Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arctica
Beloved for their colourful bills and comical appearance, Puffins nest in burrows or rocky crevices on inaccessible islands. In the Channel Islands, they breed in small numbers around places like the southeast of Herm, or on islets off Sark. Sightings around Lihou’s waters are uncommon but possible, especially if you scan the sea in spring or early summer. If you’re lucky, you might see a Puffin bobbing on the waves or flying low over the water, out at sea, with rapid wingbeats.
- Habitat: Offshore islands with burrows or rock fissures; feeds far out at sea.
- When to See: Late spring to summer. Out at sea.
- Diet / Food: Primarily small fish (sand eels, sprats), caught by diving.
- Length: 30 cm
- Wingspan: 50 cm