Puffin Spotting on the North Wales Coast
Published on 29 Apr 2024 by Amy GreenwoodThere is something delightfully endearing about puffins. These adorable little seabirds with their distinctive beaks and comical appearance are a delight to watch. Spotting these much loved birds is a treat not only for dedicated bird watchers, but also for nature lovers and photographers. The coastlines of North Wales, with their rugged cliffs and isolated coves, provide ideal nesting sites and puffin spotting.
One of the most well known puffin colonies in North Wales is located on Anglesey, on the iconic South Stack Cliffs, a designated nature reserve managed by the RSPB. The cliffs provide a nesting habitat for thousands of seabirds. During the breeding season puffins can be seen bustling around and flying in with sand eels to feed their chicks, or ‘pufflings’. The RSPB visitor centre here provides plenty of information on the local birdlife and guided puffin walks during the breeding season.
Another notable location for puffin spotting is Puffin Island, or Ynys Seiriol. This uninhabited island off the eastern tip of Anglesey hosts a significant puffin population during breeding season. Seacoast Safaris run boat trips from Beaumaris and their ‘Puffin Island Cruise’ offers the opportunity to spot not only puffins but other coastal wildlife, including seals, dolphins, and a variety of seabirds such as guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes.
Ynys Enlli (Bardsey), the small island off the tip of the Llyn Peninsula, is a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The island is well known as an established breeding ground for Manx shearwater. It also plays host to a growing puffin colony. Bardsey Boat Trips run day trips to the island where visitors can enjoy a wealth of wildlife amidst the tranquil beauty of Bardsey’s unspoilt landscape.
For the best chance of spotting puffins along the North Wales coast timing is crucial. Puffins spend most of the year out at sea, but during late spring and summer they come ashore to breed and raise their young. These charming little birds can usually be spotted on the North Wales coast from late April to late July, with peak numbers in May and June.
As puffins generally nest on cliff ledges or in burrows, it’s a good idea to bring binoculars to get a better view. Aim to visit on a clear, sunny day for the best visibility. Finally, remember that puffins can be somewhat elusive, so be patient, keep a lookout for any puffins returning from the sea, and keep a close eye on the cliffs for those distinctive, colourful beaks.
