A puffin day.

We were up and out just after the crack of dawn for a day of adventure. Of course, I hardly slept a wink, worried that the alarm wouldn't go off at 5.30am. It did. But I was awake and watching it. We were on the road at 6.30 heading over to the Kingdom of Fife and East Neuk. We were going puffing hunting at last!

It has been postponed twice due to uncertain weather, but today it was perfect. Everyone on the boat and the island said how lucky we were. We set sail at 9.15, and had a smooth crossing in the sunshine. We sat beside an American couple, from Colorado, who live miles from the sea, and wanted to see some of our sea birds, especially puffins! Fancy coming all that way to see our wee birds.

We saw the 'strings' of gannets flying along, one behind the other, swooping up and down and skimming the waves in unison. When we landed we were warned to put a hat on or walk with our hand up in the air, as we were attacked by terns. The path went right through their nesting place, and in fact, you had to be careful not to stand on chicks on the path. Boy! Those terns are feisty. I got whacked on the head several times.

The island itself is a blipper's paradise. I had extreme camera envy, the lenses that abounded were humungous. Of course, everyone is sensible and has tripods or monopods. I'd often be standing waiting for a puffin to take off and my arms would drop off, holding the camera up. Then he would take off. I wanted an action shot, as they are very good at posing and it's quite easy to get a cute fish-in-the-mouth shot. This one was the nearest I got that was usable.

It's a birder's paradise. Puffins, puffins everywhere!! (46,000 of the little dears). And lots of kittiwakes, razorbills, shags, fulmars and we even spotted a female eider duck sitting in amongst the sea campion that blanketed the island (and looked amazing). We saw loads of seals too.

You'd be walking along the path, and all around you'd hear little squeaks, like squeezy toys. I think they were puffin-lings - they don't come out of the burrows until they're ready to fledge. And then they fly away to sea and don't come back for about five years! Amazing wee birds!!

We had two and a half hours on the island, and it flew by (much like the puffins). We walked all round the spectacular cliffs and checked out the big old fog horns. I was puggled and fair puffin' by the time we returned to the boat, and snoozed on the way back. Even the man droning on and on to his work colleague on his cellphone did not disturb me. Much. I took 250 odd photos, many of them of sky and part of a puffin as it flew by and I missed it. It was hard to choose which one to blip, so I've put some more in my folio.

Came back to Anstruther in time for a late lunch of fish and chips, and then we were home in time to see Murray's match. Hmmm. Doesn't bode well. He was puffin' a bit.

That was the best £20 I've spent in quite some time ever!