Photographers on Safari

SKOMER, THE ISLAND OF BIRDS 4 DAY RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP - JULY 2007

More UK Seabird Photography at its best

Photographers on Safari have virtually sold every place on the Skokholm Island Workshop from July 7th to 14th. We have decided to offer Skomer as an additional  venue to give more people the chance to photograph this wonderful array of seabirds. Skomer is very close to Skokholm and lies off Pembrokeshire, South West Wales.

3 Nights Self-Catering

We have taken  beds for 6 clients for 3 nights. The  rooms are self-catering and on a shared basis. A huge sum of money has recently been spent on upgrading this accommodation.

4 Days Photography with Tuition

We will have 4 almost full days of photography. Skomer is approximately 20 minutes from the mainland. We leave the mainland at 10.00 on Sunday and remain on the island until approximately 3.30 on Wednesday. Photographic tips and group or one to one tuition are offered throughout your time on the island.

Boat Transfer + Exclusive Use of Island

The boat transfer is included. Day trips are not possible to this island on a Mondays, and apart from the wardens and 8 other residents, we will have the island completely to ourselves from Sunday 4pm until Tuesday 10am.

Photograph Birds at Sunrise and Sunset

Whilst on the island you are free to come and go as you please.  This enables you to practice your photography on the wonderful array of birds both at sunrise and at sunset, (as well as all day and all night if you wish). To be able to photograph these birds at these special times is quite a privilege, and it also makes for outstanding images.  Skomer is approximately 730 acres in size, is of international importance for its breeding seabirds, and has now been declared a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).

Photograph some of the 6,000 resident Puffins and Oystercatchers in Flight.

Skomer and Skokholm are probably some of the best places in the world to photograph Puffins in flight. You will be instructed on how best to do this, and you will have plenty of time to perfect any new-learned techniques. The Gull chicks are also quite cute to photograph at this tender age. At this time of year the 6,000 resident Puffins are continually leaving their burrows and returning with beaks full of sand-eels and small fish.

Black Backed Gulls ambush the Puffins

The puffins are constantly being ambushed by Herring, Greater and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. These birds prefer to steal the puffin's eels rather than  fish for themselves.  Some Puffins will crash land directly into their burrows whilst others will land some distance away and "run for their lives" with their catch to their burrows.  This makes for great entertainment as they try to outwit the Gulls. Other Puffins will even purposely drop part of their load in an attempt to entice away the waiting Gulls that are guarding the entrance to their burrows.

3500 Razorbills and 14,000Guillemots 

There are also some 3500 Razorbills and 14,500 Guillemots on Skomer, nesting on the sheer cliffs. Short eared owls and the unique Skomer Vole are also resident here. 

300,000 Manx Shearwaters, 2,000 Kittiwakes, 1,400 Fulmar &  many more species

There are many other species of birds on the island including Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills, Fulmars, Guillemots, Meadow Pipits, Sedge Warblers, Wheatear, Dunlin, Peregrine Falcons, Buzzards, Chough, Ravens and Moorhens.  There are also thousands of rabbits and a resident colony of seals. The colony of Manx Shearwaters is the largest in the world.  These birds spend most of their lives at sea, only coming ashore to breed, and then only at night. This makes photography difficult but by no means impossible. 

Non-photographers are most welcome

Skomer is an experience you will treasure, and experienced photographer, John Wright will be on hand at all times to offer tuition and advice. Non-photographers are also most welcome.

Dates and Costs

 

PLEASE rEGISTER YOUR INTEREST IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN WAITING LIST + REGISTER NOW ANY INTEREST FOR 2008

PLEASE NOTE : Weather conditions are outside our control. In the event of being unable to get to the island at all, a refund of the workshop fee (less £25 deposit) will be made but Photographers On Safari is unable to accept responsibility for costs that might be incurred should you become stormbound on the island or need alternative accommodation if sailing is delayed.

 

 

puffin in flight

 

puffin about to land

 

puffin landing

 

oystercatcher in flight

 

flying puffin

 

puffin flying over the sea

 

 

puffin about to land

 

puffin with beak full of eels