Sometimes all you need is a dose of cuteness to brighten up your day – and puffins are, arguably, one of the cutest birds around.
These pint-sized ‘sea parrots’, as they’re sometimes called, don’t even need to do anything to melt hearts. Conservationist and author Dr Katie Elizabeth Thompson shared an Instagram video showing just how sweet these diminutive birds are when they’re just living their best lives.
“Netflix is cool but imagine spending hours sitting on Skomer Island watching puffins pass by,” says the on-screen text as a tiny puffin hops along the grass – just inches from Thompson’s outstretched legs – looks around then toddles off, completely unbothered by her presence.
Puffin magic. Credit: Katie Elizabeth Thompson
Puffins spend the whole winter out at sea. But during spring and summer, it’s possible to see them in their breeding colonies when their iconic striped bills are on display. The little birds have more muted winter plumage and their beaks are drained of colour when they’re not using them to attract mates.
Skomer, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, is known for its breeding colony of puffins. Tens of thousands of the tiny birds visit the island between April and July each year.
“I could watch them forever,” adds Thompson in the caption.
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Image and video credit: Dr Katie Elizabeth Thompson, @drkatet