Atlantic Puffin, Saltee Islands, Co. Wexford

In Ireland, Atlantic Puffins come to reside mainly on the west coast, and a few locations along the east coast (Saltee Islands). They prefer the safety of cliffs and sea-stacks, away from predatory animals like foxes or rats. They have been known to use rabbit holes for nesting, sometimes even evicting the original tenants.

The puffin breeding season usually starts in late March or early April, finishing in July or August, though of course, they follow their own schedule which means that predicting their movements down to an exact week or even month isn’t always possible. At this time, the puffins leave Ireland and the rest of Northern Europe to winter in warmer waters down south.

The images below were taken on the Saltee Islands, May 2022.