Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Description
Probably the best known of all the Auks. In summer, looks rather clown like with its large, colouful, trianguler bill (deep orange, blue and yellow) and large, rounded head with greyish-white face. Also has a red eyering with blueish, grey appendages above and below the eye, swollen yellow gape on corners of the bill and bright orange-red legs. Usual Auk plumage applies elsewhere with black upperparts and crown and white underparts. In winter, the cheeks become darker grey and rather blackish near bill. Bill becomes smaller and less colourful and yellow gape shrinks. Red eyering remains but blue-grey appendages disappear. Legs become yellow.
Nests in burrows that it either excavates itself or widens existing burrows used by Rabbits and Manx Shearwaters. Digs using its bill and webbed feet. Paired birds often clash bills and chase each other excitedly outside nesting burrows, sometimes tumbling downhill.
Excellent swimmer like all Auks. Dives for its diet of small fish, especially sand eels and sprats. Also eats crustaceans and small squid. Holds multiple fish in bill sideways.
Flight
Fast, low and direct over water. Sometimes flies higher than other Auks and also more agile.
Call
Deep, nasal groaning during breeding. Generally silent otherwise.
Habitat
During breeding, nests on grassy cliff tops and islands. Spends other time well out to sea.
Where to find Puffin
North Scotland and Scottish Isles. Largest breeding coloney on St. Kilda. Also try RSPB’s Bempton Cliffs in North Yorkshire and Farne Islands, Northumberland. In the south, small numbers sometimes occur at Dancing Ledge on the coastal path from Durlston Country Park, Swanage and also further along at Winspit.