Puffins are seabirds that belong to the auk family. With their colorful beaks and unique appearance, they are one of the most recognizable seabirds in the world. Puffins nest in colonies on cliffs and rocky islands, usually only coming onshore during the breeding season. Their breeding grounds are typically found in northern latitudes like Iceland, Norway, Alaska, and parts of Canada. So do puffins nest and live in Wales, the small country on the west coast of Great Britain?
Quick Answer
Yes, there are puffins that live and breed in certain parts of Wales, mainly on offshore islands along the north and west coasts. The main puffin colonies are found on Skomer Island, Skokholm Island, and Puffin Island off the coast of Anglesey. These islands provide the ideal breeding habitat for puffins with their rocky cliffs and sparse vegetation. The estimated puffin population in Wales is around 5,000 breeding pairs as of recent surveys.
Puffin Breeding Habitat Requirements
Puffins have very specific habitat requirements for their breeding colonies which limits their range and locations. They need offshore islands or remote coastal areas with steep cliffs and slopes. The cliffs provide protection for their nesting burrows and allow easy access to and from the water. Puffins cannot take off from level ground so they rely on heights to get airborne. Rocky landscapes are preferred as they provide crevices and cracks suitable for nesting burrows. Grasslands are not suitable as puffin claws are not adapted for walking or landing on soft turf. Sparse vegetation is ideal as too dense vegetation can prevent them from flying and landing properly. An abundant food source of small fish is also critical as parents need to regularly feed their chick. Most puffins in Wales feed within 30 miles (50 km) of their breeding grounds.
Key Habitat Requirements:
- Offshore islands and remote coasts
- Steep cliffs and rocky slopes
- Little vegetation
- Access to food source – small fish
Wales happens to have the ideal puffin breeding habitat along its northern and western coasts dotted with many small uninhabited rocky islands. These provide the necessary criteria for puffins to establish nesting colonies. The cool waters also have suitable fish populations like lesser sandeels, herring, and sprats for puffins to feed on.
Major Puffin Colonies in Wales
There are three main islands in Wales that host significant breeding puffin populations:
Skomer Island
Skomer Island is located off the Pembrokeshire coast and has the largest puffin colony in Southern Britain with around 6000-7000 breeding pairs. It is a national nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. The island provides ideal habitat with its cliffs, boulder beaches, and limited vegetation. Puffins usually arrive in mid-April and stay until mid-July. Boat trips are available from Martin’s Haven allowing visitors to see puffins up close.
Skokholm Island
Skokholm is a small island near Skomer with dramatic cliffs that is also a nature reserve. Around 2000 puffin breeding pairs nest here. Being less accessible, there are fewer disturbances to puffins. Daily boat trips from Martin’s Haven can be taken in summer.
Puffin Island
Puffin Island is a small uninhabited island off the coast of Anglesey. Estimates of 300-400 puffin breeding pairs are on the island which is owned and managed by the North Wales Wildlife Trust. The main puffin colony is located on the eastern cliffs. Boat tours are available from Beaumaris to view the puffins.
In addition to these three main sites, a few hundred puffin breeding pairs scatter along the smaller islands off the Llyn Peninsula and Pembrokeshire coasts including Bardsey Island, Grassholm Island, Ramsey Island, and Linney Island. Colonies are also found on Carreg Ddu and Carreg y Gath cliffs on the mainland. Anglesey coasts have seen increased puffin sightings likely as they overflow from Puffin Island.
Puffin Population Trends in Wales
The number of puffins breeding in Wales has seen some fluctuations over past surveys:
| Island | 1969 | 1982 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skomer | 2,160 pairs | 6,140 pairs | 5,612 pairs |
| Skokholm | 1,300 pairs | 1,540 pairs | 1,710 pairs |
| Puffin Island | 400 pairs | 396 pairs | 330 pairs |
As seen from the table:
- Skomer puffin numbers increased dramatically and peaked between the 1980s-2000s but have declined slightly in recent years.
- Skokholm has remained relatively stable with some fluctuations.
- Puffin Island saw a small decline from initial surveys.
Overall the puffin population in Wales remains healthy compared to their depleted numbers in the late 19th and early 20th century when they were hunted for food, eggs, and feathers. Conservation efforts have allowed colonies to recover. However, puffins face new threats from climate change, overfishing, pollution, and human disturbance. Maintaining good marine habitats, fish stocks, and breeding sites remains critical for their continued survival.
