Animal lovers among the caravanning community will be relieved to hear that a group of young puffins blown ashore at Brean, and further along the South West coast, have been returned to their home at Lundy Island.
The birds were blown off course during the fierce winter storms in February, with one young puffin found sheltering under a caravan at Brean Sands Caravan Park.
A fully grown puffin measures roughly 20cms, and weighs just 500g, which makes battling stormy conditions understandably difficult.
This juvenile puffin, along with about forty other seabirds, was taken in by the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre where they were fed a diet of sprats to allow them to regain their strength.
While the Atlantic puffin is not currently considered to be endangered, its numbers are in decline, making the survival of these three puffins all the more vital.
The youngsters are currently in their moulting stage, leaving them unable to fly. This is why a normal cliff-top release had to be abandoned in favour of a release into water, via a 22-mile trip across the Bristol Channel aboard the ferry MS Oldenburg, and a transfer on to a smaller boat to enter Gannet’s Bay.
Puffins are not usual visitors to the Somerset coast, and so their rescue and release required a carefully planned operation between staff at RSPCA West Hatch and Lundy Island to ensure the survival of the birds during, and after, their stay in Somerset.
In a statement to RSPCA.org.uk, Lundy Island warden Beccy McDonald said: “It is wonderful we are able to assist RSPCA West Hatch with the release of these three puffins.
“As they are unable to fly, we released them at a safe distance from the Lundy coast so that they will be able to join other seabirds currently rafting off the East coast of the island ready for this year’s breeding season.”
Well known bird-watcher and broadcaster Bill Oddie, who is also Vice- President of the RSPCA, commented: “The staff at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre have worked tirelessly caring for these young puffins, along with the dozens of other storm blown birds who were victims of the bad weather at the beginning of the year.
“Everyone loves puffins and these three are very lucky to have been brought back to health after a very tough winter and Lundy is a fantastic place for them to be.”
A trip to Lundy Island to inspect the puffins and other wildlife is a perfect addition to any caravanning holiday in the Somerset area.
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Puffin found in Somerset caravan park is returned home safely
