The Scottish Seabird Centre Nature Photography Awards

Well, it's that time of the year again, with the deadline drawing near to get photos submitted for the Scottish Seabird Centre's Nature Photography Awards.  I was really lucky last year to have two of my photos chosen for the finals, and I decided to give it another go this year, although I'm not full of hope for this year at all.  I think I've been trying too hard to get that 'perfect shot'!!

However, I have managed to submit six photos prior to the deadline which is the 27th of October, so fingers crossed.  One of the photos I submitted last year that made it through to the finals was only submitted a few days prior to last year's deadline! 

These are my photos for this year, so keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Bee on Lavender (Scottish Wildlife category) taken in my neighbour's garden

Dandelion Sunset (Creative Visions of Nature category) taken down at the beach

Don't speak with your mouth full (Scottish Wildlife category) Puffin taken out at the Isle of May

Jiminy Cricket (Worldwide Wildlife category) taken in Egypt

Suspended Animation (Creative Visions of Nature category) snail shell caught in a spider's web

Day of the Aphid (Scottish Wildlife category) tiny aphid climbing on dead moss seed heads

Another trip to the Isle of May

I'm a bit late in doing this post, but on the 7th July we took another trip over to the Isle of May, and what a trip it was!!  The weather couldn't have been better with blue skies, brilliant sunshine and a calm sea.  We travelled down to North Berwick and had breakfast at the Seabird Centre before setting off on the RIB with our guide Maggie.

The RIB

The puffin from the Seabird Centre waved us off on our journey!!

And this is the new boat that also does cruises from the Seabird Centre - the Seafari Explorer

Seafari Explorer

We passed close by the Bass Rock on our way there - it was just teeming with gannets!!

Once onto the Isle of May, we had to be careful while disembarking as we had to pass through where the terns were nesting and where lots of little tern chicks were running about!  The terns don't like this very much and they do swoop down to attack as you walk past!!

The last time I visited the Isle of May to see puffins, I was astounded as to how many were on the island, but it had been a little later in the season compared to this visit, and I was even more astounded as to the huge numbers of puffins I could see!!  Also, on the last visit, I hadn't seen any of the puffins with a catch of sand eels in their beaks,  but this visit was very different, and almost everywhere I turned there was a puffin with a beak full of sand eels!!

But it's not all about the birds - here are some views of the island itself

Palpitation Brae

Pilgrims Rock

 

Steps

All in all, we had a great day, including having our picnic lunch over on the island.  Not be be content with this trip, we have another one booked for September to have a tour round the three lighthouses on the island, so fingers crossed that the weather remains calm and dry for that one too!! 

Photo Competition

I've decided to have another attempt at a photo competition and have entered the following photos, so fingers crossed!!  I'm really not holding out much hope of having a winner, but it's fun to take part!!  Here's what I've entered:

Single Puffin

Aberlady Bay

Collecting Nectar

Ruffled Feathers