Photographers Make Replica Puffin Models To Snap Shy Birds

By Rebecca Lewis @RebeccaSLewis

A PUFFIN sits on a photographers’ head as he prepares to take a picture - but the friendly bird is in fact a polystyrene replica

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British photographers, Matt Doggett, 36 from Southampton, and Richard Shucksmith, 41, from the Shetland Islands, captured the birds in their natural habitat on the island of North Rona, off the coast of Scotland.

Caught on camera: A puffin looks down into the ocean

And their patience and ingenuity led to one of Matt’s images being recognised in the Underwater Photographer of the Year Awards 2015.

Richard said: “I made the puffin replicates out of polystyrene carefully crafting them to look like puffins, which is a bit of a joke as they are a bit rough and ready.

The black and white birds with colourful beaks are pictured diving into the deep ocean, resting on land and catching prey

“However the puffins seemed to like them. Wearing these on our heads it allowed us to swim along the surface and get close to the puffins, close enough to photograph them.

The carefully crafted polystyrene attracted the puffins who felt at ease in the photographers presence

“Some puffins were a little inquisitive and would even swim towards the puffin before darting underwater.

Peckish! A puffin flies with a fish in its mouth

“They are surprisingly quite fast underwater as the dart along by shorted rapid flapping of their short wings.”

Puffin Paddle: A puffin dips its webbed feet into the water

The black and white birds with colourful beaks are pictured diving into the deep ocean, resting on land and catching prey.

The pair captured the birds as they hunted for small fish such as herring, sprats and sand eels, to feed to their young chicks resting in the cliffs above.

The photographers captured the birds as they hunted for small fish such as herring, sprats and sand eels, to feed to their young chicks resting in the cliffs above

Matt recently won Runner-Up in the UK Macro category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2015, for his image of the puffin dipping its beak under water to check for prey.

Poise: The pair were left in awe of the puffin colony's grace and elegance

And he was delighted with the opportunity to see the birds’ behaviour at sea - and the award.

He said: “I was really pleased it got some recognition as it is a favourite of mine and now an increasing number of people are asking for prints of it.

Under cover: One of the model puffins is attached to Matt's head

“It was a wonderful experience to see the puffins under the water. They are so graceful and elegant and I was left in awe of their speed.

“Their funny little faces as they peeped below the surface at me made me laugh and I wondered what they thought of me, so cumbersome and slow with all my equipment.