The Best Places to Photograph Puffins in Iceland + Europe

Puffins have been dubbed the clowns of the sea, as their brightly coloured bill and charisma make them irresistible to bird and nature lovers alike.

Written by Christa Rolls – Founder of Expedition Wildlife.

There are multiple species of puffin in the world, and the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the only species found in Europe, with over half of the world’s population living in Iceland.

Puffins are colonial birds, wherein they nest in large groups to share habitat and food resources and protect themselves against predators. Their colonial nature makes spotting puffins that much easier.

Most of the year, from approximately August to March, Puffins remain out to sea, living on the ocean and foraging for food through winter. Their primary diet consists of small fish, such as herring and sand eels, presenting wonderful photography opportunities with fish filled to their bill’s brim. Puffins come back to their breeding grounds, on grassy and steep slopes by coastal cliffs, in full-force starting in April.

Credit: Nathan Rolls, Expedition Wildlife

WHERE TO SEE PUFFINS

While cliff-sides and sea stacks may be somewhat arduous to visit, there are a handful of destinations in Europe that allow people the opportunity to see and photograph puffins. The best countries in which to spot Atlantic Puffins are Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the United Kingdom, and Norway…more details on the best places to see puffins are noted below alongside some photos of these little cuties!

Puffins in Iceland

Pairing a puffin watching trip with the landscapes of Iceland has to be one of the best ways to spend a northern spring/summer. You’ll find a guide to the best photography locations in Iceland already published on The Wandering Lens, but for the best places to see puffins in Iceland, check out the more rugged locations below…

Heimaey Island, Iceland

Heimaey Island is along the South Coast of Iceland and is part of the Westmann Islands, which are surprisingly hidden despite the Islands’ proximity to Reykjavik. Heimaey has the largest puffin colony in Iceland, totaling more than one million birds. The southern-most peninsula, called Stórhöfði, has a puffin observatory, where you can look out to the cliffs where the Atlantic Puffins are nesting. Heimaey is easily accessible by 35-minute ferry ride from Landeyjahöfn.

Credit: Nathan Rolls, Expedition Wildlife

Látrabjarg Cliffs, Iceland

A truly stunning bird nesting cliff, Látrabjarg is one of the more visited locations in western Iceland, and for good reason – millions of different sea birds can be spotted nesting in this one area, including puffins. Various angles of puffins can be captured, both at ground level along the grassy path and looking out to the vast cliffs over the sea. Be especially careful here, however, as the cliffs drop off suddenly. The Cliffs are somewhat difficult to reach because of their distance from Reykjavik and the winding dirt road leading to the peninsula.

Grímsey Island, Iceland

Grímsey Island sits about two hours by ferry off the north coast of Iceland and is a fantastic place to easily spot puffins. Puffin nesting burrows can be reached on foot from the main village, so accessibility once on the Island is not an issue. Due to the long journey from the mainland, consider staying on the Island for a night to get some varied puffin shots with the midnight sun.

Credit: Nathan Rolls, Expedition Wildlife

Other European Locations for Puffins

Mykines, Faroe Islands

Isolated, rugged, and rocky, Mykines is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in a bird paradise. While the trail to the bird cliffs is somewhat challenging, the sight of thousands of birds swirling in the air is truly a must-do for those interested in photographing puffins and other sea birds. Keep in mind that visitors must have a walking guide with them to visit the bird cliffs outside of 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and guides are recommended as it can be easy to get turned around, especially when the fog rolls in.

Read more: Take a peek at Expedition Wildlife’s One Week Itinerary for the Faroe Islands here.

Nólsoy, Faroe Islands

Nólsoy is one of the lesser-known bird islands on the Faroe Islands, despite that it is only a 30-minute ferry ride from the bustling town of Torshavn. Arrange with the Kaffistovan’s local bird guide to hike to the Island’s bird cliffs in early evening, where you’ll spot puffins moving to and from the sea in search of food. Stay even longer into the night and you can experience the world’s largest Storm Petrel colony come alive at midnight.

Credit: Nathan Rolls, Expedition Wildlife

Skomer Island, Wales

A gem on the Pembrokeshire Coast of western Wales, Skomer Island is the perfect spot for puffin lovers. Ferries run three times daily throughout the summer, except Mondays, to the Island, where visitors can walk and explore the coastal pathways, especially to the puffin colony on the western side of the Island. Quite literally, you can trip over a puffin if you aren’t careful, so watch your step!

*Read more about visiting Skomer Island in this comprehensive guide also written by Christa!

