The northern gannet (Morus bassanus) is distributed across the North Atlantic seaboard, from France to Norway across to Iceland to Canada. But the islands of the UK are home to around 70% of the worldwide population, spread across between 20 and 25 colonies.
I have seen them at just three colonies, at the huge cliffs of Hermaness on Unst, at the island reserve of Noss in Shetland, and the chalk cliffs at Brampton in northeast England. Larger, more impressive colonies are on more remote islands of St Kilda, Bass Rock and Sula Sgair, north of Lewis.
While gannets are frequent fliers around our usual haunts in south Wales, I've seen Wales' only colony at Grassholm Island from a distance.
I've also been fortunate to see Australia's only mainland gannetry at Danger Point, Portland, Victoria. A different species, the Australasian gannet or takapu (Morus serrated), is widely distributed from Western Australia across to New Zealand.
Hermaness is home to around 26,000 birds and one of the most important breeding colonies in the world
With a 2 metre wingspan, gannets are the northern Atlantic's largest seabird
Northern gannets are monogamous and allopreen and tap bills to reinforce bonds.
Despite a caring side, they appear to have only one expression...
In some colonies, nesting material can be plentiful. In others, for example here at Hermaness, birds will fight over scraps of seaweed.
Gannets perch on narrow ledges, rearing only one brood each year.
Gannets must constantly preen to keep their plumage waterproof
Gannets make great subjects for "high key" photography - my attempt
A non-breeding adult is characterised by more mottled plumage
Life in a gannet colony is never peaceful. Here, a single bird encroaches into the space of a breeding pair
A juvenile bird is not tolerated by the adults
The early morning light, Bempton Cliffs
