During our Christmas holidays (in a land with dodgy internet access!) we all went out on a ‘Marine Biology Cruise’ run by the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre at Queenscliff. One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to an Australian Gannet colony on an artificial rock platform called the Popes Eye. The birds were thick on the ground (well rocks) and we could get close to them on the boat.
You can see that the birds have chicks - and as far as I remember, this is the only place in the world where gannets nest on a man made structure.
These are well studied birds – you can see metal bands on their legs, and some have a patch of green dye on them which may be a mark of some kind.
Getting this close to birds this big is great, although when we were down wind it was a bit smelly – although not as smelly as the seals!
If you ever get the chance you should drop in at the Discovery Centre and go out on some of their trips.
You can find more birds at World Bird Wednesday.
You can find the latest post to my other blog by clicking the Paying Ready Attention link on the RHS of the screen. This post is about waders, so it may be of interest to birding types.Enjoy the birds.
Beautiful birds! I love to see them in flight! Terrific captures as always, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
beautiful birds! glad to see they've taken to the man-made nesting structure.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post Stewart!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteLovely flight shots Stewart.. a beautiful bird to see..
ReplyDeleteI really like the Gannets, they are cool looking birds. They have pretty faces. Great photos, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful birds...great captures.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, Stewart! I love the flight photos...that first one almost looks like it's hovering.
ReplyDeleteThose are some wonderful fellows!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of these Beauties!
Great photos of the Gannets and an interesting place to visit.
ReplyDeleteWhat an exiting thing to do! Must see how I can get myself down there. Lovely detailed shots of the adult faces and of course of the birds in flight.
ReplyDeleteStuart, I once again need some help with my cormorant that had a totally white head but not belly, it is not featured in my bird books and I have never seen it on our dam before.
I've not seen gannets before and that sure must've been a great excursion. You got some wonderful photographs, especially those in flight Stewart.
ReplyDeleteStewart, these are awesome! Great flight shots! I haven't seen Gannets before - there are so Aussie many birds I haven't seen I am discovering through this link up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
Great captures of these beautiful birds!
ReplyDeleteOne always learns something new - I've never seen them before, and they are lovely:)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of these magnificent birds Stewart. The in flight shots are gorgeous! I have always wanted to see the Northern Gannets here in the U.S. but it will have to wait until I make a trip to the East Coast.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It's wonderful to get this close. Love your flight shots, Stewart.
ReplyDeleteWow,- this is a beautiful series! Really great shots!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week:)