Shetland Islands, Scotland

Sumburgh Head RSPB Reserve, Hermaness Nature Reserve, and the Isle of Noss are some of the best places on the Shetlands to spot puffins and other sea birds. Sumburgh is the most accessible puffin location, with a road leading right up to the puffin viewing sites. Hermaness has the largest colony of puffins, in the tens of thousands, and although it’s at the northern-most part of the Islands, walking trails make it easy to photograph puffins. For those seeking extra adventure, the Isle of Noss is only accessible by foot and ferries have limited running times in the summer, however, the rugged cliffs on which the puffins nest make the perfect backdrop for stunning photos.

Credit: Nathan Rolls, Expedition Wildlife

Saint Kilda, Scotland

Saint Kilda has the largest puffin colony in the United Kingdom, boasting hundreds of thousands of puffins. These birds, however, cannot be seen on foot from land; instead, visitors must book directly with a local guide to reach the puffin nesting sea stacks just off the Island’s rocky shores. This is a fantastic location to photograph puffins nesting on the sea stacks as well as exhibiting their flight and foraging behaviour.

Rathlin Island RSPB Reserve, Northern Ireland

Rathlin Island has Northern Ireland’s largest sea bird colony, with tens of thousands of birds, including puffins. A quick ferry ride from Ballycastle and an easy drive up to the RSPB Seabird Centre allows visitors easy access to view the extensive colonies and thousands of birds flying around the cliffs and sea stacks. A coastal trail allows you to get even closer to the rugged cliff edges.

Bleiksøya, Norway

Norway’s rocky cliffs make perfect nesting spots for puffins, though not many are accessible by foot. Bleiksøya is the country’s largest bird cliff, and a boat tour to and around the island will allow you to
capture wonderful photos of puffins resting on the water and views of the puffin cliffs from your boat in the water.

Credit: Nathan Rolls, Expedition Wildlife

Wildlife Photography: Tips for Photographing Puffins

• The best time of year to see puffins is typically between April and July. If you visit outside of this time frame you will be sorely disappointed, as puffins will already be out to sea until spring arrives
  again.
• All of the best places to see puffins also happen to be more rugged in nature and the weather can sometimes be unforgiving. Don’t forget to wear proper rain gear and layers to remain comfortable, and invest in a good rain cover for your camera gear.
• Puffins are not terribly shy creatures. Most of the aforementioned puffin destinations allow people to get close to the birds and their nesting area, so don’t be afraid to get dirty by getting on the puffin’s level for some great shots. In addition, locations such as Skomer Island do not require a long lens length, as puffins will get within meters of visitors. Others, such as Bleiksøya or Saint Kilda, will require a longer lens since puffins can only be viewed from the water.
• A puffin’s primary goal is acquiring food for themselves and the young one they are caring for in their burrow. If you see a bird sticking around and “posing” for you with food, it’s likely you’re between it and its burrow entrance. Be cognizant of this to ensure the birds are able to get to the nest quickly and easily. Using a longer lens to photograph birds from further away is also an option.

Credit: Nathan Rolls, Expedition Wildlife

• Stay on designated paths at all times, as puffin burrows can blend in incredibly well with their habitat. Trampling off-trail increases the risk of collapsing a burrow and injuring or killing an adult puffin or its young. This also ensures your safety, as the ground can give way, which can be treacherous next to rocky and windy cliffs.
• Puffins may not be quick on their feet, but their speed through the air is remarkable. While it will take time and patience, getting a shot of a puffin in flight is best achieved by staying low on a path adjacent to burrows and waiting until a puffin approaches and descends down to the ground to its burrow. They are also quick getting into their burrows; angle your camera toward the burrow entrance for a shot of the puffin emerging and even possibly catch a glimpse of the young puffin, or “puffling.”
• In June and July, a spectacular wildflower display can be seen in most puffin habitats. Keep this in mind if you are planning to incorporate flowers into your shots.

To discover more about great places to photograph birds in Europe, take a peek at the following guides written by Expedition Wildlife…

– The Best Bird Watching Destinations in Europe

– Bird Watching Ethics: Things to Keep in Mind While Bird Watching

For more photography tips continue to browse through the archives of Photo Tips + Setting the Scene.

Christa Rolls

Christa is an avian ecologist and conservation biologist who enjoys
sharing her love of birds and where best to see them in the world, along
with her husband, Nathan, who specializes in wildlife photography and
videography. She is the founder and editor of Expedition Wildlife, a
blog that focuses on sharing the latest information on wildlife travel
destinations, gear recommendations, and photography tips with wildlife
and nature enthusiasts alike.

expeditionwildlife.com/

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