Puffin (Fratercula artica)

http://www.visitscotland.com/cms-images/5x3-large/wildlife/puffin < image reference at this link.

The Puffin is often referred to as "the clown of sea" by some, due to its very bright and colourful beak.
The Puffin nests very close to the sea, often using cliff faces as a place to raise their young, and they fish out in the open sea.

http://www.aboutbridlington.co.uk/bempton/puffin2.jpg < image reference at this link.

These beautiful birds can be found locally in the Farne Islands, and also other islands in Scotland. They most commonly nest on the north east, and west coast of the UK.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/6/3/1370272179732/atlantic-puffin-010.jpg < image reference at this link.

The birds are relatively common in the Uk, with there numbers exceeding 500,000 breeding pairs, however with these beautiful birds only being located at a handful of sites, they have an amber list status, given by the rspb.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Papageitaucher_Fratercula_arctica.jpg

Some Puffin illustrations I have created whilst researching them.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/p/puffin/




Thomas.