The iconic Atlantic puffins are currently departing in their droves, which seems to be earlier than previous years, from Skellig Michael, the sixth century monastic island 12 km off the coast of Kerry.
It is thought that they might have arrived earlier this year and successfully bred on the UNESCO heritage site.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan
Typically in April, thousands of puffin return to Scellig Michael to breed.
Puffin nest sites are found in burrows or in cracks and crevices across the island which offers protection from avian predators.
This year fish is in abundant supply with plenty of adorable puffins recorded this season.
Whatever the weather, National Parks and Wildlife staff have closely monitored this seabird colony. One puffin was ringed on 8th July 1991 and it was spotted 31 years later by ornithologist Brian Power.
Scellig Michael is both a statutory nature reserve and a special area of protection.
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