Seabird Photography Adventure on the Isle of May – July 2025 Tucked off the east coast of Scotland, the Isle of May National Nature Reserve is a dream for wildlife and photography enthusiasts alike - especially during seabird breeding season. My trip in early July 2025 turned out to be more thrilling and rewarding than I had imagined, thanks to an unexpected boat change, incredible wildlife encounters, and a few lucky early moments of solitude with the stars of the island— the Puffins . A puffin staring right at the lens, proud of its catch. Getting There: A Wild Ride on the North Sea Originally, I had booked a standard boat tour with BlueWild from Dunbar harbour, but due to a last-minute issue with the vessel the night before, our journey was downgraded - well, depending on how you look at it - to a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) . What followed was a wild, wind-whipped ride across the North Sea , bouncing over waves with little warning. Thankfully, our guide kindly offered me a spar...
Continued from Part - I Day 4: Hide-Hopping A full day dedicated to strategic hide photography. We started at the Ashram Hide for Session 6 , where early morning mist added a dreamlike quality to our frames. Striated Laughingthrush, Kalij Pheasant, Great Barbet, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Red Junglefowl & Himalayan Bulbul made their appearances. Himalayan Bulbul Striated Laughingthrush Kalij Pheasant Great Barbet Oriental Turtle-Dove Red Junglefowl In the golden light of the afternoon, we returned to Sattal Studio and its forest trails for Session 7 . The deodar and pine canopy glowed softly, creating an ideal setting for birding. Highlights included a watchful Brown Fish-Owl, the active Buff-barred and Whistler’s Warblers , a charming Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher , a busy Brown-fronted Woodpecker , and the quick-moving Black-faced Warbler — all adding life to the serene Himalayan landscape. Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Brow...