Puffins posing for the camera at Sumburgh Head, Shetland, this spring.
Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives at sea, forming colonies on the rocky cliffs here in Shetland to breed in the spring and summer. They are dubbed the “sea parrot” because of their colourful beaks but did you know their beaks fade to a dull grey during the winter when they’re out at sea?
They are so much fun to watch and photograph.
Linking up with PODcast’s Alphabet Photo Challenge. This week P is for Puffin.
A is for… Adventure
B is for… Brave
C is for… Coast
D is for… Derelict
E is for… Education
F is for… Fishing Industry
G is for… Green
H is for… Helicopter
I is for… Iron Age
J is for… Jelly Sweets
K is for… Kohlrabi
L is for… Lynn
M is for… Marmoset
N is for… Noise
O is for… Orangedale
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Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Natally says
Lovely pics from what looks like a lovely day
kayleigh watkins says
absolutely beautiful, would love to see these colourful feathery beauties xxxx
Kavey says
I desperately want to see puffins up close. So cute!
Elizabeth says
Come visit us up here in Shetland during the summer – you’ll see plenty then! 😀
Holly says
I love puffins! They sound so funny and I love that they lose their beaks in winter! Great shots!
Elizabeth says
Thanks Holly 🙂 I kind of liken their beaks to putting lipstick on to attract a mate! No need to wear it around the house when there is no one to see!
Charly Dove says
Awesome photo, I love puffins too! I can remember holidaying in Wales and you could see hundreds of them on Skomer Island. Amazing birds. Thank you so much for sharing with #alphabetphoto
Elizabeth says
My pleasure Charly, thanks for hosting such a great challenge!
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) says
I havent seen them in real life and up until now though your photos proved they are real, they still look too cute to be real! #alphabetphoto
Elizabeth says
They are adorable, aren’t they!
sustainablemum says
Oh how wonderful to get close enough to capture these even with a long lens. I love these wee birds they are such characters. I did know about the beaks, perhaps they are colourful to help them find their mate.
Elizabeth says
A long lens isn’t required, you can get within a few feet of them sometimes – I really think they like the attention! 😀
Cheryl says
Utterly envious. My favourite bird. Your photos are beautiful and I can imagine they are fun to photograph. #AlphabetPhoto
Elizabeth says
Awww 🙂 Thanks Cheryl, you should come up and take some photos of them yourself some time!
Sally - My Custard Pie says
They’re gorgeous. I’ve only seen at a great distance from a ferry round the Farne Islands
Elizabeth says
They’re lovely, aren’t they, and it’s fab to be able to get so close up to them.
Lou's lake Views says
Gorgeous photos, one of my biggest regrets is not visiting the shetlands before we emigrated, i would love to see these in the flesh.
Elizabeth says
You never know, you might end up here one day! 🙂
Kriss MacDonald says
Fabulous shots – how wonderful capturing them in the wild in the Shetlands! #alphabetphoto
Elizabeth says
Thanks Kriss – yes we are very lucky they come and stay here for the summer. Such photogenic creatures!
Tarana says
What lovely birds! Puffin always reminds me of the publisher, though 🙂
Elizabeth says
Oh yes, I’d forgotten that there was a book publisher by that name!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
What gorgeous birds. I wished I lived close enough to go and visit.
Elizabeth says
They really are beautiful, unusual little creatures.
MylifeMylove says
Wow, amazing photos. I’ve never seen Puffins up close. #alphabetphoto xx
Elizabeth says
Thanks 🙂 You can get really close to the puffins at this location. There’s a fab web cam too, if you wanted to watch them inside their nests!
Jess @ Catch A Single Thought says
Gorgeous photos, I’d love to get so close to a puffin as, oddly, they’ve featured in a couple of books I’ve read this summer and I’m intrigued by them. #alphabetphoto
Elizabeth says
You can get really close to them at Sumburgh Head in Shetland, within a few feet sometimes. I really do think they come to pose for the cameras!
agatapokutycka says
Wow, what an amazing looking bird!
2nd shot looks like he is trying to talk to you 🙂
Elizabeth says
Doesn’t he, haha! Such cute little birds 🙂