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Gannets

With a wingspan of almost six feet, the gannet is the largest and arguably the most impressive of all English seabirds. Local to me is the largest colony of gannets in England at Bempton Cliffs near Scarborough, where you can get remarkably close to them, which makes for a fantastic photographic subject.

4. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/500sec @ f/14, ISO 800.

5. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/320sec @ f/5.6, ISO 320.

This particular rock formation will be familiar to anyone who knows Bempton Cliffs. Here we have gannets showing an efficient use of space, every bird has their own private patch; we would call this super high-density housing!

6. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/500sec @ f/5.6, ISO 125.

A pair of gannets on their nests.

7. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/4000sec @ f/2.8, ISO 64.

It must be Valentine’s Day!

1. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/1600sec @ f/8, ISO 80.

A handsome beast indeed!

2. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/640sec @ f/8, ISO 125.

3. 28 June 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/320sec @ f/22, ISO 250.

The little and large show; this photo shows just how large the gannet is, or how small the puffin is, depending on how you look at it.

8. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/640sec @ f/2.8, ISO 125.

9. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/640sec @ f/2.8, ISO 320.

A gannet and razorbill having a frank discussion about something.

10. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/2500sec @ f/2.8, ISO 160.

11. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/640sec @ f/2.8, ISO 250.

12. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 1.4x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 560mm), 1/320sec @ f/4, ISO 160.

13. 27 April 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/500sec @ f/2.8, ISO 125.

14. 28 June 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/2500sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

15. 28 June 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/2000sec @ f/2.8, ISO 160.

16. 28 June 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/2000sec @ f/2.8, exposure compensation -0.3 stop, ISO 100.

17. 28 June 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/320sec @ f/22, ISO 125.

A chick presumably waiting for some food.

18. 28 June 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/320sec @ f/8, ISO 500.

19. 30 July 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/250sec @ f/6.8, ISO 100.

At this stage the chicks are almost as large as the adult birds!

20. 30 July 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/250sec @ f/5.6, ISO 125.

21. 30 July 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/640sec @ f/2.8, exposure compensation -0.6 stop, ISO 64.

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22. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/1000sec @ f/4.8, exposure compensation +0.3 stop, ISO 80.

23. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective focal length 800mm), 1/640sec @ f/5.6, exposure compensation +0.3 stop, ISO 500.

24. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/1000sec @ f/8, exposure compensation +0.3 stop, ISO 200.

All very well organised - every bird in its’ own spot.

25. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/1600sec @ f/8, ISO 125.

Gliding over the colony.

26. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/640sec @ f/9.5, ISO 125.

Gannets are absolutely magnificent flyers. With them being the largest seabird in the UK, watching them fly is quite something.

27. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/640sec @ f/9.5, ISO 160.

Wigspan is 2 meters, or about as wide as a tall adult person.

28. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/640sec @ f/8, ISO 125.

29. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/640sec @ f/8, ISO 250.

30. 10 May 2026, Leica SL(601), Vario-Elmar-R 105-280mm f/4.2, 1/320sec @ f/8, ISO 160.

May is a very busy time for gannets, this one collecting nest materials.