Puffins E-Book

Kevin Morgans

• Herausgeber: Sandstone Press
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

'A portfolio of sheer excellence.' -Chris Packham In this breathtaking new book, internationally renowned photographer Kevin Morgans celebrates the iconic Atlantic puffin and its place in the ecology of the British Isles. With their brightly coloured beaks, quirky personalities and comical movements, the 'clowns of the sea' are the best loved of all Britain's seabirds. In a series of stunning images from his award-winning portfolio, Kevin Morgans documents their lives and their relationship with our windswept coast.

Leseprobe

Puffins

Life on the Atlantic Edge

KEVIN MORGANS

FOREWORD BY CHRIS PACKHAM

Puffins

Life on the Atlantic Edge

First published in Great Britain by

Sandstone Press Ltd

PO Box 41

Muir of Ord

Ross-shire

IV6 7YX

www.sandstonepress.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted

in any form without the express written permission of the publisher.

Text copyright © Kevin Morgans 2022

Photography copyright © Kevin Morgans 2022

Foreword copyright © Chris Packham 2022

Author photographs copyright © Ewan Crosbie (p15) and

© Rachel Mullet: Pembrokeshire Moments (p192) 2022

Editor: Robert Davidson

The moral right of Kevin Morgans to be recognised as the author of this work has been

asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

ISBN: 978-1-913207-77-9

Design and production by Ryder Design –

www.ryderdesign.studio

Puffins

Life on the Atlantic Edge

Key

Story continues.

End of story.

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Previous spread.

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Overleaf.

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Above.

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Left.

5

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & DEDICATION

PUFFINS: Life on the Atlantic Edge

is the product of

many years sitting on remote cliffs across the British Isles,

usually windswept, often soaked, and believe it or not

given the locations, a little sunburnt at times. Throughout

it all, my passion for photographing these charismatic

birds has never wavered, nor has my desire to share their

beauty and plight with the widest achievable audience.

Without the people mentioned below this book would

not have been possible.

Firstly, thank you to fellow wildlife photographer and friend

Andy Howard for putting me in touch with Sandstone Press,

and to Robert Davidson and his team for believing in this

project from the outset and giving me the freedom to tell

the story I wanted to tell. In addition, I’d like to thank

Nathan Ryder for the book design, and for somehow

having the patience to put up with my constant tinkering.

As you will see, he has done an amazing job.

Thanks to my good friend and unofficial mentor, Andy

Parkinson, who has been an inspiration. Without his

(sometimes) brutal critiques and advice I’m not sure I

would be the photographer I am today. Thanks to my

pal Ewan Crosbie, with whom I’ve shared a beer or two

exploring the cliffs of Shetland, and for teaching me the

best way to make a cheese toastie in the back of a van;

and to Fiona Campbell for keeping me positive and always

being there when I needed a second opinion. My family

and friends have been strong for me, and encouraging,

in both good and bad times.

I’d like to dedicate this book to my three nephews, Jonah,

Jaxon and Jesse, who have been my constant mascots

and unofficial picture editors throughout the creative

processes.

Lastly, I can’t forget the puffins, for being such

little superstars.

Acknowledgements

& dedication

Contents

Acknowledgements & dedication

. . . . . . . .

5

Foreword by Chris Packham

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

Introduction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13

1

About the Puffin

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

2

Life in the colony

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51

3

The race to breed

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

101

4

Feeding and flight

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

139

5

An uncertain future

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

171

6

CREDO

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

185

8

PUFFINS

Portrait of Chris Packham by Jo Charlesworth.

9

FOREWORD

These photographs are exceptional.

Actually, let me be fair – you should judge that for yourself.

So, please decide if these photos are ‘all’, ‘all but a few’,

‘the vast majority’, or perhaps just ‘mostly’ ... exceptional

images of one of our, indeed, the world’s favourite birds.

Shooting icons is a tough challenge but I’m confident you

will agree that this portfolio represents sheer excellence,

is an absolute treat to enjoy, and a very tough act to follow

for those who point their lenses at puffins.

You might be wondering why a bloke who has so frequently

and publicly derided the puffin as ‘dumpy and over-dressed’

is writing the foreword. That’s easily explained and, again,

it’s down to the photography. My ‘dislike’ which is, of

course, subjective and deliberately shallow, has no choice

but to be silenced by my admiration for the images. Great

photos of anything, loved or loathed, are still great photos.

Besides, Kevin’s text extolls the fascinating behaviour and

ecology of the species, draws sharp attention to its sad

decline, and asks demanding questions of how we see and

should treat the natural world more widely – an equally

important mission. Sadly, there is no point in pulling a crowd

of wildlife lovers these days if you don’t do so with a message

and, for all the beauty of this bird and the body of work in

this book, none of us must forget that the puffins, and

indeed our world, are so very seriously imperilled.

