Photographing Puffins on Staffa
Introducing Staffa
Staffa is an uninhabited island in the Inner Hebrides, just west of Mull. I had been keen to go there for a while and photograph their puffin colony.
How to get to Staffa
That is a real adventure, driving to Oban in time for breakfast at the Calmac Ferry Terminal and then clutching a collection of tickets, purchased with one package price from Staffa Tours off on the first part of the journey with a ferry from Oban to Mull. Arriving at Craignure on Mull, it was time to board a coach to get across the island to Fionnphort. From there, we transferred onto a boat to travel to Staffa.
Visiting Fingal's Cave
Composer Felix Mendelssohn visited the dramatic Fingal's Cave in 1829 and wrote an overture, The Hebrides, after being inspired by the caves.
Photographing Puffins on Staffa
The best time to see puffins is during their breeding season, between the start of May and the start of August. Just climb to the top of the cliffs, and if the birds aren't already there, wait. They will soon fly in and get closer and closer.
It's worth having a long lens to get some close-ups without disturbing the birds. So here are some of my photographs of the beautiful puffins on Staffa.
Visit the Isle of Staffa
This trip is a great adventure and includes a stop on the way back to Iona, but that's for another article. If you love the combination of landscapes and nature for photography, you'll love this trip.
If the seas are too rough at Staffa, then sadly, the boat won't land, as it is not safe to do so, this makes the trip understandably risky, as you may not get to see the puffins.
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Departing Staffa
As the boat takes you away from Staffa, look back for one last view of Fingal's Cave.
About Paul
Paul Saunders, a professional photographer, is based in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, photographing weddings, families and businesses throughout Scotland. He also runs popular short photography training courses.
Visit Paul’s other websites Paul Saunders Marketing & See Loch Lomond.
Thanks for reading this blog about photographing puffins on Staffa.
