Puffins are one of Scotland’s most charming and recognizable seabirds, often spotted perched on dramatic sea cliffs or darting over the waves from late spring through summer. These colorful birds, nicknamed “clowns of the sea” for their bright orange beaks and endearing expressions, come ashore each year to breed on remote islands and coastal reserves. Some of the best places to see them include the Isle of May, the Treshnish Isles, and Fair Isle, where visitors can watch their bustling colonies up close. Puffins dig burrows into grassy slopes to nest and raise their chicks before returning to the open sea in late summer, disappearing from view until the following year. Watching them amid Scotland’s wild coastal beauty is a highlight for many nature lovers and photographers alike
Puffins are one of Scotland’s most charming and recognizable seabirds, often spotted perched on dramatic sea cliffs or darting over the waves from late spring through summer. These colorful birds, nicknamed “clowns of the sea” for their bright orange beaks and endearing expressions, come ashore each year to breed on remote islands and coastal reserves. Some of the best places to see them include the Isle of May, the Treshnish Isles, and Fair Isle, where visitors can watch their bustling colonies up close. Puffins dig burrows into grassy slopes to nest and raise their chicks before returning to the open sea in late summer, disappearing from view until the following year. Watching them amid Scotland’s wild coastal beauty is a highlight for many nature lovers and photographers alike