{"id":16749,"date":"2025-08-11T19:21:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T17:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/?p=16749"},"modified":"2025-10-03T08:58:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T06:58:48","slug":"basstoelpel-helgoland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/en\/basstoelpel-helgoland\/","title":{"rendered":"Helgoland Bird Photography \u2013 Northern Gannets and other Seabirds at Lummenfelsen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Germany. <\/strong>The cries of the birds echo across the Red Cliff like a wild concert. Below, the North Sea rages, while above, white silhouettes circle in the wind. I am standing on the highlands of Heligoland, Germany's only offshore island, looking out at the famous Lummenfelsen rock while northern gannets circle above me. Right next to me, just a few inches from the barrier, the large white birds sit on their nests. It is the end of May. While some gannets still cradle and warm their single egg with their large feet, other breeding pairs already have chicks in their nests. Some are tiny, others are already so big that the nest is getting crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Kings of the Cliffs: Northern Gannets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They are impossible to miss: the majestic northern gannets (Morus bassanus<\/em>, sailing over the sea with a wingspan of almost two meters. Their snow-white bodies, black wing tips, and yellowish heads make them striking creatures. Heligoland is the only place in Germany where these large seabirds breed \u2013 and only since 1991. There are now over 1,500 breeding pairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View of the famous Lummenfelsen rock. When walking along the cliff-edge path in the Heligoland Oberland, you can see the northern gannet colony from afar. The path winds along the steep coast and leads you directly to the colonies. There are several viewing platforms and seating areas there. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The nests and the path are separated by a fence. Since some northern gannets have built their nests right next to the path, you can observe them at close range. In some places, you might even be able to take interesting pictures with a wide-angle lens, if you have one with you.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Northern gannets do not reach sexual maturity until they are about five years old. Once they have mated, they remain together for life. They also return to the same nesting site year after year and continue to expand it. This results in impressive nests that can weigh more than 50 kilograms over the years, with a high proportion of non-biodegradable plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In spring, northern gannets return to their nesting sites on Heligoland. After mating, the female lays a single egg, which is incubated for about 6\u20138 weeks. It takes about three months for the young bird to fledge. Young northern gannets are initially darkly spotted and only become lighter in color over time until they have the typical white plumage of adult birds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The difference in size between chicks and their parents is considerable.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A northern gannet in its black-spotted juvenile plumage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Northern gannets form strong pair bonds. Every time they return to the nest, the partners greet each other affectionately: they rub their beaks together and preen each other's feathers \u2013 a touching sight that offers great photo opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tips for Nature Observers and Photographers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All seabird species that nest on the cliffs come to the island only to breed and raise their chicks. They spend most of their lives on the open sea. The best time to observe the seabirds breeding is between May and July. Mid-June offers a very special highlight: the \u201cloon dive.\u201d This is when the young guillemots, which are not yet able to fly, jump off the cliffs into the water. The Jordsand Association offers special guided tours at this time of year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cguillemot rock\u201d can be visited via the developed cliff-edge path. Binoculars and a telephoto lens are useful for seeing the details of the more distant nests of the guillemots and razorbills. The gannet nests extend right up to the fence at the edge of the path, where you can observe the birds at close range. Photographers can actually use a wide-angle lens here and experiment with new perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always with wildlife photography, it pays to bring time and patience. This is the only way to recognize the different behaviors of the animals and have the opportunity to experience them at different times of the day or in different weather conditions. For example, the colony behaves very differently in windy conditions than in stagnant heat. They are much more active in windy conditions, while in hot weather, they hold their open beaks up, pant, and no longer warm their chicks. Then you can see chicks of all sizes. The wind direction also plays a role in photo opportunities, because the gannets always land into the wind. When the wind is blowing onshore, they stand above the observation platforms for quite a while and can be photographed very well in flight. But be careful, you can quickly get white spots on your clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What's more, if you have plenty of time and space on your memory card, Lummenfelsen on Heligoland offers great opportunities for creative photography or simply trying something new:<\/p>\n\n\n\n