The Farnes
The guys on UK Bird Photographers had decided on a get-together on the Farnes for the Puffins and their supporting cast of Shags, Razorbills, Guillemots and Terns.
I was more than happy to tag along!
In the days running up to the trip (we were doing the all-day, two island birdwatching tour run by Billy Shiels) I stressed over the likelihood (actually, I was convinced it was a certainty) that I’d be seasick: I can get seasick looking at a bottle of Old Spice and was convinced that I’d be ill on the day.
I watched the weather forecast particularly closely in the run-up to the trip!
As it happens, a combination of light winds, a stable boat, Stugeron tablets and fists-full of crystallised ginger meant that I had no problems whatsoever.
We approached the first of the two islands on the itinerary, Staple Island, where the local Grey seals seemed completely unconcerned by our presence (note that the boat was bouncing up and down like a fairground ride when I took these – don’t you love image stabilised lenses?):
Grey Seal
Grey Seal
I had to laugh when one of the boat’s passengers said “yep, smells like we’re getting closer…” – the pong of guano was indeed very obvious as we got closer: adds to the ambiance, I suppose!
Off the boat, and straight away we were within feet of Puffins: I know that’s what you’re meant to expect of the Farnes, but the reality of it is still a surprise – albeit it one you come quickly to terms with.
It was raining initially, but these two images are the better for the streaks of rain – the image with the hidden beak really seems to say “yes I’m waterproof – doesn’t mean I have to like this weather..!”
Puffin
Puffin
Then it was time for the traditional “Puffin Flight Shot”. Because I don’t really have the optimal kit for shooting fast-flying small birds I’d already decided I wasn’t going to waste too much time trying for PIFs, but – well, it’s kinda addictive..!
Puffin in flight
Puffin in flight
Once I got that out of my system, it was more Puffins:
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Shags:
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
Shag
Guillemots: I was particularly keen on getting images of Guillemots doing this odd silent head-toss action, and although I’m happy enough with these, the light was all wrong, with the Sun being above and in front. I had to PP them pretty heavily to get them to look half decent.
Guillemot
Guillemot
I stuffed the exposure with this one, and managed to chop the toes off too. I had to add the feet from another frame in the sequence!
Guillemot
I was also looking to get an image of the “bridled” form of the Guillemot, and again had to work at this because of the light:
Guillemot
After a while it was time to visit the next island, Inner Farne, famed for its psychotic Arctic Terns. Sure enough, photo opportunities abounded, but – to be honest – none of my Tern images do anything for me: they’re fine and all, but meh…
Besides, one of the little darlings crapped all over my camera!
In fact although I got loads more nice images of Puffins, Shags, Guillemots – and Razorbills – my favourite from Inner Farne was this Black Headed Gull:
Black Headed Gull
And that was that.
I really enjoyed the day. It was good to catch up with some of the lads I met at the Norfolk get-together and to put names to faces, and I’m very grateful to my buddy Mark Mowbray for the lift to and from Seahouses.
It would have been nice I suppose, if there’d been less people than birds on the islands – they were heaving – but at least everyone was there for the right reasons, and there was no dogshit to worry about!
I’ll certainly go again, but one trip a year will be enough, I think…
Hi Keith, brilliant stuff! I am hoping to get to the Farnes (or any of the UK’s accessible seabird islands) someday, in fact I have promised myself I’ll go next year.
Your photos are superb. However, I do have a complaint about your blog – there’s not enough! I want to see more! Your candid remarks are spot on and I always find myself nodding in agreement about dogshit, etc.
Cheers
Fay (aka ‘Vectisbirder’)
Great report Keith, wish I could write decent reviews but my literature skills have never been my strong point.
You are always welcome for a lift whenever I head out anywhere infact i’m heading off to WWT Washington soon if you wanna come along.
PIF’s are alot harder to get than I imagined but I managed a few decent shots all in i’m more than happy with what I acheived on the Farnes and can’t wait to get back out there next season for some more puffin fun!
Thanks Fay, I really appreciate your kind comments, and – believe me – there’d be more postings if I didn’t live in such a bloody awful place to be a bird ‘tog..!
Hi Mark, yeah, I know you’re happy to find space in the car for me, but it’s still right that I should express my gratitude.
Some of your PIFs are really nice too – we might not get as many good images as the lads with the Mk 1s and long fast primes, but it’s amazing what our kit (Mark uses a 30D and 100-400mm, I use a 40D and 100-400mm) will do if we put a bit of effort in!
I’ll take a rain check on Washington if you don’t mind – thanks of course, but I struggle to build up any real enthusiasm for “plastic” birds.
Now if they were to put some “cat flaps” in the Wader hide..!
Cracking shots mate, and a nice site you have here. Drop me an email, been a while since we last chatted….
Mark
Thanks Mark – and good to hear from you again.
Funnily enough, I was just thinking that it’s been a while!
I’ll be in touch.
Hi Keith
Great stuff!. You’ve got some terrific puffins there and I know how hard those flight shots are from my trip to Great Saltee. We’ve got puffins on Skomer not far from us but I’ve never been. Perhaps I ought to tackle my local ones before trekking up to the frozen North!
Cheers
Tim
Thanks, Tim.
I was pretty pleased with the flight shots, I admit – especially given the gear I was using – and I find myself wondering how much easier the 7D’s AF would make the job.
I get the feeling that Skomer would be a better experience than the Farnes: with the Farnes you’re very restricted to where you can go, with huge areas of the islands roped off, meaning that often you’ve got little control over the light and composition.
I just get the sense that you’ve got more “right to roam” at Skomer than on the Farnes.
Don’t get me wrong, the roping-off is for very good reasons, but it doesn’t seem to be necessary for Skomer.
And of course, you get to stay longer on Skomer too, if you want…
Good to hear from you again, Tim.
Hello Keith,
You must have got and completely ignored my last mail ?
Thank you very much Keith.
Kind regards,
John.
Didn’t ignore it, didn’t see it – and I know about 50 “Johns”.
Can you give me a bit more of a clue?