LUNDEY NEWS: IT'S PUFFLING SEASON
As the puffins' nesting season progresses, one of the busiest times of the year has begun for the parents. The chicks, or so-called pufflings, have hatched and are already a few weeks old, demanding plenty of fresh fish every single day. As a result, the adults are constantly venturing out in search of food.
Puffins feed mainly on small schooling fish such as sand eels, capelin, herring, and juvenile hake, which they carry whole back to their chicks. Although they may travel many miles from the colony to find enough prey, they don't have to return with just one fish at a time. Instead, puffins stack multiple fish crosswise in their beaks. Their strong tongues press the catch against the roof of the mouth, where tiny backward-facing spines (called papillae) help hold the fish securely while the bird catches more.
On average, a puffin returns to its burrow with around 10 fish at a time, although some carry considerably more. The current record belongs to a puffin in Britain that was photographed carrying an astonishing 62 fish in a single beakful!
If you've been hoping to capture that iconic shot of a puffin with a beak full of fish, now is your chance!
Join our GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins tour and experience the hustle and bustle of Puffin Island for yourself!
Text & Photos: Sarah (captain/head guide)
