As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday 6 April 2014

Puffins take a boat home to Lundy after storms blow youngsters to RSPB in Somerset

By Western Daily Press | Posted: April 04, 2014


A group of young puffins blown in during the winter storms are now homeward bound thanks to the RSPCA.

The three juvenile puffins, who were among an influx of 40 seabirds rescued by the RSPCA during the heavy February storms, took a boat journey across to Lundy Island following two months rehabilitation at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre.

The birds made the 22-mile trip across the Bristol Channel before being transferred on to a small boat and transported further away from the main ferry and being released on to the sea in Gannet’s Bay.

The young puffins are currently in moult, which means their flight feathers are not fully formed, and a usual clifftop release was replaced with a release on to water.

Wildlife supervisor at RSPCA West Hatch Paul Oaten said: “The puffins were young and exhausted when they came in to us a couple of months ago but they have made wonderful progress. They have been fed a diet of sprats and are now all ready to make their way back to Lundy Island.

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