Scotland Day 3 Boat trip to Staffa and Lunga
This was the last full day on the Island and we had planned a boat trip out to the Treshnish Islands taking in Staffa and Lunga. For me the trip was all about trying to improve on my Auk efforts. I felt my best case would be on the Island of Lunga. We also had high hopes of Great Skua on Lunga and had heard some reports of a few of these rare breeding birds being present on Island. The Boat left from Ulva Ferry and we were soon aboard and off to Staffa. Staffa is about 6 miles west of Mull and is probably must famous for its main sea cavern known as Fingal's Cave. As we disembarked the boat we saw a pair of Black Guillemot at the top of the steps these were the only ones we saw outside of Oban. They weren't in the best place for photography so I swiftly moved on.
Puffin - Staffa, May 2021
Puffin - Staffa, May 2021
We spilt up Adrian went off on the hunt for any Skua that might be on the Island and Ricky and I went off to check out the small Puffin colony on Staffa. Wasn't long before we found a few Puffin on a cliff edge. We spend a little time here but photo opportunities weren't great and had been told Lunga was the place to get the money shots!! Adrian drew a blank with the Skua. Other birds seen on the Island were Meadow Pipits, Linnets, Fulmars, Shags, Eider Duck and a few Gulls.
Staffa, May 2021
Soon we were back on the boat and taking the short trip to Lunga. We planned again to spilt up Adrian was on a Great Skua quest and Ricky and I were hoping to spend some time photographing the Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots. I could tell Adrian was excited by his Skua quest as I have never seen him move so fast up the steep slopes to the high flat ground of the Island. Ricky and I had an amazing time with numerous Puffins and the occasional, Razorbill performing inches away from our lens. Below is a small selection of the 100s of Puffin photos I took. As with any photography session of a 100 pictures taken you only get a handful of keepers.
Puffin - Lunga, May 2021
Puffin - Lunga, May 2021
Puffin - Lunga, May 2021
Puffin - Lunga, May 2021
Puffin - Lunga, May 2021
Puffin - Lunga, May 2021
Puffin - Lunga, May 2021
I find its also important at times like this to not just focus on getting as many shots as possible but to also take in everything that's around from the amazing bird life to the stunning scenery. The scenery from here was beautiful and you could see for miles.
Lunga, May 2021
You could also hear for miles and it was as I was enjoying the landscape that I heard a noise that could only be one thing!!! A Great Skua or Bonxie as they are known by in Scotland. It was flying just above our heads on the high ground of the Island. Ricky and I headed up the steep slopes to see Adrian watching a Pair of Great Skuas that had a nest nearby. It was a new one for Adrian and his quest for the day was complete. These birds don't like people coming to close to their nest and will dive bomb anyone getting to close. We didn't hang around for long. This is really important to all of us on the trip and wether its recording a nest for the BTO or taking pictures near a nest we always limit the time spent with the birds. Some of these birds if you kept disturbing them over a long period of time could gain you some award winning photography. I feel this to be uneifficual and will walk away even if I don't get the shot I was after. There will always be another opportunity. Some people will say by just disturbing the birds its uneifficual and I understand that, but I have watched and listened to numerous knowledgeable people and I am happy that little disturbance is caused and the birds always return. Nest recording like bird photography will always be a controversial subject but that's an argument for another day.
Great Skua - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua at nest - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua nest - Lunga, May 2021
Great Skua Nest - Lunga, May 2021
Adrian carried on deeper into the island with Ricky and I went back down the slope to the Puffins. I took a short trial along the cliff face to see if I could find any better opportunities for photography or any other subjects. I sat down taking pictures of Puffins when I heard a funny sound behind me turns out I had sat right next to a Shag sat on its nest.
Shag at nest - Lunga May 2021
The Rest of the short time we had on the Island I spent with the Puffins and the Razorbills so your probably all Puffined so here are the Razorbills. Always just out of view I had to use the grassy bank to try and get something a bit different. Photographing Black and White birds can be tricky especially if the eye is Black on black feathers. If the birds are facing the wrong way with the light you lose all detail and colour of the eye (see pic 4). Lightroom helps sometime to pull that detail back but its always worth being aware of in the field. I love the bright Yellow colouring in the mouth it really stands out and these B&W birds.
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
Razorbill - Lunga, May 2021
The trip back to our digs saw us stop off at an area we had seen some people with scopes on our earlier journey. We had a good idea there maybe White-tailed Eagles in the area. This would be a lifer for me. We couldn't quite remember where we had seen them buy lucky for us there were others in the same area. Turns out it was a WTE nest site and one of the chicks was sat in a tree. Was amazing to see these huge birds just perched up in a tree. We even got lucky as both parents did a flyby and we were able to watch one fly for miles to the other side of the loch. Pictures weren't great but was an awesome experience and a lifer.
White-tailed Sea Eagle - Mull, May 2021
We stopped of at a hotel in Craignure for a bite to eat and a celebratery pint before heading home for the night.
