Tag Archives: puffin

Gone Fishing

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At this time of the year it is crucial for the puffin to regularly go fishing in order to collect as many sand eels, herring or sprats to ensure the survival of their demanding and hungry pufflings.  These shots were taken on inner Farne and as you can see the bigger beakful of fish the better.

Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

It’s a hard life being a Puffin

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A puffin’s lot is certainly not easy – constant visits back and forward to the sea in order to ensure the survival of their pufflings.  The following shots demonstrate the daily struggle for a puffin trying to fend off the black headed gulls in order to protect their bounty (sand eels the official terminology) and ensure their young do not go hungry.  Having observed this at close quarters it was evident that the small build of the puffin gave it the manoeuvrability and speed to more often than not protect their hoard of sand eels.

Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Just Chillin

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A puffin on the precipice contemplating what to do next – go fishing, make pufflings or perhaps just chill?  This shot was taken on the Farne Islands and although quite simplistic and empty it somehow still retains a sense of atmosphere.

Puffin

Puffin

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Puffins in Flight

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Here are a few in-flight shots of one of our favourite birds, the Puffin, taken at the Farne Islands during the breeding season. These little birds work their socks off, constantly bringing in sand eels and other small fish to feed their pufflings who hungrily wait in their burrow.  If that is not enough, upon arrival at the burrow these little birds have to use their speed and agility to dodge the waiting gulls who are always ready to pounce and steal their beakfulls of fish.  Look out for future posts showing this daily battle.

Puffin in Flight
Puffins in Flight
Puffin in Flight

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Arctic Terns In-Flight

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I recently went on my first ever photographic trip to the Farne Islands which are located off the coast of Northumberland.  The aim of the day was to view and photograph the annual event of numerous species of breeding sea birds, including puffins, razorbills and guillemots, which inhabit the islands during the summer months.  I did not expect the trip to disappoint and I was proved correct;  the noise and stench of tens of thousands of sea birds was chaotic and quite simply a spectacle to behold.  Although much documented, an encounter with an arctic tern is both noisy and interesting – they will do anything to protect their chicks, and a peck on the head from what is quite a powerful beak requires the wearing of a hat.  Notwithstanding this, the arctic terns are an elegant looking sea bird and appear quite angelic, particularly when in-flight.

A trio of Arctic Terns
A vocal warning from an Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.