I've been chosen as a finalist!!

I am so excited to announce that I have been chosen as a finalist in the Nature Photography Awards being organised by the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick.  Out of the five photos that I submitted, two have been chosen to go on display with the others until 31st January 2013.  Fingers crossed for a prize!!

Aberlady Bay

Spider's web

All finalist photos are now on display at the Scottish Seabird Centre where a public vote is also taking place.  I will be taking the opportunity of visiting at some point to have a look at them all.  There were nearly 500 photos submitted, so I am so pleased to have reached this stage.  Wishing everyone the best of luck.

Isle of May - Open Seal Day

As we had been so disappointed not to be able to travel out to the Isle of May on the open lighthouse day, we had re-scheduled to go over for the open seal day on Sunday 23rd September and, as the day approached, we were eagerly watching the weather forecasts as there was a storm heading our way, scheduled to hit on Monday 24th September. 

When Sunday morning arrived, there had been no cancellation phone call so, with back pack packed with essentials like filled rolls and coffee, we headed off to North Berwick for coffee and cake in the Seabird Centre.  The weather was just lovely, so lovely in fact that we sat outside on the cafe deck for our coffee!!  I loved the 'no smoking' signs outside!!

North Berwick beach from the harbour area

 The sea was blue and fairly calm but, when we went to the office to get togged out in our waterproofs, our guide for day Maggie told us that it was almost touch and go as to whether the trip was on or not as the weather front was approaching faster than anticipated!!  However, we were cleared to go and a full boatload took off to the island. 

On arriving at the Isle of May, we were taken round to the part known as Rona as that's where most of the seals were.  It was just fantastic to see them bobbing about in the water and lounging about on the rocks.  This is a map of the Isle of May as supplied for our trip

It was quite difficult getting a photo of the seals in the water what with the movement of the boat and the fact that the seals were popping up out of the water all over the place only for me to just get focused on them before they bobbed under the water again!!  Here are a few photos that I managed to capture from the boat.

We then headed round into Kirkhaven where we all disembarked and were allowed to roam freely on our own.  We had already done the short tour with Maggie on our last visit, so we just wandered about on our own.  It was like a summer's day on the island and really quite warm to start with, although as time passed, there was a distinct change in the weather and the wind started to pick up a little.

As we walked round, I took some photos of this wonderful place.

Not just seals and birds here!!

Then came the highlight of the trip!!  At a superb vantage point, the reserves manager David Pickett was able to give people a wonderful view of a mother seal with her pup which had only been born in the previous 24 hours!!  What a truly wonderful sight.  We had to be careful though because she knew we were there and mothers can abandon their pups if disturbed too much.  I quickly took some photos then had to tear myself away!!

We then headed back to the picnic area, taking some photos along the way, plus we had a look up to the viewpoint at Bishop's Cove.

Bishop's Cove

Bishop's Cove

Looking towards the priory and the foghorn

After a welcome coffee and our rolls, I had another little wander up to the Priory and the foghorn

Priory

Priory steps

Priory

Pilgrim's Haven

Pilgrim's Haven

They were just a bit too far away to take photos, but as I was leaving here it looked like two seals were heading in, probably to give birth to their pups.

All too soon, it was time to leave as the weather was on the change and we were warned to expect a bit of a swell on the way back to North Berwick.  We all got our waterproofs and lifejackets on and headed off - sure enough, the spray was quite bad and some passengers did get pretty wet.  I was very lucky and was in one of the best seats on the boat as I was a bit sheltered  by other passengers!!  One poor girl looked as if she wasn't enjoying the journey back and had found a way of keeping relatively dry, but unfortunately wouldn't have been able to see anything!!

This is the iconic view of the Bass Rock on the way back - the while dots are all gannets!!

So, that was the trip finished, and we were back before the weather got too bad.  The storm hit us quite fiercely the very next day!!

I can't quite believe that I have been on the island twice this year within a matter of weeks, and it was just fantastic.  I sincerely hope that I will also have at least one opportunity to go back again in 2013.  It is really a very special place indeed.

Seafari to the Isle of May

Up until now, I had never ever seen a puffin apart from on TV or in pictures, and I desperately wanted to fulfill an ambition to see one.  I had seen a photography trip advertised which left North Berwick Seabird Centre out to the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth but, by the time I got round to checking it out, all the spaces were filled, so I decided to try and book a Seafari May trip instead, but time was getting tight as the puffins will be leaving shortly!!

So, taking the bull by the horns, I booked a trip for my husband and I for Wednesday 26th July as the weather forecast was good for that day - and we've not had that many good days this year!!  However, it was disappointing to hear later that the trip had to be cancelled due to lack of interest, however the good news was that we could go the next day, Thursday 27th July instead, so the trip was on!!

We set off in the morning, stopping at our local sandwich shop for some filled rolls and juice for a picnic, then headed off to North Berwick.  We popped into the Seabird Centre for a coffee first and then made our way the short distance to the harbour.  Once togged out in our waterproofs and lifejackets and a short safety talk by our guide Maggie, it was time to set off.  The weather wasn't too bad, although there were some dark grey clouds about!!  We bounced along the waves, which was great fun and, the closer we got to the Isle of May, the sea was teeming with bird life, including puffins - it was marvellous!!

We arrived on the Isle of May and took the opportunity of a short guided walk by Maggie before sitting down for our picnic lunch then some free time before gathering together for the trip back to North Berwick.  There was some picnic tables outside the small visitor centre and there are also toilets, so basic needs are catered for.  I loved our trip over there and wouldn't hesitate to recommend that other people give it a try, and I'd certainly do it all over again in a heartbeat!!

The weather held out quite well, although it did cloud over after lunch.  The thing is however, puffins don't like warm weather so, on the day we had originally booked for, most of the puffins had been out at sea and not on the island, but during our visit the weather was perfect for them and having never even seen one puffin before, I had now seen thousands!!

As you can imagine, I was busy with the camera to record my day out, so here are what I think are the best of the photos:

Make room for me, I'm coming in!!

The Viridor Puffin

Sea pinks