Who Uses Blue Eyeliner?

10/07/10

It was a warm and windy day, the air full of grass pollen, butterflies and 6 Spot Burnet Moths, as I made my way from the car park to the headland. The Lepidoptera were a welcome diversion, not so the pollen. Looking out from the top of the cliffs I could see a snowstorm of flying Gannets, as they patrolled back and forth, rising, falling, wheeling and soaring. I found a grassy hollow sheltered from the wind and settled down to photograph them. It wasn’t until I could see them at really close quarters that I noticed the blue eyeliner. Very fetching it was too! I’ve added a few of the photos to the Birds Gallery so you can what handsome devils they are. I had a look too at the ones nesting on the ledges, and it was good to see so many grey fluffy youngsters among them. It looks as if they are having a good breeding season.

Should you feel like taking a trip to Troup Head to see them for yourself (and you really should) I would suggest that when you come to far end of the fields on your approach, and enter the reserve, you turn left and follow the broad grassy path towards the viewpoint. This is supposed to be the return route, but it will lead you directly to the Gannets, and save you the trouble of going steeply up and over the headland.

For more information about the RSPB Reserve at Troup Head, here is a link to the website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/t/trouphead/index.aspx