Thursday 11 June 2009

Puffins prove Popular

Not that long ago, I had the good fortune to spend a week on the Northumberland coast. I noticed a sign on the harbourside advertising boat trips to the Farne Islands. These rocky outcrops were, I was assured, smothered in sea birds and I would see . . . Puffins! So I took a chance and ventured on a sea voyage. After an hour or so, we arrived at one island and stepped ashore. It was exhilirating. You progressed along rope lined walkways and the birds were literally a couple of feet away and quite unfussed by the presence of humans. What a fantastic few hours I spent there and came away with some reasonable snaps. Here are just three.



11 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos, amazing birds.

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  2. What great photos, it must have been so exciting for you to have the opportunity to photograph these beautiful birds.

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  3. Lovely, the second is amazing.

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  4. Now that is a change of pace ! From green men & women to puffins on a distant sea isle... I'm a huffin' and a puffin' just to keep up runnin' after you... I think the Sagittarian would say... what a lucky sod you are !

    I was trying to remember where long ago I had read a piece of writing about the green men, and was wondering if it wasn't perhaps in one of John Fowle's books ??? Does that ring a bell with you ? While trying to remember I found myself flipping through my copy of "Thomas Hardy's England" by J.Fowles and Jo Draper ; are you familiar with that one ? It is full of old photos that I imagine you'd like... but then, I'd wager you have a copy already, no ?

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  5. I don't know if I've ever wanted to cuddle a creature so much. Really lovely photos!

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  6. Great shots! I'm in love with Puffins!

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  7. Breath-taking photos! I love puffins; I saw plenty of them in Ireland some years ago. They are really the clowns of the sea-birds.

    /Ande

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  8. A big reaction to these photos - thank you all for your kind comments. As Ande says, in close up, they are like little clowns tumbling around!
    Laurie

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  9. Oh, I want one! They are so cute! I noticed they're not inhabiting the side of a cliff but a turret of an ancient castle. I wonder if some of them have settled inside the opening under the wooden bar? Amazing brilliant yellow decorative guano! Did you see The March of the Penguins? Painted a much grimmer picture for penguins.

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  10. What beautiful birds. Yes, I agree with Once Upon a Blue Crow... "love those faces." Cartoonish and serious.

    Thanks for sharing these photos.

    ananji

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