The founding of a bird observatory on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, in

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1 Bird-photographers 21 Richard T. Mills The founding of a bird observatory on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork, in 1959 was not only a spectacular success in its own right, but also exerted a profound influence on the development of ornithology in Ireland, and particularly in County Cork. With such a readily accessible and first-class training ground, a steady stream of skilled fieldworkers began to emerge on the mainland in the early 1960s. Soon, they were to form a local group the Cork Ornithological Society so that, when Richard Mills arrived on the scene, activity was already intense and interest high. Although there are few traces left in his accent, Richard Mills spent most of his youtfi in France. He was born near the Camargue in Provence, but soon moved to Brittany, where he lived for 13 years, before his parents finally settled in the west Cork village of Crookhaven. From Richard's point Continued... 94

2 Richard T. Mills Richard Mills receiving the Tom Keogh Memorial Trophy, lor the best Irish wildlife photograph of 1978 (Richard T. Mills) of view, this was a most fortunate choice, with Roaringwater Bay and Cape Clear only a few kilometres to the south and Mizen Head a stone's throw away to the west. In addition, the scenery around this tiny fishing village is magnificent: there are numerous sandy beaches with long stretches of dunes, steep cliffs, and offshore islands and skerries. A dominant feature of this landscape is that enigmatic stretch of water Lissagriffin Lake where, on occasion, American waders have been known to outnumber their Palearctic counterparts. All this is within easy walking distance of the Mills' family home. Once he had finished school and gone through a couple of uneventful years at university, Richard joined the staff of The Cork Examiner, with which he has remained, as a photographer, ever since. It was there that he met his charming and highly tolerant wife, Monica, now the proud mother of three sons. As a professional, Richard has been highly successful, gaining rapid promotion to a position of seniority and winning a number of national awards, particularly for action pictures of sporting events. The latter are all the more incongruous, as he has virtually no interest in sports as such, apart

3 16 & 17. Above, Razorbill Aim tarda, Co. Cork, March 1974; below, Sandwich Terns Sterna sandvicensis, Co. Wexford, June 1976 (Richard T. Mills)

4 18 & 19. Above, Garmet Sula bassana, Great Saltee, Co. Wexford, June 1976; below, Brent Geese Branta bernicla, VVigeons Anaspenelope and Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus, North Bull Island, Co. Dublin, March 1978 (Richard T. Mills)

5 20 8c 21. Above, Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus, Co. Cork, April 1974; below, Curlew Numenius arquata, Co. Cork. October 1974 (Richard T. Mills)

6 Richard T. Mills Long-eared Owl Asio otus, with common rat Rattus norvegicus, at nest with young, Co. Cork, May/June 1975 [Richard T. Mills) from their photographic value. His most coveted award to date is the Tom Keogh Memorial Trophy for the national wildlife photographic competition (see Brit. Birds 71: 426, plate 155). Early on in his career as a newspaper photographer, Richard began to explore in earnest his interest in wildlife. From the early 1970s, he became a familiar figure around the bird haunts of Co. Cork and elsewhere, especially the Saltee Islands, for which he, like many others, has a special affection. His rise to fame as Ireland's leading bird-photographer was extraordinarilyrapid. Richard's success can be attributed to two things. First, he works extremely hard; he is prepared to spend long hours, sitting in an uncomfortable hide (all night if necessary in the case of his favourite subjects, owls), waiting for the right shot, or patiently stalking a diminutive Calidris wader with an enormous and heavy 500-mm lens fitted to a motor-driven Nikon. Secondly, as this collection of his pictures (plates 16-22) shows, his style is notably different from that of most bird-photographers. He has avoided the portrait bird-at-the-nest shot and has instead opted for the more difficult action picture. To him, wildlife photography is a form of sublimated hunting. One goes through the motions of stalking and capturing the prey without hurting a feather. The early 1970s saw the growth of conservation movements in Ireland. A number of teams were making wildlife films, but relatively few individuals were producing still photographic work of sufficiently high standards to be

7 100 Richard T. Mills published widely. Almost as soon as his pictures became available, however, Richard's work was to be found in a range of Irish magazines, periodicals, books and newspapers. He contributed action shots, not only of birds but also of mammals, to the prestigious Bank calendars. In consequence, his pictures have had a profound influence on the general public's awareness of the environment and its wildlife in Ireland. Richard Mills is a popular figure with 'twitchers', and, in Co. Cork, there are a few who reach for Mills and his gear before reaching for their notebooks. His success in 'capturing' rarities for posterity is well known. A comment by Major R. F. Ruttledge in the 1971 Irish Bird Report is an adequate summary: 'Four superb photographs by R.T.M. were examined, putting all descriptions in the shade!' And yet, he draws no distinction between these rarities and the native species, as on the occasion when he opted to spend the day in a hide at a Hen Harrier's nest rather than go after a Broad-billed Sandpiper which was closer to home. An extremely amiable character, Richard Mills avoids controversy andhigh office like the plague. Politics are of no interest to him. Photographing wildlife, in all its forms, but particularly birds, occupies all of his spare time. In the short period since he turned his attention in this direction, he has achieved outstanding results. At 32, Richard's career can be said to have just started. With his enthusiasm and capacity for hard work, we can look forward to even more varied and exciting portfolios. TOM KELLY