I recently visited "Living Coasts" in Torquay, having had it recommended to me by a friend as somewhere I might find some good opportunities to photograph birds. I didn't quite know what to expect but it certainly was a pleasant day out for me. It's not large and most people would get around it in an hour or two. However, as a photographer I wanted all the opportunities it would afford me and so I spent all day there.

In fact, it is laid out in such a way that you have to follow a set path through the various sections, and I ended up going around more than once, which is not a problem. This gave me a chance to see everything really well and to have a second go where I felt I'd learnt a little from my previous circuit.

Gentoo Penguins

These may be seen both above and below water, thanks to the windows below the water's surface. The penguins obligingly swim very close to the windows and you're left wondering what they must make of the funny looking creatures looking through the window at them.

Inca Terns

The Inca Terns fly freely around most of the enclosure and can certainly make you duck on occasions. However, they seem perfectly at ease with us humans and seem to realise that they are actually very attractive. They'll perch close by and are not at all camera shy.

Tufted Puffin

Not as cute as our own puffin (in my opinion anyway), these are still endearing little creatures.

Black-necked Stilt

Fur Seals

As with the penguins, you can observe the fur seals both above and below water. Underwater they really are wonderful and impressive to watch.