Hiatus well and truly over!

The months of April and May were not kind to me. For the first time that I can remember I didn't take any nature photos for 2 months. This was down to a variety of reasons. The weather wasn't that great thoughout the spring, birds were nest building or sitting on eggs and I was very ill and in bed for 3 or 4 weeks. Fortunately I am now better and thinner and the hiatus ended with a bang in the month of June.

Although June is only 12 days old, already I have had 3 photographic days out and have photos of Puffins, Razorbills, Brown Hare, Dipper and Gannets.

My first trip was last Saturday to the isle of Lunga. Lunga is a volcanic island which is part of the Treshnish Isles which lie a few miles off the West coast of Mull. Its neighbour Staffa is famous for its basalt columns and Fingal's Cave but for wildlife enthusiasts Lunga is the place to go. There are various boat trips from either Oban or Mull that take people out to the island where you will find Puffins, Razorbills, Shags and Guillemots.

Puffin headshot

I went on one such tour last year with a friend who is Puffin crazy. The trip went from Oban and gave us 2 hours on Lunga, 45 minutes on Staffa then 2 hours on Iona. This year Louise decided she would like more time on Lunga to play with the Puffins so she chartered a boat and off a group of us went.

Razorbill in Thrift

I'll be honest I am getting a bit blasé about Puffins and other auks. I have been to the Farne Island off the Northumberland coast more times than I care to remember. I think Lunga offers a different kind of shot. I see the Farnes in my head as 'bird on a rock' or 'bird in grass' but at Lunga there seem to be more habitats to explore. There are Puffins in flowers, Shags nesting in big rockfalls and Puffins nesting in the cracks under drystone dykes. There is also no restriction to your movement on Lunga and no landing fee!!

It was a good day out and I am happy enough with the images I came home with and they are definitely images I wouldn't have gotten on the Farnes.

Puffin nesting in a dry stone dyke

Collecting dead grass to line the burrow

Rest time

More burrow lining

My second trip was on Thursday. My Dad and I decided to take advantage of the nice spell of weather and went to Peebles for a walk and some lunch. We then went to an old family picnic spot where my family have been going for multiple generations. Last year I found a Dippers nest here and the birds are breeding here again this year. Before we got the the Dippers we passed a few fields with a number of nesting Lapwings and one field with a Brown Hare sitting low.

Flying Hare

Upon approaching the Dippers I spotted a youngster outside the nest. This was exactly what I was after because last year I got plenty of photos of the adults with food perching on the rocks before flying to the nest to feed the youngsters.  One thing I like about young Dippers is their wee short tail.  They pull off the same poses as the adults but with the short tail they look a little comical and lopsided (to me at least)

I spent a wee while with the youngster but didn't want to overdo it because I reckon it was just out the nest. While I was sitting with it the adult flew past and fed other youngsters still in the nest.

Newly fledged

Classic Dipper pose but with a short tail!

Parent bringing in a snack

My third trip was to Bass Rock for Gannets. Gannets are by far my favourite seabird. I just think they look so curious and colourful. Lots of people just see them as big white birds but they are colourful from top to toe – black bill, blue eyes, yellow head, cream body, dark feet with a neon green stripe. Whats not to love?

This was a short trip but I still rattled off over 200 photos. The Bass rock really is a Gannet city – it is the largest Northern Gannet colony in the world and it is believed that there is now no more space on the rock for breeding pairs so other colonies elsewhere are expanding.

Love

On the trip there is an opportunity for every type of Gannet photo. Flight shots are plentiful, shots of birds in the water, shots of birds on nest, behavioural shots of birds etc. I'd thoroughly recommend it. If anyone wants any more info get in touch.

Nest guarding

A pair watching the passing boats

I like the sense of context in this one with the out of focus Gannets behind the flying bird

Off to fish

Not much else to report. I was hoping to be getting some young Peregrine shots around now but the birds at the Falls of Clyde have failed this year. I'm not sure what my next target will be. I am heading up to Inverness for a friends 30^th at the end of the month so might detour to Chanonry Point for some Dolphins. If I do you'll see them here first!

Cheers

Neil