Gannets

Gannet is derived from the Old English for strong or masculine. Northern Gannets are the largest seabird in the North Atlantic, having a wingspan of up to 2 meters.

You can often see these birds hunting fish by nose diving, arrow like into the water. They can dive from a height of 30 meters which allows them to achieve speeds of up to 100 km/h as they strike the water. This method of hunting allows the gannet to catch fish that are much deeper that other birds.

A colony of gannets can be found on the Great Saltee.