Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/2016/07/05/ians-memories-of-skomers-puffins/ # Ian’s Memories of Skomer’s Puffins Published on July 5, 2016 [![Flying Against The Rain One Of The Skomer Puffins Braves The Weather Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flying-against-the-rain-one-of-the-skomer-puffins-braves-the-weather-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flying-against-the-rain-one-of-the-skomer-puffins-braves-the-weather-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) I count myself fortunate; I’ve been able to take photos from [Alaska](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/wildlife-in-alaska/) to South Georgia, [India](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/asia/india/) to the Masai Mara. What’s the relevance to Skomer? Well, Skomer, on our own doorstep, presents one of the more challenging environments to ‘get the shot’, the shot being that of **Skomer’s Puffins**. ![A Puffin Lands At The Wick With A Mouthful Of Sand Eels Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/a-puffin-lands-at-the-wick-with-a-mouthful-of-sand-eels-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) Put aside the “will I get there” conundrum – it’s only a 15 minute boat ride, but if the wind’s from the North & over 10 knots, “you ain’t going” (been there, done that), the climb once you get there (87 steps carrying everything you brought – teamwork to the rescue – you make friends quickly), & the basic living conditions (all very comfortable & clean, but ‘snug’ bedrooms, solar battery powered lighting, & the prospect of a cool shower (if you time it wrong!). **The real challenge is your reason for being there – puffins.** ![A Puffin Calling At The Wick Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/a-puffin-calling-at-the-wick-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) Those loveable, comical, ‘clowns of the sea’ are not very big (woodpecker-ish size), fly surprisingly quickly, are aiming straight for their burrows on landing, & are flying an unpredictable course so they can avoid being pounced upon by the gulls who want an easy meal. ![One Of Skomers Puffins Returns To Further Line Its Nest Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/one-of-skomers-puffins-returns-to-further-line-its-nest-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) **Put all that together &, at times, you have little more than a second to acquire your ‘target’, get the camera to focus, & then maintain that focus whilst you track & ‘machine-gun’ it with the shutter button!** Make no mistake, on this photographic holiday, **you will be challenged**. Thank heavens for digital, because **the ‘delete’ rate is phenomenal**, especially until you get your eye in, learning the flight patterns, how the birds use the wind, & sharpen your technique. Black & white blurs with a hint of orange against a dark background could easily be the Skomer signature shot! ![Flying Against The Rain One Of The Skomer Puffins Braves The Weather Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/flying-against-the-rain-one-of-the-skomer-puffins-braves-the-weather-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) **Sounds fun! I’m not trying to put you off. In fact quite the opposite.** Puffins are a brilliant subject, Skomer is an excellent location, & with **NaturesLens** you get the privilege of staying on the island for 3 nights, & **the opportunity to shoot in the glorious morning & evening light**. What’s more, given clear conditions, the ‘dark sky’ environment means that astro-photography will keep you awake all night. With the NaturesLens leaders, you get on-hand technique guidance, suggested camera settings, & ideas for location/framing etc. Hell, they’ll even cook dinner for you! The June 2016 holiday was a bit of a trial. The night before we sailed, the wind was high & from the North. By 8am the next morning, it was almost flat calm. First hurdle complete – we sailed. First day weather was almost perfect, good light & a bit of wind which slowed the puffins down a bit on landing. ![Skomer Island Is Home To Many Other Bird Species Such As This Meadow Pippit Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/skomer-island-is-home-to-many-other-bird-species-such-as-this-meadow-pippit-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) However, by evening, it was drizzling & that continued through the next day, turning to low cloud, rain & stronger wind. But, guess what, we still went out, getting the shots in different light & proving the waterproofing of modern cameras! We got a roaring fire going in the residents quarters, dried off waterproofs & cameras, & anxiously watched the weather forecast. There was mixed enthusiasm to go out that evening! The final day the weather was due to clear & it did. The wind dropped almost completely & the puffins became a real test – popping up over the cliff edge at a high rate of knots & heading straight for home. The air was blue with frustration. ![Literally The Last Rays Of Sun Setting Over Skomer Island Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/literally-the-last-rays-of-sun-setting-over-skomer-island-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) But **we still got the shots & puffin portraiture became a ‘go to’ option**. In addition, as it was a Monday, there were no day trippers & we spread out all over the island, taking advantage of the quiet atmosphere to seek out the great variety of land & sea birds, seals, & lizards. ![Incoming A Gullemot Attempts A Landing On One Of The Skomer Cliff Faces Photographed During The Natureslens Skomers Puffins Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/incoming-a-gullemot-attempts-a-landing-on-one-of-the-skomer-cliff-faces-photographed-during-the-natureslens-skomers-puffins-photography-holiday.jpg) Departure day dawned cloudy but we still went looking for the sunrise. Let’s say it wasn’t a stunner, but some of us got a good hour with a **Little Owl** that was pottering about inland, & others went back to The Wick for a final fix of [puffin](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/puffins/) before catching the boat back to the mainland. Those 3 days went so quickly & were so much fun. ## Photograph Atlantic Puffins for Yourself If Skomer’s [puffins](https://natureslens.co.uk/for/puffins/) are on your wish list, explore our current [Atlantic Puffin photography holidays](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/atlantic-puffin/). Our small-group wildlife photography holidays are designed around light, behaviour, & access, with experienced guidance & single occupancy accommodation included as standard across the majority of trips. ## Share this post - - - - [![Beautifully Reflected In The Waters Of Kerkini A Quartet Of The Pelicans Photographed By Tony Berry During One Of The 2019 Natureslens Dalmatian Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Photography Tours](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/beautifully-reflected-in-the-waters-of-kerkini-a-quartet-of-the-pelicans-photographed-by-tony-berry-during-one-of-the-2019-natureslens-dalmatian-pelicans-of-lake-kerkini-photography-tours.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/03/23/mesmerizing-dalmatian-pelicans-of-kerkini/) ### [12 mesmerizing images of the Dalmatian Pelicans of Kerkini](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/03/23/mesmerizing-dalmatian-pelicans-of-kerkini/) March 23, 2019 Earlier this year, Tony attended our Dalmatian Pelicans of Kerkini photography holiday. 2019 saw the return of snow & ice… - [![A Lesser Kestrel Rests On The Tiles Of A Derelict Barn Photographed During One Of The Natureslens Photography Holidays To Spain](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/a-lesser-kestrel-rests-on-the-tiles-of-a-derelict-barn-photographed-during-one-of-the-natureslens-photography-holidays-to-spain.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/07/18/birdlife-of-spains-plains-of-calera/) ### [15 images of the diverse birdlife of Spain’s plains of Calera](https://natureslens.co.uk/2019/07/18/birdlife-of-spains-plains-of-calera/) July 18, 2019 In this second trip report on the birdlife of Spain, I look back at our week in Calera. We arrived… - [![Illuminated By The Softer Evening Light This Puffin Poses For A Classic Skomer Image Photographed During The Natureslens Atlantic Puffins Of Skomer Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/illuminated-by-the-softer-evening-light-this-puffin-poses-for-a-classic-skomer-image-photographed-during-the-natureslens-atlantic-puffins-of-skomer-photography-holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2018/11/16/puffins-of-skomer/) ### [Puffins of Skomer by Sue](https://natureslens.co.uk/2018/11/16/puffins-of-skomer/) November 16, 2018 Sue attended our Puffins of Skomer photography holiday in June & has kindly sent in some of her images to… Next step ### Find your next wildlife photography holiday Browse small-group trips by destination, subject, season and photographic goal. 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