Google reliably (!) informs me that one of the collective nouns for gannets is a 'plunging' of gannets. They certainly do plunge, swooping down at around 60 mph from a great height into the sea to catch fish. Interestingly though, these huge birds, whose wingspan is around 2 metres, also have the capacity to hover and twist acrobatically. It's a necessary skill when searching the crowded ledges for enough space to plant their feet, though when they actually plop down to earth, they do lack a certain grace!
There is a pungent aroma from the nest sites. So many birds produce a lot of guano, and the smell is rather unpleasantly like ammonia.
The gannet below had a beakful of grass, intending either to use it on its nest or perhaps to offer as a gift to its mate.
This one is putting the brakes on to land...
Thanks for these great pictures of this most spectacular of all seabirds. When you see them out at sea they tend to be well spread out, but the moment one spots a shoal of fish, gannets seem to appear from nowhere and all start feeding - I suppose that would then be called a "plunging".
ReplyDeleteFabulous pics, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteYour second shot is my favourite of the set.
ReplyDeletenice photos, I almost thought they were taken here in NZ as we have a gannet colony here too.
ReplyDelete