Puffins spotted on Firth of Forth after difficult winter

Puffins have returned to the Firth of Forth after a difficult winter saw thousands washing up on coastlines.

The colourful seabirds were seen on the water near Craigleith island on the Scottish Seabird Centre’s interactive live cameras.

The Forth is home to the largest colony of breeding puffins on the east coast of Scotland, the Isle of May, as well as one of the world’s largest colonies of Northern gannets on the Bass Rock.

Craigleith is an important site for puffins and has seen a recent increase in breeding pairs thanks to the Charity’s project, SOS Puffin.

For the past 19 years, volunteer work parties – led by the Scottish Seabird Centre, and in partnership with RSPB and the Lothian Sea Kayak Club – have been travelling to the islands of Craigleith, the Lamb and Fidra in the Firth of Forth.

Puffins have been spotted for the first time this year Jamie McDermaid

The project involves volunteers removing invasive tree mallow, which can prevent puffins from reaching their nesting burrows.

Since the start of the project, puffin numbers have now increased to 5,000 breeding pairs on Craigleith Island alone.

The charity says it remains to be seen how the populations have fared during the rough and stormy winter months.

The Scottish Seabird Centre’s Conservation manager, Emily Burton, said of the sighting: “I’m delighted that the first puffins of the year have now been spotted around Craigleith. These birds are joyful to see, and we certainly don’t take their presence here for granted, given the many threats that seabirds currently face.

“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.

“We’ll also be undertaking puffin burrow counts this year, which will give us a clearer picture of how populations in the Forth are faring. This will be particularly important given the number of dead birds that washed up along the coast this winter, causing widespread concern for this iconic species.”

“We hope that, in the face of mounting pressures on seabirds, people will come together this summer to celebrate these remarkable birds, while also recognising the immediate need to protect them.

“Without urgent action to protect our seas, we risk losing incredible birds like puffins from our coasts forever.”