This year it seems as if the birds have had a good breeding year with large numbers of Shags, Cormorants, Razorbills and Guillemots being ringed and, yes, Steve caught the obligatory Puffin.
Razorbill chick ready to fledge. It'll hiopefully return as a breeding adult in 2-3 years time
Puffin.
Bridled Guillemot. Rare this far south but commoner further north.
Herring Gull eggs hatching
Seabird tracking and monitoring is important in our understanding of population dynamics and the environmental impacts affecting them. Research is carried out on Puffin Island using the latest techniques - including data loggers as shown below fitted to a Guillemot. These will be used to track the birds throughout the winter to see where they move to. For information on the importance of this research see the RSPB's site here
After an exceedingly hot and long day in the field it was a relief to get aboard Matthews boat and get a bit of a breeze! An hour and a half later I was home and enjoying a well deserved beer!
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