1.4 miles north east of Alderney lies a rocky archipelago called Burhou, every year in spring approximately 100 pairs of Atlantic Puffin return here after spending nine months at sea.
Atlantic Puffins can live for up to 20 years and will mate for life. standing at around 26cm tall, they are small and stocky and for most year their feathers are a drab grey.
This changes in spring when their feathers brighten and their beaks begin to glow with stripes of red, yellow and black.
Atlantic Puffins can live for up to 20 years and will mate for life. They are very loyal to each other, and to their home and will try to return to the same home year after year.

This £5 coin celebrating the Alderney Puffins features a striking depiction of the Puffin, colour printed on 1oz of .999 silver.