The RSPB Troup Head Nature Reserve is home to mainland Scotland’s largest gannet colony along with several other sea bird species.
I paid a visit to Troup Head with my camera to photograph the gannets and had a brilliant time. Troup Head is located on the North-East coast of Scotland, between Fraserburgh and Banff. It is just over an hours drive from Aberdeen.
Troup Head has a car park suitable for 10 cars and there are two walking routes to the gannet colony. The quick route takes you straight to the gannets over flat terrain in about 10 minutes. The coastal route is more undulating and takes 25 minutes.
The gannets were a joy to photograph, swirling like a vortex towards the lens seemingly indefinitely. They are fast and tricky to capture but they look stunning and blue piercing eyes which make them extremely photogenic.
From April to September is the best time to see gannets at Troup Head.
I highly recommend going to Troup Head for bird watching, whilst here I also encountered pied wagtails, yellowhammers, black backed gulls, kittwakes and many more species.
You could make a day of it by also stopping off to see puffins at the Bullers of Buchan.
