Bempton birds – violence and aggression

It’s not all mutual preening and sweetness and light at Bempton Cliffs. It’s a difficult life, perched on a ledge surrounded by hundreds of thousands of other birds. Sometimes life there is like this instead:

Gannet fighting at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Even the Kittiwakes are at it, pecking and calling and chasing one another:

The Gannets are the true masters of combat though:

Gannets fighting at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This pair are having a serious territorial dispute:

Gannets fighting at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They lock beaks:

Sometimes the fighting is fast and furious:

Gannets fighting at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Gannets fighting at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They will even grab each other and throw one another off the cliff and fly away, still locked in combat:

It may only be a tiny patch of cliff, but owning it may make the difference between breeding and not. That’s something they all take very seriously indeed.

More birds at Bempton Cliffs

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Tree Sparrow at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Tree Sparrows on the edge I've only ever seen Tree Sparrows before at Tree Sparrow Farm. That's a sign, isn't it? If the place is… read more
Guillemot at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – when you know you’re being watched Many birds are perfect parcels of protein. There are plenty of predatory species which would treat them as a tasty… read more
Gannet at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – eyelids Blinking birds. Gannets are everywhere at Bempton Cliffs. I'm hoping to get a good look at their eyes. Gannets' eyes… read more
Razorbill - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – coming in to land Landing makes flying seem easy: I love the way this Guillemot is dangling its feet, like two paddles, to provide… read more
Gannet at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – staring at the sky Gannets look astonishingly alien, don't they? They're not inhabitants of this world. When they display to one another they point… read more
Puffin - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – nesting materials A Kittiwake flies past with some grass in its beak. It looks like its nest needs reinforcements: They sometimes carry… read more
Puffin at Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – Gannets, Gannets, everywhere Try going to Bempton and getting a photograph without a Gannet in it. Try it. Go on. Here's a Puffin… read more
Razorbill with chick - Bempton - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Bempton birds – eggs and chicks galore There are hundreds of thousands of seabirds here at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. I particularly love the Kittiwakes. They're such delicate,… read more

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