Jason Alexander
Debbie Cripps
Gill Sim
Cathy Lewis
Simon King
Paul & Ryan Edwards
John Campbell
Ben Macdonald
Michael Leigh-Mallory
Ian Hayward - RSPB
Darren Woodhead
Travelling Whisperers
Young Whisperer Reporters
Hugh Miles
A Passion For Puffins
Added 05/06/2011 to Whisperer Blogs, Features & Articles
It is little wonder that the Atlantic Puffin is one of the most popular, admired and even adored species of bird in Britain and even perhaps beyond. For a would-be admirer and or observer the ‘Tamie Norrie’, as we call them here in Shetland really does have it all; charisma, beauty and better still they are notoriously obliging and also confiding!
The fact that these hardened little seafarers spend the entire winter far out to sea, probably never even coming anywhere near the sight of land from August to April surely commands respect. Yes it’s a tuff life for a Tammie Norrie and that’s for sure, imagine riding out those North Atlantic mid-winter storms in conditions that the safest of seagoing vessels couldn’t even go near.
During this period they are almost unrecognisable in their none- breeding plumage having lost their bright and beautiful tri coloured bill shields. The circular whitish area’s to each side of their head and face also is quite different and becomes quite drab and dusky. They are even flightless for much of it whilst they are in moult!
The first of our ‘Norries’ typically arrive back during the last few days of March when they often begin to gather in small numbers on the sea close inshore but are rarely seen on the cliff tops until the first week of April. By this time they are in their fully attired dapper dress. Like most seabirds they typically pair for life and in most pairs will return to the same nesting burrow summer after summer. Whether or not a pair have any idea where each other is during the off shore months is simply not known.
This summer our local tourism promoters Promote Shetland are once again running the ‘Puffin Cam’ in association with the RSPB. Last year the innovative underground web cam was broadcast live all day every day from inside the nesting burrow throughout the season. Other than checking this fabulous webcam out for yourself, the only possible way to possibly come close to pleasing your passion for Puffins is to get yourself face to face with them on a cliff top, but if you can’t this is a must see PUFFIN WEBCAM.
Following this webcam you can follow the most intimate and unique insights into a pair of Puffins and their real life story of (all going well) raising of a chick.
From a photographer’s point of view, Tammie Norries offer endless opportunities far and way beyond the classic Puffin portrait. I’ve attached a few of my efforts into this posting, I can’t wait for the opportunity to add more to the Puffin portfolio during the coming months…
Posted by Brydon Thomason
Brydon, just a little plug as an add on to the last comment. I have done a blog post on the Sumburgh Head puffins and you can view it here | http://www.talkwildlife.com/profiles/blogs/shetland-puffins-orcas-and-simon-king-s-talk-on-shetland-wildlife
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Like you my wife and I love puffins, they are such a joy to watch, video and photograph, and did not hesitate to take some footage for home. During our trip to Shetland in late June/early July 2011 we visited them at Sumburgh Head. They are a delight to watch, the way they walk, beak tapping, buiding nests and feeding their chicks. Unfortunately though, food shortages are a threat to their survival and they are having to travel further to catch the sandeels they need to feed their single chick, wasting precious energy in the process. We need to make sure that our fishing methods do little to reduce the numbers of these loveable little guys. Look forward to revisiting them in Shetland in July 2012.
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Beautifull pictures. They are together with kingfishers my favorite birds.
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great set of photo,s.i would like to go to shetland one day it looks great well done.
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What a stunning potfolio of images... I especially love the puffin sunset. I am looking forward to a visit to Shetland myself when I come in July... I am suitably inspired!
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Brydon, feel free to view my first Shetland Blog Post - Puffins - Sumburgh Head | http://www.talkwildlife.com/profiles/blogs/shetland-saturday-25-june-2011-sumburgh-head-puffins-guillemots
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