How to Watch Puffins

Provided you go to the right place at the right time of year, you are pretty sure to get a glimpse of these charismatic birds. Wild Thing cameraman Pieter Huisman gives us some tips on how to get the most out of puffin-watching.

Watch some of Pieter's puffin footage here >

• Do as much research as possible beforehand – books, the web, libraries and experts if you can contact them.



• Puffins return to the same nest sites each year, so check with local experts to find out where they are.



• Mind any rules, laws and/or permissions you may need in a certain area.



• Puffins are only found on certain islands and coastlines and only at specific times of the year. They come to land for the breeding season (April to July) but are otherwise mostly solitary and spend all of their time far out to sea.



• They are hard to miss in the breeding season as you'll most likely see hundreds if not thousands in a breeding colony.

• Early morning and late afternoon are the busiest times in the colonies. Puffins are taking off and landing frequently as they ferry their fish catch to their chicks.



• They will fly out less frequently if the weather is particularly windy or wet.



• Daily routines include fishing, feeding chicks, keeping enemies at bay or fleeing from them, grooming, pruning and socializing.



• Black-backed gulls are a puffin's main 'predator', stealing their fish catch and, if they get the chance, killing and eating their chicks.



• Look out for puffin 'wheeling', when the birds congregate in the air and fly in circles to intimidate other birds (particularly gulls).

• Look around for the best spots to observe puffins on a particular stretch of coast or cliff – an easy slope and favourable wind direction. If photographing, consider an attractive ocean backdrop and the angle of the sun (backlight is always nice).



• When crossing areas where puffins are nesting, walk slowly and avoid any sudden movements (and flapping clothing!). Sit down quietly and gently.



• Be careful not to tread on or near their burrows; they are fragile and prone to collapse under a human's weight.



• If you sit still and wait patiently, puffins in close vicinity may get accustomed to you and continue with their usual routines.



• You'll need a stool, a sturdy tripod (and maybe even something or someone to keep strong coastal winds from shaking your camera if you're filming), binoculars and a telephoto lens (as puffins are quite small – about 30cm tall).

• Set up your camera at a low height to get more impressive shots at the puffin's eye level.



• With a strong telephoto lens, you may even see puffins out at sea diving down and then sitting on the water with the fish catch in their bills.



• When close to or at sea, always protect yourself with warm waterproof clothing and cover your kit to protect it from salt spray.



• Leave only footprints, no rubbish or anything else.



• Most important – respect the wildlife you're filming and the area you're in so it can continue to flourish and others can enjoy it after you.

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