glesenptpl

SOL/LUNA editorial · CAL table

glesenptpl

SOL/LUNA editorial · CAL table

Species

Northern gannet

Morus bassanus

The northern gannet is a large pale seabird that plunge-dives. Concentrations of diving gannets can mark feeding activity near the surface.

What it is

A large seabird known for plunge-diving.

Where to notice it

Exposed coast, offshore feeding zones, headland viewpoints.

When to notice it

During active feeding or movement periods.

Why it matters

Helps people connect bird behavior with marine productivity.

Questions

What animals can you see from the Galician coast?

From the Galician coast, people may see seabirds, dolphins, occasionally porpoises or whales offshore, and many intertidal animals at low tide such as anemones, crabs, mussels, and sea urchins. Rocky shores, rías, and headland lookouts hold different communities. What you notice depends on habitat, season, tide, and sea state. Low tide opens the rockpools. Feeding birds gather where food is near the surface. None of that is a guaranteed list for a given hour.

Keep reading
Ocean life of the Galician coast: a field guideWhy seabirds can reveal feeding activity offshore
species-cardocean-lifeseabirdsgaliciaspecies

Written by the Atalaia team. Atlas of the Atlantic. Method at /about.