First gannet is spotted at the Bass Rock

THE first gannet has returned to the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, the largest single island colony of the birds in the world.

Young holiday-maker, George Roberts, 12, spotted the bird from the Scottish Seabird Centre's remote live cameras in North Berwick.

This sighting marks the start of the nesting season in the Firth of Forth, one of Europe's most important areas for seabirds.

Dr Bryan Nelson, the world's leading expert on gannets and trustee of the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick, said:

"It is food supply that dictates gannet movement.

"They spend the winter feeding and come back fitter and fatter, ready to fight for their territory and to face Scotland's challenging weather conditions."