'They will quite often give you a wee nip': rangers count puffins on Farne Islands

Annual survey is important for understanding health of the Atlantic puffin's breeding coloniesIt may well be one of the least hi-tech nature counts in the UK, and involves rangers sticking their arms blindly down a hole knowing there will be one of five outcomes: they will feel a puffin egg; a puffling; excrement; nothing - or the annoyed reaction of a puffin as a giant hand suddenly enters its home."They will quite often give you a wee nip," said Harriet Reid, an area ranger at the National Trust, smiling. "I can show you a couple of scars ... it does hurt. But I'm used to it." Continue reading...