So it looks like I am going to see some Puffins

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

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Going up to Edinburgh next month for a few days....stuck as to what to do besides the tourist stuff and stumbled acrossed the idea of Puffins viewing. The company I am going there with absolutely LOVES birds but while I am there (Isle of May), I might as well take some pictures.

Now the question is....do I NEED to bring my Sony A7R3 with 70-200GM or can I get away with my Fuji XT5 with a 75/1.2 (about 100mm) lens?
 
On the IoM you can use anything from a wide angle to telephoto lens. If you are just taking one lens it will restrict you to certain locations and types of photos. Enjoy!
 
Not been to the Ilse of May but would say the 70-200 would be better
 
You might need something longer than 200mm. I'd say 200mm is the starting point.

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They are also pretty small birds by the way. Not Robin small but not Gull big either
 
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Definitely a lot longer unless there under your feet . 400mm is minimum
 
the black fox said:
Definitely a lot longer unless there under your feet . 400mm is minimum
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I only know couple of places where this is reliably possible. Skomer Island in UK and Iceland (also small island off the main land, don't ask me to spell Icelandic names!)
 
I have taken photos of puffins on Skomer, the Farne Islands and Bempton Cliffs. On Skomer the birds range from remarkably close to far away. At the other 2 locations you could not get as close. I have not been to the Isle of May but I found a photo post that mentioned “Don’t expect to be able to get *too* close to the puffins – unlike some puffin-spotting locations, the island provides a respectable distance between paths and burrows”.

So I would suggest that the 70-200 is the minimum. As mentioned above, longer would be better.

Enjoy, they are lovely birds.
 
nc_killie said:
On the IoM you can use anything from a wide angle to telephoto lens. If you are just taking one lens it will restrict you to certain locations and types of photos. Enjoy!
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I guess you've been?

Well, I will always have my X100VI with me. My plan was also travel with my XT5 with a few lenses (23/27/35/56/75). Or 3 of the 5. What I wasn't planning to do was to take my A7R3 + 70-200 on TOP of all that.

I could take my A7R3 with 3 Sony lens instead of the XT5 but I was going to save some weight with the Fuji, not a lot but it's also a newer body with better AF.

p.s. I will not be renting or buying a 400mm or 600mm for this 3 hours trip, I like Puffins but I don't like them that much! lol
 
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Yes I have been. There are a lot of variables- when you are going ( are the birds courting/ incubating/ feeding young), weather, number of people etc. when I was there we got relatively close to some (6-8 feet) but there was only a small number of people.
There were large numbers of puffins killed in wrecks over the winter, not sure how it will affect UK / IoM birds
If you have a longer lens you will have more flexibility. Enjoy Edinburgh and IoM!
Hope that helps
John
Ps puffins are worth getting the lens!!
 
nc_killie said:
Yes I have been. There are a lot of variables- when you are going ( are the birds courting/ incubating/ feeding young), weather, number of people etc. when I was there we got relatively close to some (6-8 feet) but there was only a small number of people.
There were large numbers of puffins killed in wrecks over the winter, not sure how it will affect UK / IoM birds
If you have a longer lens you will have more flexibility. Enjoy Edinburgh and IoM!
Hope that helps
John
Ps puffins are worth getting the lens!!
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I guess I will have to ride my luck. This trip i am doing isn't just Edinburgh...which on it's own is costing me £560 in accommodation for 3 days. My whole trip is basicaly a "tour" of the UK.

Heathrow to collect my friend
London
Durdle Door
(Stopping by Stonehenge)
Bath
Cotswold
Home
(Stop by Stratford-upon-Avon)
Windermere
Edinburgh
York
Oxford
Heathrow

All that in 2 weeks....you do not want to know how much accomodation of all that cost and I will be driving so can you imagine the fuel? lol. I just can't afford a new lens right now.

p.s. I checked Skormer Island for the day (if I knock off the night at home and head that way) but it is completely sold out, in a way it makes it easy because it is way out of the way of my planned route.
 
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Trips to the IoM do sell out at popular times. If you do not want to go but still see puffins go to the Scottish seabird centre in north Berwick who have cameras which show nesting birds (primarily gannets on Bas Rock) but sometimes have puffins on show. There is also st abbs for seabird colonies (no puffins) if you want spectacular scenery.
 
nc_killie said:
Trips to the IoM do sell out at popular times. If you do not want to go but still see puffins go to the Scottish seabird centre in north Berwick who have cameras which show nesting birds (primarily gannets on Bas Rock) but sometimes have puffins on show. There is also st abbs for seabird colonies (no puffins) if you want spectacular scenery.
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The tickets from North Berwickwas sold out but I managed to get 2 tickets going from Anstruther in Fife. It's a bit of a drive there but at least I secured 2 seats. Also, it's going via a larger boat and actual shorter journey at sea.
 
nc_killie said:
On the IoM you can use anything from a wide angle to telephoto lens. If you are just taking one lens it will restrict you to certain locations and types of photos. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
This. Plus reasonable chance most years of Arctic Skua just as you leave the boat.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Going up to Edinburgh next month for a few days....stuck as to what to do besides the tourist stuff and stumbled acrossed the idea of Puffins viewing. The company I am going there with absolutely LOVES birds but while I am there (Isle of May), I might as well take some pictures.

Now the question is....do I NEED to bring my Sony A7R3 with 70-200GM or can I get away with my Fuji XT5 with a 75/1.2 (about 100mm) lens?
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I was there in 2024 with an X-T5 and the 70-300 (450 equiv on full frame) and was at the long end most of the time.
 
May be not an option for you, idk but fuji do a try before you buy free loan
If you can loan from a shop in Edinburgh and return it next day, you could rent a Fuji telephoto for free.
 
nandbytes said:
May be not an option for you, idk but fuji do a try before you buy free loan
If you can loan from a shop in Edinburgh and return it next day, you could rent a Fuji telephoto for free.
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Good idea but in person is from London Store and delivered is 48hrs to "home" (registered address of my card), as I will not be home, this won't work. Nice idea though!
 
Does Test the Kit work for you? They are quite flexible on collection and return locations but probably difficult given your schedule.
 
Related but unrelated - they are building a new Lifeboat station in Anstruther and thus parking is restricted and one of the main car parks in Anstruther has been taken over for construction.

They have created a park and ride at the Co-Op just out of town.
 
da_nige said:
Related but unrelated - they are building a new Lifeboat station in Anstruther and thus parking is restricted and one of the main car parks in Anstruther has been taken over for construction.

They have created a park and ride at the Co-Op just out of town.
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Good to know!!! So would you chance to try to park there first before going to the co-op?

edit - just checked...the co-op is under a mile to the dock, not a deal breaker. Although I see lots of normal residential streets nearby? Are they okay to park? Quick look on Google maps doesn't show any parking restrictions. I know it's not good ettiquette and I wouldn't park blocking someone's drive but if it's a normal street with space? it's fair game?
 
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Yeah you can take your chances and get a space in town but if you can’t get one the park and ride is there and free. To be honest you can walk from the park and ride to the harbour. Some of the residential streets are quite narrow but can park there too.

We visit Cellardyke/Anstruther often.We try and get a space in town and if unsuccessful head back up the hill to co op.
 
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