Orkney is home to orcas, otters, and sea eagles, highlighting just how special our nature and wildlife attractions are.
However, during spring the focus returns to an old favourite as we welcome back our puffin population. These colourful clowns of the cliffs begin to chatter away at various locations across Orkney at the end of April after their long winter at sea.
They always prove popular with both visitors and locals. With their technicolour bills, distinctive black and white plumage, and bright orange legs, our puffins are a welcome addition to the coastline, building burrows alongside our other seabirds, including fulmars, guillemots, gannets, and kittiwakes.
Puffins are known as ‘tammie norries’ in Orkney and actually spend most of their lives at sea. They return to their breeding colonies around April and May where they lay only a single egg. Summer evenings in June and July can often be the best time to see the birds before they begin to leave their cliffside burrows in August.
So, if you want to catch a glimpse of these little characters, you’ll have to be quick. Here are some of the best places to see puffins in Orkney.
Castle of Burrian, Westray
This is probably Orkney’s prime puffin-spotting site. A small sea stack provides the perfect home for hundreds of tammie norries during the summer months, and the surrounding cliffs offer excellent vantage points to see them. It's possible to get quite close to the puffins here, but remember to keep a respectful distance and try not to disturb them.
Brough of Birsay, West Mainland
This tidal island off the west coast of the Orkney mainland is a fantastic place to visit. Time your arrival just before low tide to cross the concrete causeway and you can usually find puffins on the cliffs around the island. Head anti-clockwise and your best bet to see them is at the island's south east corner, close to the lighthouse on the west side, and at the northwest corner. Take some time to visit the remains of the ancient settlements too, but don't leave it too late before returning back across the causeway - the tide comes in quickly and you can easily become stuck. Make sure you double check the tide times before crossing and leave the island with plenty of time to cross back over to the mainland. Contact the visitor centre at Skara Brae on 01856 841 815 for tide information.
RSPB Marwick Head, West Mainland
Another dramatic stretch of coastline, Marwick Head is also one of Orkney’s seabird cities, welcoming thousands of species. Picking out a puffin amongst all the guillemots, kittiwakes, and fulmars can be a challenge but keep your eye on the greener slopes and around the rocks and you should see their distinctive bills. Binoculars are essential, and remember not to get too close to the cliff edge.
RSPB Hoy Nature Reserve, Hoy
A visit to this truly wild landscape is a must during your time in Orkney. With vast moorland stretching out to the tallest vertical sea cliffs in the UK, the Hoy scenery is spectacular. Puffins can be found on the cliffs near the famous Old Man of Hoy sea stack along with plenty of other seabirds. You might also be lucky and see Hoy’s sea eagles in the nearby Rackwick valley too.
RSPB North Hill Reserve, Papa Westray
Papa Westray's North Hill reserve encapsulates the northern tip of the island and is home to an incredible range of nature and wildlife. It's arguably Orkney's finest stretch of maritime heath and is covered in wildflowers during the summer months. Head to the coast though and you'll soon see some spectacular seabirds, including our puffin friends. Their numbers are smaller here but the low-lying cliffs on the eastern coast of the island are where you'll have most success. There's also a chance to see a handful of puffins at Moclett at the southern end of the island.
Northside, West Mainland
Northside is a bit of a hidden gem found not far from the other puffin hotspots at the Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head. There's a small car park at the eastern end of the Northside road, just off the A966 from Palace village, where you can stop before heading on foot to the coast. During the summer you should see around 30 pairs of puffins amidst the drama of this special section of coastline.
Other locations, including Stronsay and Shapinsay, also offer some perfect puffin-spotting opportunities. And, whilst there is no doubt that puffins are beautiful and entertaining, they are just a small part of Orkney’s seabird population. Remember to take some time at all our recommended locations to watch the other resident species.