When to see Puffins in Wales
The best time to view puffins on their nesting islands is during the breeding season from mid-April to late July. Peak activity is usually in June and early July when adults are regularly feeding chicks. Some key dates:
- Mid-April: Puffins arrive back from wintering at sea and begin courtship.
- May: Eggs are laid in burrows.
- June: Eggs hatch and adults start feeding chicks frequently.
- Early July: Puffin activity peaks with adults constantly fishing and returning with beaks full of fish.
- Late July: Adults and chicks leave colonies and head out to sea.
Puffin colonies are deserted from August to mid-April. Very few puffins can be sighted through the winter out at sea. To maximize sightings, visiting during June and early July offers the best opportunity to see puffins flying, paired up, landing, and sitting outside burrows.
Where to see Puffins in Wales
The key places to observe puffins in Wales include:
Skomer Island
Daily boat trips from Martins Haven April to October. Advance booking required. Allows you to walk around the island trails and get very close views of puffins on land and sea.
Skokholm Island
Daily boat trips from Martins Haven in summer. Advance booking required. Less visitor traffic than Skomer allows excellent puffin viewing opportunities.
Puffin Island
Boat tours from Beaumaris Pier on Anglesey from April to July. Advance booking advised. Offers great views of puffins on the cliffs and in flight.
South Stack Cliffs RSPB Reserve – Holyhead, Anglesey
Easy cliff top access from visitor center. Connected via a bridge to South Stack Island which has a puffin colony. In late summer, puffins raft and fish in large numbers off the coast.
Bull Bay near Amlwch, Anglesey
A stretch of coastline where puffins regularly gather to raft and fish close to shore from mid-July to September after leaving colonies. Create puffin jams of over a thousand birds. Best spotted with binoculars or telescope from a high vantage point along the Wales Coast Path.
Threats to Puffins in Wales
Although puffin numbers have rebounded since historic declines, they still face a number of threats today that can impact future populations. Some current threats include:
- Declining food sources – Overfishing and climate change are causing declines in key prey fish populations like sandeels and herring that puffins rely on to feed their chicks. This reduces breeding success.
- Predators – Great black-backed gulls prey on adult puffins as well as eggs and chicks. Their populations have increased causing greater predation.
- Habitat loss – Human disturbance, erosion, invasive vegetation, and development can degrade nesting habitats.
- Extreme weather – Storms, heavy rain, and freezing temperatures can destroy burrows, eggs, and chicks and make fishing difficult.
- Pollution – Oil spills, chemical runoff, plastics, and sewage can poison and choke puffins.
Ongoing conservation including protecting breeding islands, maintaining fish stocks, predator control, habitat management, reducing disturbances, and eliminating pollution remains key to ensure puffins have safe nesting and feeding grounds in Wales.
Fun Facts About Puffins
- Puffins are also known by the nickname “sea parrots” due to their colorful beaks.
- Their beaks change color during the year from gray to yellow and orange with a grooved texture that helps hold fish.
- Puffins can flap their wings up to 400 times per minute allowing them to achieve speeds over 55 mph.
- They have spines on their tongue and roof of their mouths to help hold fish.
- Puffins can dive down to depths of 200 feet to catch fish.
- They nest in rocky burrows where the parents take turns incubating their single egg.
- Puffin couples meet back at the same burrow year after year with high mate fidelity.
- Young puffins spend their first few years entirely out at sea before returning to land to breed.
- The oldest known wild puffin lived to over 30 years of age.
- Their stout bodies and short wings make takeoff from level ground impossible. They can only fly by dropping off cliff edges or by leaping from the water.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are healthy breeding colonies of puffins numbering around 5,000 pairs that nest on islands off the coast of Wales, primarily on Skomer, Skokholm, and Puffin Islands. Viewing is best from mid-April to late July during the breeding season when boat tours provide access to the main islands. Puffins rely on these important nesting habitats and surrounding marine feeding grounds. Persistent conservation management of their nesting sites, restoration of fish populations, and reduction of human disturbances and pollution remain vital to ensure puffins continue to thrive in Wales for generations to come.
