More than 100,000 puffins have taken part in their annual mass exodus from one of Scotland’s most important seabird islands.
Atlantic puffins flock to the Isle of May National Nature Reserve (NNR) in the outer Firth of Forth in March each year to breed.
The colourful birds nest in burrows on the NatureScot reserve, the UK’s third largest colony, five miles off the coast of Fife.
At the end of the breeding season in early August, the adults and chicks — known as pufflings — depart again to spend the rest of the year out at sea.
Reserve manager David Steel said: “The island feels very different as over 100,000 puffins have now departed the island and will not return to land until next March.”
Each spring, the island NNR becomes home to up to 200,000 birds including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags, kittiwakes, fulmars and oystercatchers as well as various terns and gulls. More than 1200 pairs of eider ducks also nest across the island.
Known as the “Jewel of the Forth”, the Isle of May also receives around 12,000 visitors each year, who travel there to witness the stunning wildlife.
