Scottish Seabird Centre

By Udara Nagodavithana

27 February 2024

In this blog, our Youth Ambassador, Udara Nagodavithana, reflects on some fond memories with seabirds and looks ahead to the exciting spectacle of their imminent return to our shores over the next few months. Over this period, we will see an ever-increasing number of seabirds come back as their breeding season begins on Scotland's many coasts and islands.

Clowns of the Sea

A personal favourite seabird of mine are the puffins (also known as the ‘clowns of the sea’). They spend most of the year on the ocean but will return to their nesting sites on the Isle of May from March onwards. Puffins will breed in colonies from April to August. During this breeding season we will see displays of bill-knocking and ritualised walking that will result in each mating pair producing an egg. The egg is laid at the end of a burrow located on grassy cliff tops and, once it hatches, the chick will remain in the burrow until it is ready to head out to sea.

An interesting fact about puffins is that, once they fledge, they head off into the open ocean without their parents and will remain there until they are 2-3 years old. Eventually they’ll find their way back to the same colony and may even nest where they hatched. Scientists are still unsure how puffins find their way home – we still have so much to learn from the migrations of seabirds!

A puffin’s diet consists of small fish, particularly sandeels. Recently, the Scottish Government introduced a fishing ban for sandeels following a public consultation. It will be implemented ahead of the 2024 fishery season subject to parliamentary approval. This is great news for the tens of thousands of puffins that frequent the Scottish coastline every year.

To learn more about these birds, and experience the spectacle of seabird colonies, the Scottish Seabird Centre will commence their landing trips to the Isle of May come April. My trip to the Isle of May was unfortunately scheduled during the peak of avian flu and, as a result, landing trips were terminated. The alternative tour around the island, however, meant we could catch glimpses of them as they bobbed around in the water. I am beyond excited to go on a landing trip this year and finally see the birds up-close in their natural habitat.

Gannets Gathering

In addition to the charismatic puffin, we welcome the return of the Northern gannets with their distinctive, black-tipped wings and yellow heads. Gannets are the largest seabird in Britain with an impressive two-metre wingspan. Their bodies are also very streamlined, allowing them to travel up to speeds of 60mph as they hit the surface of the water.

In the Firth of Forth, they will make their return to Bass Rock – the largest Northern gannet colony in the world. Around 60% of Europe’s gannets reside in Scotland, from February until October, before they make their way south over the winter (some have even been tracked as far down as the Canary Islands). The Scottish Seabird Centre allows a unique glimpse into the lives of these impressive birds, with wildlife boat trips, live footage transmitted from solar powered cameras on the Bass Rock, and regular updates throughout the breeding season.

The Bass Rock Experience gives those interested in wildlife and photography the unique experience to have an expert guide take you round the nesting colony. Last year, I had the pleasure of going around Bass Rock, and it was an unforgettable experience seeing them so close-up.

Kittiwakes and Terns

In April, we will also begin to see other species of seabirds returning, such as kittiwakes and terns. Kittiwakes spend a great deal of their time out at sea and will only be back on land for a brief period of time to breed on rocky cliff tops and ledges. They can be spotted well into the summer months, in huge, noisy, bustling colonies.

Many tern species arrive too, with the Arctic tern holding the record for the longest migration of any animal. They can travel as far as the Antarctic every winter before they return to nest on sandy and shingle beaches. Beware not to get too close to these nests as they are known to dive bomb intruders to protect their eggs or chicks!

As we look ahead to our seabirds returning, keep your eyes peeled and make sure to take care around nesting sites. We look forward to seeing the images you capture and hearing about the experiences you have with these beautiful birds right here on our shores.

Header Image: Greg MacVean
Listing Image: Jamie McDermaid