Island colony of comical seabirds

With their distinctive features and comical behaviour, the puffins of Northumberland’s Farne Islands dominate the rugged shores

On the rocky landscape of a small island in the North Sea, the mid-morning air is filled with the cacophony of birds and a pungent fishy, metallic scent. Both ground and sky are alive with puffins, while more can be seen bobbing around on the surrounding water. The Farne Islands are England’s most spectacular wildlife-watching destination, located approximately 3 miles from Northumberland’s charming coast. Depending on the height of tide, they comprise 15 to 20 rocky islands, two of which have operational lighthouses. In early summer, the archipelago throngs with 19 species of breeding seabirds, wildfowl and waders. Puffins are among the most abundant breeding birds on the Farnes. At the last full census in 2013, 39,962 pairs were counted, making this their summer home.

New life

June is the busiest month for a puffin. After approximately six weeks’ incubation, their single egg hatches, and the two parents work together, alternating feeding trips to satisfy their rapidly ›

Puffins return to the Farnes, where there are no terrestrial predators, for the breeding season, settling in clifftop colonies (left). Inner Farne lighthouse and St Cuthbert’s Chapel, once part of a larger 14th century monastic complex (top).