Helgoland

Helgoland is an island that falls under German jurisdiction. In order to get to Helgoland, one can take a ferry from Hamburg, which is exactly what I did in May of 2023. Arriving in Helgoland, the first thing I noticed was how red the sand was, and this came into full effect when observing the nesting cliffs of its residential seabirds. The cliffs are covered in nesting seabirds, ranging from a variety of auk species (Razorbills and Guillemots) to the largest European seabird, the gannet. 

During this 3-night stay, my focus was on photographing gannets. With a wingspan of around 165-185 cm, this bird was an amazing sight and being able to see them in such a volume was a privilege. Helgoland allows you to get relatively close to these nesting birds but places a fence to ensure no one gets too close for comfort. During my trip, I took many photos, which you can see below, and was even able to take videos of some of the colonies' behaviour.