On my photography trip in 2018 to Helgoland in Germany I was able to take several pictures of the Northern Gannets and other birds. For bird photographers, the North Sea island of Helgoland is certainly a highlight. The island offers numerous places where you can get relatively close to the birds, especially the gannets and guillemots are very difficult to disturb and you can get close to them within a few meters. Only a barrier and a few centimeters of rock separates me from the subjects.
In the North Sea, the birds find enough food to raise their offspring. The birds travel between 150 and 320 kilometers in search of food (mostly fish, that they catch directly from the sea surface). The birds are relatively well accustomed to humans and as long as you respect the barrier these animals hardly notice an approaching photographer. Due to this fact you can take your time looking for the perfect picture and try out different perspectives and situations, like I did.
When we visited Helgoland, the birds where in their mating and nest building season and therefore it was even more interesting to watch them. They were building their nests, gave bridal gifts to each others and even did mate directly in front of us. In inserted a video where you can see the bonding ritual at the bottom of this post.
Northern gannets sharing a piece of grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 240 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Grass as a love present. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Northern Gannets copulating (having sex). Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Northern gannet bonding with their beaks. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Cleaning the feathers. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Bird bringing some sticks to enhance the nest. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Bird in the flares. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Great light flares, from the sun reflecting in the ocean. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Biting in the neck before copulatiing. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Northern Gannet. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Northern Gannet. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Northern Gannet. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |
Northern Gannet. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Nikor 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/500 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 280 mm |
| Time | 05:14 pm |
| ISO | 100 |