Gannet over the Sefton Coast: Autumn Seawatching Begins
21 August 2026
The northern gannet is the largest seabird in the North Atlantic and one of the most striking birds you can see from any British beach. From late August through to November, gannets pass the Sefton Coast in numbers as post-breeding birds disperse from their Scottish colonies. Formby Point is the best place to watch them from on this stretch of coast.
About the Species
The northern gannet (Morus bassanus) breeds in large colonies on remote headlands and sea stacks around Britain and Ireland, with the largest colonies on Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, St Kilda, Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire, and sites in Ireland and Wales. After the breeding season, both adults and juveniles disperse widely through the waters of the North Atlantic and North Sea.
Adult gannets are unmistakable: large, cigar-shaped body, brilliant white plumage, golden-yellow head, and black wingtips that span nearly 2 metres. The pointed bill is pale blue-grey. In flight the wingbeats are slow and powerful interspersed with long glides, and the silhouette is unlike any other seabird.
Juvenile gannets are brown with white spotting that gradually decreases over five years as they reach adult plumage. First-year birds are sooty-brown overall. The transition through intermediate plumages means that in a passing group of gannets, birds of several different ages can be identified by the amount of white in the plumage.
The gannet's diving behaviour is one of the most dramatic in British wildlife. A hunting bird will fold its wings and plunge from 20 to 40 metres above the sea surface, entering the water at speeds up to 100 kilometres per hour. Subcutaneous air sacs absorb the impact. Gannets hunt mackerel, herring, and other shoaling fish. When you see a group plunge-diving, there is usually a fish shoal beneath them.
When Gannets Pass the Sefton Coast
The first autumn gannets appear off the Sefton Coast from late July as post-breeding adults begin to wander from their colonies. Numbers build through August and peak from September through November as the full autumn migration movement gets underway.
Gannets are present throughout the year in Irish Sea waters, but the autumn movement represents a significant increase in the numbers passing any given point. On a good seawatching day with a westerly or north-westerly wind, hundreds of gannets can pass Formby Point in a few hours.
The timing within any given day is important. Gannets tend to be most visible on days with onshore winds that push seabirds closer to the coast. Calm days with offshore winds are poor for seawatching. A fresh to strong westerly with visibility of several miles is the ideal seawatching condition on the Sefton Coast.
Seawatching from Formby Point
Formby Point is the most westerly headland on the Sefton Coast and the best seawatching location on this stretch. It sits at the end of the National Trust nature reserve, accessed from the Victoria Road car park (L37 1YH) via the squirrel trail and beach path. The walk from the car park to the point is approximately 30 minutes.
The point itself is the southern end of a stretch of dunes and beach that extends north toward Ainsdale. In onshore wind conditions, birds are pushed close to the coastline and pass within comfortable binocular distance of anyone watching from the dune ridge above the beach.
Equipment: binoculars are the minimum. A telescope on a tripod is significantly better for identifying birds at distance, particularly for picking out juvenile gannets in mixed plumage from other large seabirds. A wind-resistant jacket is essential even in August. The exposed point has no shelter.
Seawatching requires patience and a systematic approach. Pick a reference point on the horizon and scan consistently rather than chasing individual birds. Allow your eyes to adjust to the conditions. In good autumn weather the sky and sea line can be full of movement once you are tuned in to it.
What Else Passes Formby Point in Autumn
Gannets are the headline species but autumn seawatching from Formby Point produces a wide range of birds alongside them. Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) passes in small numbers in August and September: a stiff-winged, banking flight low over the sea, dark above and white below. Skuas begin to pass from August: Arctic Skua most frequently, Pomarine Skua less so. Both species are best identified by size, tail structure and the way they harass gulls and terns.
Sandwich Tern and Common Tern move south through August in numbers. They are easily picked out from gulls by the faster wingbeats and the constant bill-pointing downward toward the water as they search for fish.
In strong north-westerly gales from September onward, Leach's Storm-petrel can appear close inshore: tiny, bat-like, distinctive bounding flight. These are rare enough to be notable but not rare enough to be unexpected in suitable conditions. The same conditions that produce Leach's Storm-petrel can also bring Grey Phalarope (small wader, swimming on the sea surface) close inshore.
Practical Notes
Best conditions: fresh to strong westerly or north-westerly wind, good visibility. Check the wind forecast before travelling specifically for seawatching. A calm day will produce much less than a windy one.
Best time of day: seawatching is generally better from mid-morning as birds begin to move actively. Dawn watches can be productive but the light is challenging early on a west-facing coast.
Car park: Victoria Road, Formby, L37 1YH. National Trust car park, booking via the NT app recommended on weekends.
Walk time to the point: approximately 30 minutes each way. The path can be soft sand in places. Wear appropriate footwear.
Species covered in this post
About the author
Ed
Ed has been walking the Sefton Coast since the 1980s. He keeps a yearly bird tally, owns more waterproof jackets than he'd care to admit, and has strong opinions about which hide has the best light in the morning. Retired geography teacher. Still gets up at five.