ocean and drop from the air onto their tiny patch of rock.
1/2500, f/10.0, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
They bring all kinds of things back with them, including seaweed, rope, sticks and feathers. They offer them as pair-bonding gifts to their waiting partners, where they are often fought over with loud squabbles. Neighbouring birds might try to pinch them, and the drama escalates.
1/3200, f9.0, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
Sometimes they just stand with their treasure, proudly letting the others see how clever they are. Or maybe waiting for the partner to return and be suitably impressed.
1/1000, f/8.0, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
Even the young, non-flying, chicks join the fun. They toss their treasures into the air and catch them, over and over again. Watching them do this makes me think it’s a way of practising their beak-eye coordination ready for the spectacular dives they’ll soon be doing to capture fish.
So, I’m off outside before it gets to dark to look for a leaf or a blossom or some other inconsequential treasure to enjoy for the evening.
Happy birding from home, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
Great shots that captures all their activities.
Thank you Togram, they are such comical birds to watch, Kim
As always, you have such an eye for simple beauty, and the comical personality of all your subject choices.
Stay well and trust your health in improving.
Thank you for your kind words on both topics Syndy, Kim
Thx for the pics of the acrobatic gannets Kim. I have a question- I don’t seem able to zoom in on photos as I used to do. The zoom works on the text which I then can scroll to enlarged photo. Has there been a change which explains above?
As always your posts are wondrous in illuminating our avian fauna.
Regards
Alison
Hi Alison, that is very strange. There are fairly regular updates which can have some peculiar effects, it sounds like this could be one of them. Hopefully it will get sorted out with the next update. Could you let me know if it continues to be a problem? Thank you, Kim
Great photos and narrative, with a message for us all. Thanks Kim
Thank you Margot. Sorry about the delay in answering, I only just realised I missed all of these, Kim
Great shots
Thank you Stephen!
It is early here but my smiles are lighting up the room.
Many, many thanks.
I hope the shingles beast continues to recede.
Stay well, stay safe.
It’s lovely to think of your smiles EC. The S beast is still lurking but gradually seems to be finding its way out. You stay well and safe too
Gorgeous photos, but article too. You can feel the complete and utter joy in it Kimberley. <3
Thankyou.
Thank you Evie! I’ve only just realised I haven’t answered any of these comments yet, sorry about the delay, Kim