The Bass Rock (2014.171)

We went down to Seacliffs beach, which is a bit quieter than others that are closer to Edinburgh. That makes it easier to manage the dog, who still goes insane when she sees other living things. There's also a lot of nice scenery and rocks to play with.

This shot is of the Bass Rock (note: Bass in this instance rhymes with 'gas', not with 'face').

The Bass is approximately 2km offshore in the Firth of Forth. At its highest point, it's a little over 100m, and is inhabited solely by a large colony of gannets. Birds in flight are clearly visible as white specks.

The island is protected because of the gannet colony, although it is possible to do photographic boat tours from the nearby seabird centre in North Berwick. The centre has also installed a number of solar-powered high definition cameras, which make it possible to watch the birds from the mainland.