The team at the Scottish Seabird Centre have spotted the first puffins of the year on their live cameras in the Firth of Forth.
An important site for seabirds, the Forth is home to the largest colony of breeding puffins on the East Coast of Scotland, the Isle of May, as well as the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets on the Bass Rock.
The puffins departed in July last year to spend the winter out in open seas, but this early first sighting is an "exciting reminder" that the seabird breeding season is about to begin, the Scottish Seabird Centre said.
The colourful seabirds were seen on the water close to Craigleith island, on the Scottish Seabird Centre's interactive live cameras. Craigleith is an important site for puffins and has seen a recent boost in breeding pairs thanks to the work of the charity's award-winning project - SOS Puffin.
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Coordinated by the Scottish Seabird Centre, and in partnership with RSPB, SOS Puffin has been taking volunteer work parties onto the islands of Craigleith, the Lamb and Fidra in the Firth of Forth, for the past 18 years. The work parties remove invasive tree mallow, which can prevent puffins from reaching their nesting burrows.
Emily Burton, The Scottish Seabird Centre’s Senior Conservation Officer, said of the sighting: “I’m delighted that the first puffins of the year have now been spotted nearby Craigleith! These birds are joyful to see, and we are very lucky that so many call the Firth of Forth ‘home’ during the summer months.
"The race is now on for our conservation team and brilliant volunteers to make sure that the islands are in good shape for returning seabirds, removing litter and invasive plants before the busy breeding season begins.”
