Archive for June, 2022

Troup Head Gannets, the high cliffs of Troup Head on the north coast of Aberdeenshire provide a spectacular setting to photograph Scotland’s largest mainland gannet colony. There are also thousands of kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills, along with other species, including puffins breeding on the high sea cliffs. Most of the auks and Kittiwakes are well out of range for close-ups even with a long lens. The gannets however are much more accessible. Since first visiting Troup Head for the first time more than ten years ago gannet numbers have increased greatly. In places birds are now nesting much closer to the top of the cliffs.

Since our visit during the third week of May an outbreak of a new virulent strain avian influenza has been identified and is taking a heavy toll in seabird colonies throughout Scotland. Gannets and Great Skuas are species that are being particularly hard hit. Troup Head is among the sites where the disease has been identified. Thinking back we did see a dead gannet among the breeding birds but did think too much of it at the time. Given their very long breeding season and the close proximity of nesting birds long term outlook for Scotland’s Gannets could be devastating.

Loch Lochy birdlife: living close by the shore of the loch we are able to keep a close eye on the comings and goings of the birdlife the bay below the house. During spells of dry weather the water level of the loch drops exposing an extensive area of sand and gravel at the mouth of a burn. Throughout the day a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds stop off to feed and rest. Some are migrants stopping off briefly on their passage north up the Great Glen. Common sandpipers nest fairly close by but most of the others breed further away from the loch shore. Greenshanks commute in from their breeding territory from 10km or more away up in the hills. For ten days or so in early May a pair were coming to feed around the mouth of the burn. Photographing them was relatively easy as the quickly became tolerant of our presence in the garden and other human traffic around the bay.