2VISIT A SEABIRD CITY IN THE SUMMER

Learn how to shoot mid-air action of gannets, razorbills, puffins and more!

Long days and consistently clearer weather make summer the best time of year to visit a seabird city. Colourful and charismatic puffins, also called the clowns of the sea, migrate to the UK between late April and

August, but June and July are generally considered the best time to see them. Sites in the UK include Skomer Island in Wales or Bempton Cliffs in Flamborough, England. These seabird cities also offer a huge range of other interesting birds, such as razorbills, gannets and Manx shearwaters. Birds are generally quite small animals and puffins are only about 30cm tall, so a long lens is recommended. You can try a teleconverter or a crop-sensor camera body for extra reach, or consider renting a professional telephoto lens for your trip from sites like hireacamera.com.