Puffins return to Cliffs of Moher
More than 100 puffins have returned to the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare after spending the autumn and winter in the open ocean.
The first report of the bird visiting the world-famous visitor attraction in 2025 was recorded on Monday by birdwatcher Geoff Pearson, according to irishbirding.com.
The puffin (Fratercula arctica) has long been associated with the Cliffs of Moher, which host the largest mainland colony of puffins in Ireland with an estimated 1,365 individual adults.
Puffins, specifically the Atlantic Puffin, are found along the Irish coast during the summer months as they winter in the North Atlantic Ocean.
While puffins are found on both the west and east coasts, the west coast is generally considered the best place to see the bird.
They are known to nest in burrows on cliffs and grassy hillsides.
Other puffin colonies can be found at the Saltee Islands in Wexford, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Skellig Michael in Kerry, and the aptly named Puffin Island in Kerry.
Rathlin Island in County Antrim has the largest puffin colony on the island of Ireland and is also a puffin sanctuary.
The breeding season for puffins in Ireland runs from March to late August or early September, with the best time to see them being from late April to June.
The area around the Cliffs of Moher, including the cliffs, the cliff-top maritime grassland and heath, and an area of open water directly in front of the cliffs, is designated as a Special Protection Area for Birds.
