Puffins on the Island of Lunga, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, U.K Known as “Clown Birds” and “Sea Parrots”, due to their large colourful bills, Atlantic Puffins are one of the most adorable, if not the most, adorable birds I have had the luxury of photographing. While puffins spend most of the year at sea, they return to land for a short period, between April and August, for nesting. There are four different species of Puffins, Atlantic, Tufted and Horned plus the differently named Rhinoceros Auklet (sometimes known as a unicorn or horn-billed puffin). Of these four species, the Atlantic Puffin is the one most commonly found in Europe. Over 90% of the world’s Atlantic Puffins are found within Europe, with 60% found in Iceland. In the UK, puffins normally nest on islands off the coast, between April to August (sometimes July). Starting in late April, the puffin will create a burrow where it lays just one egg. The eggs are incubated for around 40 days, and then upon hatching the chick lives in the burrow, where it fledges for a further 40 days. Sometime in July or August, when the chick is ready to leave the burrow, the Puffins return to the sea. So for your best chances of seeing puffins, I recommend visiting Lunga during June or early July. This will ensure you’re visiting during the height of the breeding season, guaranteeing you will get to see lots of activity. Lunga is an Island located in the Treshnish Isles, part of the Inner Hebrides in

圖片編號： 20539958
拍攝者： Loinshoes