Fratercula arctica - Puffin

Taxonomy

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Alcidae

These lovely seabirds are fond of cliffs and boulder-strewn islands with grassy slopes. On the western shores of Britain Puffins are a common and delightful sight for summer hikers along the coastal paths. Their distinctive parrot-like beaks make these birds very easy to identify.

Puffins are gregarious and often set up large breeding colonies. Our favourite place for watching Puffins is Skomer Island, a national nature Reserve off the coast of Pembrokeshire. It is possible to visit the island for either a day or for a few days with overnight accommodation on the island, which is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

Sandeels, and to a lesser extent other small fish, are the staple diet of Puffins, and so anything that puts this food source in jeopardy is a great threat to the future of these iconic seabirds.

Garden Birds... Robin Magpie Chaffinch Bullfinch Siskin Mistle Thrush Fieldfare Goldfinch Jay Nuthatch Dunnock Blue Tit Redwing Rook Wheatear Great tit Yellowhammer Blackbird Brambling Coal Tit Jackdaw Pied Wagtail Great-spotted Woodpecker Willow Warbler Carrion Crow Lapwing The Aviary

Water Birds... Canada Goose Coot Cormorant Dipper Fulmar Gannet Guillemot Grey Wagtail Heron Kingfisher Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Puffin Razorbill Reed Warbler Shelduck The Aviary

Countryside Birds... Buzzard Chough Common Sandpiper Common Snipe Dunlin Long-tailed Tit Swift Short-eared Owl Golden Plover Hooded Crow Raven Rook Peregrine Falcon Pied Flycatcher Sparrowhawk Swallow Red Kite Redstart Stonechat Tawny Owl Wren Barn Owl The Aviary

Algarve Wildlife - the natural year is an indispensable companion if you intend visiting Portugal. Details...

 

Best bird sites in Wales...

 

Bird Links... RSPB BTO