Yes, there are boobies in the UK! Boobies, also known as blue-footed boobies, are a type of seabird found in various parts of the world, including scattered populations in the United Kingdom. While not as numerous as in warmer climates, some booby colonies can be found on the rocky islands and cliffs of the UK. In this article, we’ll take a look at where boobies can be spotted, their identifying features, nesting and breeding habits, conservation status, and more about these fascinating birds in the context of the United Kingdom.
What are Boobies?
Boobies are a genus of seabird closely related to gannets and belonging to the Sulidae family. There are six species of boobies worldwide, with three species found in the UK:
- Northern Gannet – The largest booby species found in the UK. Nested in large colonies on rocky cliffs and islands. Distinctive white plumage with black wingtips.
- Masked Booby – A vagrant species in the UK. Rarely seen outside of southern England and Ireland. Mostly white with a black “mask” across eyes and bill.
- Brown Booby – Also a UK vagrant. Very rarely spotted. Brown plumage with white belly and undertail.
Some key identifying features of boobies include:
- Large, sulidae-type seabirds with long, pointed wings
- Long, pointed bills used for plunge diving to catch prey
- Webbed feet set far back on the body
- Males and females look identical
- Make grunting, honking sounds
While the word “booby” may bring giggles to some, these sea birds get their name from the Spanish word “bobo” meaning “foolish” or “clown”, likely owing to their clumsy walking on land contrasted with graceful swimming and diving.
Where to Spot Boobies in the UK
The northern gannet is the booby most commonly seen around the UK’s shores. Some key places they can be spotted include:
- Bass Rock, Scotland – Home to over 150,000 breeding pairs, the world’s largest northern gannet colony.
- St. Kilda, Scotland – 60,000 breeding pairs spread across the archipelago’s sea stacs.
- Little Skellig, Ireland – Ireland’s largest gannet colony with over 20,000 breeding pairs.
- Grassholm, Wales – 11,000 breeding pairs nest on this small island off the Welsh coast.
- Ailsa Craig, Scotland – 14,000 pairs nest on this distinctive dome-shaped sea stack.
- Hermaness, Scotland – 7,000 pairs nest on cliffs at the northern tip of Unst in Shetland.
- Bempton Cliffs, England – Yorkshire spot with over 10,000 pairs nesting along the high white cliffs.
- Fair Isle, Scotland – Important northern gannet breeding site midway between Orkney and Shetland.
These large Northern Gannet colonies provide excellent opportunities for birdwatchers to observe the birds engaging in courtship displays, nest-building, rearing young, and taking dramatic dives into the ocean to catch fish. Boat tours allow for closer viewing opportunities around many gannet nesting sites.
As vagrant species in the UK, Masked and Brown Boobies are infrequently encountered outside of southern England and Ireland. Your best chance of spotting them is along the southern coasts of Cornwall and Devon in England and around Ireland’s southwestern shores, though sightings anywhere in the UK are possible. These tropical species can occasionally get blown off course by Atlantic storms to reach UK shores.
Habits and Characteristics
Here are some key facts about the habits and characteristics of boobies found in the UK:
Diet
– Mainly fish like mackerel, herring, and sand eels
– Also squid and crustaceans
– Hunt by spectacular plunge diving from heights of 30-100 ft
Breeding
– Form large nesting colonies on cliffs and rocky sea stacks
– Breeding season April to September
– Males perform display by pointing bills upwards, stretching necks, and grunting
– Nests made of seaweed, grass, and feathers
– Usually lay 1-2 eggs per season
– Both parents incubate eggs and care for young
– Chicks hatch after 42-46 days, fledge after 2-3 months
Characteristics
– Excellent fliers and swimmers, clumsy walkers on land
– Long pointed blue-gray bill adapted for catching fish
– Mature gannets have 6ft wingspan and weigh up to 6 lbs
– Juveniles are dark brown until age 2-5 when white plumage develops
– Northern gannets may live up to 20-25 years
– Masked boobies distinguished by black “mask” and yellow bill
– Brown boobies smallest species, get name from brown plumage
Conservation Status
Northern gannets remain a numerous and widespread species in the UK and North Atlantic. However, there are some conservation concerns:
– Vulnerable to oil spills, marine pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing of prey species
– Climate change affects fish stocks and may impact breeding
– Introduced predators can threaten nesting colonies
– Entanglement in fishing gear remains a problem
Masked boobies and brown boobies have a conservation status of “Least Concern” globally but are very rare vagrants in the UK. Any UK sightings are important to monitor population numbers visiting Britain’s shores.
Overall, Northern Gannet populations appear sustainable at the moment around the UK thanks to active conservation measures. However, habitat protection at main breeding colonies and reducing marine threats remains essential to ensure the future survival of these spectacular UK boobies. Any sightings of rarer species in British waters are also important to report to wildlife monitoring programs.
Interesting Booby Facts
Beyond their key identification features, breeding habits, and conservation status, here are some more fascinating facts about UK boobies:
- The blue feet of northern gannets are used in mating displays
- A group of boobies can be called a “colony”, “flock”, or “consortship”
- Northern gannet pairs may remain together over several breeding seasons
- The Masked booby got its name from pirate and explorer Captain William Dampier in 1681
- Brown boobies have been recorded dive-bombing underwater predators that may attack their chicks
- Male boobies perform “sky-pointing” courtship displays to impress females
- Legend says the northern gannet guided sailors to land by circling above shoals of fish
- Northern gannets swallow over 60 different fish each day on average
- Boobies have a subcutaneous air sac under their skin to help cushion impact when plunging into water
- Booby parents feed chicks by regurgitating partially digested fish into their mouths
Conclusion
While not the most common bird in the UK, the Northern Gannet remains an iconic British seabird, most numerous in Scotland but found nesting around cliffsites all over the UK. Their spectacular diving behaviour, identifying plumage, large nesting colonies, and place in maritime folklore make them a favourite sight for birdwatchers. Though global populations remain healthy, efforts to protect booby habitat and reduce threats at sea are still needed to safeguard these fascinating UK birds into the future.