Northern gannets dive at such phenomenal speeds it's only due to their unique biological make-up they don't break their necks. They do have occasional collisions with one another though! See these amazing seabirds hunt, court, and bring up their fluffy-white chicks at the UKs largest mainland gannet colony.
Yorkshire sea birds
The Yorkshire coast is well known for its sea bird colonies. There are more than 200,000 breeding sea birds at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, with everything from Atlantic puffins, northern fulmars, razor bills, to guillemots. I watched gannets hunting on a boat trip from Bridlington harbour run by Yorkshire Coast Nature.
Northern gannets
Each year some 11,000 breeding pairs cling to narrow ledges on the sheer 400ft-high cliffs to build their nests. The perfect place to watch gannets as they hunt is at sea. Gannets have followed fishing vessels for centuries in the hope that they can feed from any unwanted fish so it's not unusual for them to follow boats, hoping we will throw something their way.
Gannet courtships
On the cliffs you can glimpse their beautiful courtship displays. Gannets are monogamous, breeding with the same partner every year, and in February they reinforce their bonds with stunning displays, rubbing beaks and pointing their long necks skywards. Competition for the best nest sites on this precipitous cliff face can be fierce and dramatic fights often break out.
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