First puffling in 30 years hatches on Dorset cliffs

Conservationists have welcomed the birth of the first puffling in 30 years at Dancing Ledge, Purbeck — England’s last puffin colony on the southern mainland coast.

The colony had shrunk to just 6 birds, with only 3 breeding pairs left today, compared to over 40 pairs in the 1950s.

After 15 weeks and 150 hours of monitoring, National Trust volunteers and the Purbeck Natural History Forum spotted adults delivering fish and confirmed the chick, now 38-40 days old. Dr. Richard Caldow, leading the project, called it “a whole lot better news than none.” The chick will soon leave the nest and spend years at sea, possibly returning to Purbeck at age 2.

To understand breeding failures, the National Trust installed solar-powered trail cameras in March to check for predators. Footage will be reviewed after breeding season ends.

“Puffins are such an iconic bird, we want to do everything in our power to help them survive in Purbeck,” said National Trust officer Ben Cooke.