Puffin on the watch by Joy of Light Photography

Puffin on the lookout
On the edge of his nest corridor, this puffin patiently gazes out over the sea, waiting for his mate to return. Together, they are building their underground nest - a cosy, hidden space where they will raise one young during the short but intense breeding season.

Every year, towards the end of March, puffins return from their solitary life at sea to the Isle of May, a rocky island in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. After a winter on the raging North Sea, they find their mate back at last year's nest.

The island comes alive as thousands of puffins gather to burrow, courtship and bring a new life into the world. This touching moment of quiet anticipation - a puffin waiting for its lover - is just a small part of the wonderful rhythm of life on May Island.

Puffin on the Lookout
Perched at the edge of its burrow, this Atlantic puffin patiently scans the horizon, waiting for its mate to return from the sea. Together, they are preparing their underground nest - a cozy, hidden chamber where they will raise a single chick during the short but intense breeding season.

Every year, towards the end of March, puffins return from their solitary life at sea to the Isle of May, a rocky outcrop in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. After spending the winter braving the North Sea alone, they reunite with their partners at the same nesting site they used in previous years.

Life on the island becomes a bustling affair as thousands of puffins gather to dig, bond, and raise the next generation. This touching moment of quiet anticipation - a puffin waiting for its companion - is just one small part of the remarkable rhythm of life on the Isle of May.