Scientists have just reported that eight years ago extreme

marine heatwaves affected half of the world’s surface waters

and, since then, they have continued to increase, covering

60% of the oceans by 2017. This heating results in algal

blooms and mass die-offs of the fish and birds which feed on

them. We have come to realise that it is temperature extremes

rather than average climate which have the most devastating

effects on marine organisms, and that includes puffins.

So, look at, marvel, and enjoy these fabulous pictures. Read

and be enraptured by the puffins’ lifestyle and life history, but

please don’t put this book down without thinking hard about

how you can act, now, to preserve a future where puffins

and all life can prosper. It’s up to us to make that difference.

Chris Packham

New Forest

Foreword

12

PUFFINS

A North Atlantic sunset from Fair Isle.

13

INTRODUCTION

Growing up in northern England, my childhood and

teenage years were spent exploring the endless coastline

of the Wirral peninsula, my days filled with climbing and

playing on the beaches. Sitting on the rocks, gazing out

to sea, a flash of white or a blaze of brown in the sky would

often capture my attention. As they disappeared over the

horizon, I would wonder what adventures these birds must

have and what hardships they must face. It was moments

like these that sparked my fascination with seabirds.

Ever since, I have been drawn to the coastal regions of

our islands: the ragged edges of Shetland, beautiful

Pembrokeshire in Wales and, of course, my homeland

the Wirral. These coasts are where I live, work and find

solitude, and mean everything to me for the childhood

memories they evoke and the opportunities they provide.

My interest in photography though, began many years later.

On leaving university I travelled across British Columbia

and the Rocky Mountains with a small compact camera

but no real idea how to use it. I did my best to capture

the stunning vistas of lakes, mountains, and wildlife but,

ultimately, the images were disappointing. Sadly, I had

not done justice to the beauty of this wonderful place.

Determined to improve, I bought my first entry-level DSLR,

not realising at that time where it might lead. Countless

hours followed reading books, magazines, and searching

the internet as I taught myself the basics of photography.

What I loved about my new fascination was not only the

technical knowledge required, but also how it took me

deeper into the natural world. My first tentative steps into

wildlife photography came from visiting a local pond and

taking photographs of waterfowl. It was here the momentum

began that would combine my established love of wildlife

with my new enthusiasm for photography.

Introduction



Four studies in amber.

14

PUFFINS

A few years later, on the beautiful isle of Skomer, I had my

first encounters with the Atlantic puffin in what proved to

be the beginning of my relationship with these endearing

creatures. The long drive to south Wales ended at a small

jetty where I packed my bags onto the ferry, unaware

that my life was about to change for the better. As we

approached the island, I began to see flurries of wings as

puffins, razorbills, and guillemots bobbed on the waves

and soared in all directions. The puffins at sea, unmistakable

with their black and white plumage and brightly coloured

beaks, captured my heart as a species, but only on land

did I begin to appreciate their individual characteristics.

Their inquisitive nature and signature walk were the unique

traits that, combined with the adventure of exploring remote

islands, ignited my passion to document their lives.

These early experiences inspired me to follow the road

I walk today when each summer, as a professional wildlife

photographer, I make an annual pilgrimage to the Shetland

archipelago and Fair Isle. Truly breath-taking, with wild

seascapes and rugged cliffs, these islands are home to

countless breeds of seabird. Of the many wonderful

locations to photograph puffins, Fair Isle is my favourite.

Britain’s most remote inhabited island is only five kilometres

long by three wide and a birdlife paradise. Its puffin

population is not the most numerous but, in my opinion,

one of the most beautiful. An outdoor photographer’s

dream, it will feature strongly in this book.

Sitting atop a cliff among the seabird colonies, despite all

the frantic commotion, I experience a deep sense of calm

and the world’s issues fade away. Watching the birds glide

effortlessly over the sea, I feel at home. Perhaps it is those

childhood memories of the Wirral, dreaming of what lies

over the horizon, but at that moment everything feels

simply, inexplicably, in balance and right.

My passion for the Atlantic puffin means it is more than just

a photographic project to me. After years spent recording

and documenting their lives my reputation has become

entwined with them and their uncertain future. Sadly, our

seabird numbers are declining due to overfishing, pollution,

and climate change. Puffins are now listed as vulnerable,

but we are not without hope. If we can change our attitudes

towards overfishing and greenhouse emissions, we may

be able to preserve the colonies; for their own sake,

15

INTRODUCTION

for human generations to come, and for the ecological

health of our world. Saving our seabirds and their habitats

is now one of my great passions.

My hope is that, through this book, the charm and worth of

the puffins will become celebrated beyond the communities

of naturalists and birdwatchers. That their future will become,

against current expectations, ever more assured.

With puffin companions atop the rugged cliffs of Shetland.