Overview
One of the greatest spectacles to occur in the UK over the past few years has been the possibility of photographing huge number of Gannets diving for fish which are thrown overboard from a boat to attract this graceful seabird. It is one of the best photographic experiences trying to capture images as the birds dive into the water at breakneck speed after their prize. We have secured our own exclusive use of a boat for four trips out to the Gannets which will maximise our time with the birds and also allow us to take advantage of different weather conditions. This boat sessions will last around four hours and the rest of our time will be spent along the cliff tops at Bempton Cliffs a famous RSPB reserve.
Bempton Cliffs is one of the most accessible seabird colonies on mainland Britain and by spending a few days at the cliffs will allow us to spend time at the colonies of Gannets, Razorbills, Guillemots and Fulmars; in other words an array of seabirds.
We have timed our trip quite early in the breeding season which will mean birds will be in prime feather condition and also the most active in terms of behaviour towards each other, whether it be reinforcing relationships or just establishing nesting territories. This is the perfect time for an array of different behavioural image opportunities and what is a truly special place let alone photographic location for seabird photography on a grand scale.
Itinerary Open +Close -
Day 1: A day of travelling to get yourself to Bridlington and over dinner we will discuss our plans for the next few days ahead. It will have been a long day travelling and with early mornings beginning the next day we will have an evening meal, make initial plans and get a good night’s rest.
Day 2: It’s a very early start on our first morning as we head for our first boat excursion to look for the Gannets. This really is one of the best experiences to witness in the UK as huge numbers of Gannets take advantage of the free meal of fish. This chumming of the Gannets is a recent phenomenon that has now been made possible in the UK but in fairness the Gannets have been doing it for years as they follow fishing trawlers around the coast looking for such an advantage. The boat trip will each last for about four hours and afterwards we will head back to our accommodation for some lunch. In the afternoon we will head to the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs to spend the afternoon and evening looking for nesting Gannets along the cliff tops. We will also encounter other seabirds along the way.
Day 3: It is another early morning start as we head out on the boat again to the cliffs at Bempton for another session with the Gannets. After this boat trip, which will again last about four hours, we will head back to our hotel for some lunch and then we may choose to have a short session with the nesting Gannets at Bempton Cliffs before heading back to Bridlington for an evening session on the boat looking for Gannets. We have booked this session so it will give us a different aspect of light from our morning sessions. This session will again last about four hours. It takes about an hour to get to our location from Bridlington so in reality each photography session itself is for about two hours.
Day 4: Hopefully, you won’t be bored of photographing Gannets, but we head out one last time on the boat for another early morning session with these stunning birds. We feel this is the right amount of boat trips to get the best out of this unique experience because hopefully we get to work in different light in the early mornings and late evening. The weather can also play a big part for the success we will have on this trip too. After the boat trip we will head back to our hotel for some lunch and check out. You are free to go at any point from here on, but if you want to stay, we will be heading back to the RSPB reserve at Bempton for a last session with the nesting Seabirds along the cliff tops.
What our customers say
“Very special boat trip pushed the trip beyond expectations”.
“The guides were very good with arrangements and photographic help and guidance”.
“Very good, got lots of nice shots and learnt a lot”.
“It was excellent – as I had expected. We had some great weather and beautiful light at Bempton”.
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