2016 Skomer Island Participant's Portfolio

The 2016 Skomer Island Participant's Portfolio can be seen here http://www.andydavies.info/skomer%20portfolios/Skomer%20Island%20Photography%20Workshops%20Participant's%20Portfolio%202016.pdf

Puffins in flight

The puffin in flight action from last week's workshop really hotted up mid-afternoon and a variety of backgrounds were available from the diagonal stripes of the basalt rocks to the sparkling sea and the dark Wick wall.

Superb images by Sekai

Sekai has produced a stunning gallery from a recent Stackpole workshop.

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/sekai_fraser_stackpole.html

Gallery by Lexie Sibley

Lexie produced a great gallery and she is only 14!

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/lexie_sibley.html

Gallery by Sekai Fraser

It was a pleasure to be in Sekai's company for workshops last week at Skomer and Stackpole. Her Skomer gallery is here http://www.andydavies.info/…/…/2016/sekai_fraser_skomer.html

Gallery by Jean Tye

Jean's gallery is from one of my favourite weeks on Skomer when the island is painted blue and pink with flowers.

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/jean_tye.html

Gallery by Christine Launchbury

Christine's gallery has some great shots showing the comical side of the puffin's character. I really like the group image where they appear to be having a serious conversation and the shot with the two puffins gaping at each other also has a great story behind it.

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/christine_launchbury.html

Fast and Furious Puffin Action!

There was fast and furious puffin action on the two workshops this week with the puffins frantically trying to deliver their sandeels to their chicks before being mobbed by the gulls. A few pufflings also showed at the entrance to their burrows showing that all their parents efforts were worthwhile. 

A rather cute young female Atlantic grey seal was really inquisitive as we waited to get the last ferry back on Tuesday, topping off the whole exceptional wildlife experience that can had on Skomer Island.

First pufflings of 2016!

We saw the first pufflings at the entrance to their burrows on yesterday's workshop. Remarkably, they look nothing like their beautifully adorned parents but will soon have their own stunning beaks and eye ornaments. The first chicks will soon be fledging!

Tragedy averted!

Julia captured the moment when a herring gull tried to snatch a guillemot chick from just beneath us when we were waiting to get the ferry back to the mainland. Fortunately, the attacker was beaten off by the cooperative group of adults on the ledge.

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/julia_moffet.html

Gallery bu Andrea Dobson

Andrea captured some great in flight shots for a “novice”! Well done.

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/…/andrea_dobson.html

Gallery by Jayne Jenkins

Some great in flight shots by Jayne who traveled all the way from Australia to see the puffins on Skomer Island

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/jayne_jenkins.html

Skomer Island workshop 25th June

A great workshop on Skomer yesterday with the puffins battling with the strong breeze when coming in to land.

Sexy fish!

Tony captured a great shot of a "sexy" fish being presented by one guillemot to another as part of a mating ritual.

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/tony_fisher.html

A dream fulfilled!

Puffins were on Sarah's bucket list and her dream shot was to get one with a beak full of sandeels. Well done Sarah, you certainly achieved that! http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/sarah_walton.htm

Gallery by Mike Williams

Mike captured a great open beak shot http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/mike_williams.html

Gallery by Jon Bull

It’s really difficult to get a puffin in flight over North Haven but Jon managed just that! http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/jon_bull.html

Gallery by Mario Vitalini

Mario is a professional underwater photography and he's not bad on land either!

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/mario_vitalini.html

A lovely set of images from Colin Hollywood

A lovely set of images from Colin Hollywood who also captured a little owl and curlew.

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/colin_hollywood.html

Gallery by Keith Suey

Keith managed to capture many puffins in flight in this gallery

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/keith_surey.html

Gallery by Ann Grosart

Ann took some wide angle shots showing just what an amazing experience this was

http://www.andydavies.info/pa…/client/2016/ann_grossart.html

A great galley by Alannah from the first Wild West Offshore Adventure

A great galley by Alannah from the first Wild West Offshore Adventure

http://www.andydavies.info/…/client/2016/alannah_ruthen.html

Wild West Offshore Adventure

New experience!

Wild West Offshore Adventure. Details here http://www.andydavies.info/pages/workshops/grassholm.htm

And from Keith:

Another great workshop with Andy. Group of mixed ability but Andy made everybody feel comfortable with their cameras. His knowledge of photography, wildlife and Skomer are second to none as is his ability to make the whole group feel at ease. The puffins will make you smile and Andy will make you laugh, all the ingredients of a great day.

Thanks again for a wonderful day, hope to be back next year, this time for the dolphins.

Regards

Keith

Gallery by Mark Barr

Gallery by Mark Barr. He managed to capture 4 puffins in flight in one image!

http://www.andydavies.info/pages/client/2016/mark_barr.html

Skomer Workshop 11th June

I always get a buzz when I get feedback like this:

"I would like to say that the day was excellent in a number of ways:

· Your teaching style totally matched the level of people who attended the Workshop and I am sure that we all learned lot’s during the day.

· Your knowledge of the Island is fantastic and made it an interesting education on the history of Skomer.

· Last but not least, you booked the perfect weather for the day, not too hot with a little shower.

I could not have done better myself……as I set myself very high standards…

I hope to attend another of your Workshops in the future.

Thank you for an amazing day.

Many thanks

Paul"

I only wish I could take credit for arranging the weather!

Skomer Workshop 7th June 2016

A great workshop on Skomer yesterday with adult birds frequently flying in with beak-fulls of small sandeels for their newly hatched chicks. The little owl showed well and an oystercatcher was very confiding on the rocks on the track back to the ferry. A guillemot chick was seen near the landing and another pair were incubating an egg. The island is now pink with a fantastic floral display by the pink campion.