Great post! I love puffins - 'clowns of the sea' - they're delightful creatures.
In 2002 while on a trip to the Isle of Coll - one of the isles of Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland - a group of us chartered a small boat to take us to the uninhabited island of Lunga which was home to huge numbers of puffins. It was late spring, and the whole place was a sea of bluebells - the scent was incredible - and we just sat on the ground and marvelled at the puffins which would just come up to us to check us out! There are no predators - or people, very often - on the island, and the birds had no fear whatsoever, and such immense curiosity. It was an amazing experience, and I treasure the memory.
Your post has brought it all back to me - thank you so much!
Over here, what you call a 'blind' is a 'hide' - I didn't know you had a different word for it across the pond. That's so interesting!
😮 That sounds ABSOLUTELY magical, Rebecca, thank you for sharing that beautiful memory. I was pretty tempted to work in a puffin trip back in August, but our itinerary was already quite ambitious 😅
They gave zero hoots about us on the island, although not quite as tame as to come up to us. Just marching up and down the roof of the hide! (I just asked Ben, and he says folks will sometimes call them hides here when it’s specifically birds - I had no idea!)
I think regular exposure to puffins should be compulsory! Mind you, that trip I’d described is something I’m not sure I’d want to do again, just in case it isn’t as perfect, and I wouldn’t want to spoil the beautiful memory! Does that even make sense?! 🤔🤣😅
Great post! I love puffins - 'clowns of the sea' - they're delightful creatures.
In 2002 while on a trip to the Isle of Coll - one of the isles of Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland - a group of us chartered a small boat to take us to the uninhabited island of Lunga which was home to huge numbers of puffins. It was late spring, and the whole place was a sea of bluebells - the scent was incredible - and we just sat on the ground and marvelled at the puffins which would just come up to us to check us out! There are no predators - or people, very often - on the island, and the birds had no fear whatsoever, and such immense curiosity. It was an amazing experience, and I treasure the memory.
Your post has brought it all back to me - thank you so much!
Over here, what you call a 'blind' is a 'hide' - I didn't know you had a different word for it across the pond. That's so interesting!
😮 That sounds ABSOLUTELY magical, Rebecca, thank you for sharing that beautiful memory. I was pretty tempted to work in a puffin trip back in August, but our itinerary was already quite ambitious 😅
They gave zero hoots about us on the island, although not quite as tame as to come up to us. Just marching up and down the roof of the hide! (I just asked Ben, and he says folks will sometimes call them hides here when it’s specifically birds - I had no idea!)
I think regular exposure to puffins should be compulsory! Mind you, that trip I’d described is something I’m not sure I’d want to do again, just in case it isn’t as perfect, and I wouldn’t want to spoil the beautiful memory! Does that even make sense?! 🤔🤣😅
It absolutely makes sense! It’s impossible to capture the original magic of an experience (which is why it’s so magical!)
They're so cute! I got to see some in Iceland a few years ago
Lucky! Iceland looks magical - on the list for sure.
One of the trip adventures I keep putting off is to go to the Faroe Islands for a week or so and just hike with the puffins. Love this!
Thanks, Tad! That sounds like an incredible trip. I hope you’re able to make it happen!
Adding Sea Watch Tours to our list for our visit …
Yes! It’s a fantastic time.
These are amazing, Bryn!
Thanks, Alison! 🐧💕