Puffin watching experiences, ranked

This year I went on two puffin watching experiences, and it is about time I reflect on this with a listicle / ranking.

All on islands with decreasing populations of people and increasing populations of puffins.

Third place – Svalbard (one puffin)

A walrus watching trip in Svalbard (pop. 2900) was my first puffin sighting, in 2018. Puffins were just a possibility, but sold well by the guide noting they were very lazy and would wait until the last minute before the boat approached them and then chubbily fly away.

I saw one puffin flying across the sea, it was pretty cool and I still remember it.

I was very seasick after this. I don’t normally get seasick, the waves were something else. We actually had to go to shore and wait for a much bigger boat to get us.

Merch

No puffins, but I do still have this Isbjørn:

Second place – Rathlin Island (five puffins)

In May this year I made a trip out to Rathlin Island (pop. 140) which has an RSPB seabird reserve, which is known for its puffins.

I saw about five puffins, which were all very far away, but binoculars were provided. This time, coming out of their burrows, and flying off. It was the start of the breeding season and I think more puffins come later on in the year.

Apparently rats had come to the island (thanks to, you guessed it, humans) and were eating the eggs in the burrows. A recent campaign of introducing ferrets and generally targeting rats had successfully led to the puffins coming back, hurrah! Someone asked what happened to the ferrets (which also eat eggs), and it was unclear how an old lady who lives in a shoe situation was prevented.

I really enjoyed seeing these puffins. Also because the island is not that easy to get to, and it takes a few hours each to walk to the reserve, the struggle/journey made it more special.

Merch

Bestill my beating heart. The RSPB shop was next level. I kept it together though:

The shop staff did ask the people in front of me if they were under 26 and wanted to come in for free, which they were not but were very flattered by. They asked me if I wanted a family membership so I could bring my kids back. Fair enough but minus one point.

The puffin squeaker/call noise seems messed up though?

No, turns out they are really like that.

First place – Coquet Island (many puffins)

In July (peak puffin season) I went on a boat trip around Coquet Island (pop. 0). When we were waiting for the boat a couple getting off hugged each other and said it was amazing, which seemed pretty promising.

Well, this really blew everything else out of the water. Puffins everywhere. In the sky, carrying fish, landing badly, taking off, pufflets on the water. There are normally 20k puffins, but 30k puffins this year. I didn’t see all 30k, but it was a big step up.

There were also loads of seals, which are also great.

Merch

Also pretty good:

Farne Islands?

Nearby in the Farne Islands rumours of 45k breeding pairs of puffins circulate. I didn’t make it there this time, but for my puffin sightings numbers are only going in one direction.