Bird watching: northern gannet

Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a chance sighting of a northern gannet.

Northern gannets are handsome birds, with very distinct eye, beak, and head. They also have black wing tips. If you notice one from shore, it’s easy to tell you’re looking at a distinguished bird.

In North America, the northern gannet is the only kind of gannet, and only lives in the Atlantic.

In Canada, northern gannets aren’t necessarily common to see from shore; rather, they spend most time at sea. They’re large birds, around a metre long, with a wingspan around two metres. They do come near shore briefly in the summer.

Living in Newfoundland, I watched for gannets. I’d seen a picture of one so wanted to see one for real. I didn’t know, then, how unlikely such an encounter would be, since I hadn’t read up on them in detail.

Yet, I did see one, completely by chance. Luckily, I was paying attention. Standing on a dock in early summer (perhaps late June), I noticed a single bird flying by, so looked up. Its head, eye and beak were immediately recognizable. It was probably at elevation 40 degrees in my vision, and casually flew past. It showed no intention of landing. Where I was, a narrow peninsula extended out to sea; the gannet probably intended to fly over to the bay on the other side.

The bird’s largeness didn’t occur to me then, but no doubt allowed me to see it so clearly even though it must have been at least 100 feet away.

All my key bird sightings have been accidents, but this one was probably the most surprising.

Source:

Hoar, De Smet, et al. Birds of Canada. Edmonton: Lone Pine, 2010.

Bull, John, John Farrand and Susan Rayfield. Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, eastern region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1977.

allaboutbirds.org