Puffins in Scotland, a brief report

What a great report, and well done, LIZ, seeing thousands of puffins! I have to ask, did you hear any, as well? I remember the dozens and dozens (I can’t say thousands) of puffins on Skellig Michael island off of Ireland, and hearing their buzzy cooing, kind of like a purr.

I still want to visit the Westmanns off of Iceland, another reputed puffin paradise. Now the Scottish Isle of May sounds like the ideal puffin visit!

There are actually paths among the burrows on IoM, so you can get close, but of course they go in their burrows when you pass them.
I have seen them in Newfoundland, but this was much closer and many more birds.
There are also gulls and other birds, so it can be noisy.

LIZ, how cool!! That sounds like such a great experience. What is it about puffins? They are just so appealing somehow. How long did the boat ride out to the island take? Were you concerned about the weather? I assume they go rain or shine? The town looked very nice too. Thanks for all the info.

It was a fast 20-30 minutes out to the island. The wind had really picked up while we were on the island, and the ride back was a bit of a splashy thrill ride. Nobody got soaked, but a few got splashed a bit.
They decide if the weather won't allow a crossing,
I was mainly concerned it would be rainy per a weather report a couple of day's earlier, but it was quite nice and almost too warm for the clothing I wore.

I'm definitely not a birder, but puffins are something else. part of it is that I like the types of places they are found.

LIZ, so glad you're trip has started on a high note. Thanks for the links.

LIZ, thank you for your report. This is great information.

Liz, great report! And how exciting to see the puffins! I will have to add Anstruther and the Isle of May to my list of Scottish destinations for the future.

well yesterday at Inner Farne, Northumberland in far northeast England, before we could get to the Puffins the Arctic Terns, who commute 18,000 miles a year, and who were nesting next to the boardwalk and even in some cases on the boardwalk gave an exceptionally loud and fierce greeting to walkers. I was divebombed and pecked at least 11 times.

The puffins were starting to raft which our guide told us meant they would be gone within 2 weeks. Saw just a few Puflets (fluffy balls of feathers with a huge appetite) but plenty of protective and very good fishers parents.

Sorry to hijack, but to compare the two locations, 3 including IOM, and we, yesterday, were much later in the season.

Nigel, glad to hear you had some good sightings in the Farne Islands! We are going to Bempton Cliffs in two weeks and hoping some puffins will still be around by then tho it sounds like they are starting to head out based on what you've said. And thank you to Liz for reporting on Isle of May!

Thank you Liz for your quick report on your puffin sightings. I’m hoping to see some on a trip to St Kilda on July 30/31 - the boat trip to St Kilda is about 2 1/2 hours. The cruise also passes by the stacks where the bird colonies are located.

What an interesting and inspiring report.Great to hear what a success it was.
I haven’t made it out to the Isle of May yet as I’ve always focused on the Staffa and the Treshnish Isles trip (west coast, Lunga, off the Isle of Mull which I’ve done twice now.) Never seen so many puffins as on Lunga, they were a few feet away at most and not afraid. Very easy to get great close up shots.
Puffins are SO cute!

How fun! I finally saw puffins in Orkney and Shetland two years ago, after yearning to see them for decades. I never heard of the Isle of May, so I appreciate your report. I would love to see puffins again; they are seriously adorable.