Pete Ellis just spotted our first Sumburgh Head puffin of 2010 - hiprah! It is just off shore, all alone. But where there is one, others will follow. This individual may well have left Sumburgh Head last August, possibly going as far away as the Bay of Biscay. This winter, there's been a few moments when I've been a bit envious of Shetland's seabirds heading off to warmer places!
We will be running a Date With Nature project at the reserve this year. More about that in future posts, but in the meantime you can follow this link http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/shetland/ . If you are unable to visit Shetland, you could go here http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/puffinisland/index.asp if you can visit north Wales; or here http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/puffincruise/index.asp if you are nearer Bridlington; or here http://www.rspb.org.uk/datewithnature/sites/firthofforth/index.asp if you are around Edinburgh. Come summertime, you are never more than a few hours journey to seeing a puffin - so make sure you set aside some time!
Follow this link http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/puffin/index.aspx to find out more about these great seabirds.
Cheerio from Sumburgh Head