There’s been some good news about the endangered puffin colony at Dancing Ledge on the Purbeck Coast in Dorset, after all six remaining puffins returned for the summer.
Only four of the Purbeck puffins had returned by mid March 2026, and there were concerns for the remaining two, following reports of thousands of dead puffins washing up on Europe’s beaches during this winter’s storms.
What a relief! All six puffins make it back to Dancing Ledge for summer 2026
All six finally spotted!
But happily the three pairs of puffins have now all been spotted along the coastline owned by the National Trust, and there’s even hope they may breed after years of failure.
There were 85 puffins recorded at Dancing Ledge in 1958, but by 1975 the numbers had reduced to just 23.
In 2025, there were only three nesting pairs and no fledglings have been spotted for several years.
Flying back home to Purbeck
Rivers and coast project officer for the National Trust in Purbeck, Ben Cooke says he is relieved
“Last winter’s storms had us really concerned”
Rivers and coast project officer for the National Trust in Purbeck, Ben Cooke said:
“News that so many puffins had washed up dead on beaches during last winter’s storms had us really concerned.
“Purbeck’s puffins are already under threat, so even the loss of one bird could be a step closer to the end of the whole colony. So, we waited with bated breath as the birds returned from over-wintering at sea – and were so relieved when reports came in that all six were back.
“We are so grateful to our volunteers who are out there at all hours, and in all weather conditions, monitoring and recording what the puffins are doing.
“So far they have noted nest-building behaviour and signs that the puffins might be incubating eggs. If that’s correct, the eggs would hatch around the end of May. We’re just hoping that some might survive to fledge this year.”
Cameras were installed by specialist climbers in March 2026
In 2024, when the cameras were first installed, the puffins were reassuringly undisturbed by being filmed
Cameras installed to find out what’s happening to the eggs
In 2023, a team of volunteers from the Purbeck Natural History Forum led by marine ornithologist Richard Caldow saw the puffins carrying fish into their nesting area, only to stop abruptly after just 25 days, suggesting the chicks died suddenly and prematurely.
In 2024 and 2025, adult puffins were seen courting, mating and nest‑building, but no fish deliveries were seen, suggesting that their eggs may not have hatched.
In an effort to find out what is happening to the eggs, the National Trust has installed high tech cameras angled into the crevices to capture images of any activity around the nests, in a last ditch attempt to save the colony.
If predators like rats or crows are spotted on camera, then that may provide an answer to the problem.
A similar scheme in 2024 failed to explain why no puffin chicks – called pufflings – survived to fledge, but the team has improved the camera system for 2026 and is desperately hoping for better results.
Nest building activity was captured on camera, giving volunteer puffin spotters some hope for 2026
Dancing Ledge is home to the last remaining colony of puffins on mainland England’s South Coast
Colony could be extinct by 2040
Puffins can live for 30 to 40 years and the remaining puffins are estimated to be more than 20 years old.
There is a one in ten chance every year that an individual will die, so eventually the six birds will disappear.
Sadly if they don’t reproduce there will be no new chicks to take their place, meaning the last remaining colony of puffins on mainland England’s South Coast could all be gone by about 2040, if not sooner.
Further information
- Due to the inaccessible location of the puffin ledge, the best way to see these birds is from the sea. There are guided boat trips in the summer including those organised via Durlston Country Park
- More about Purbeck’s puffins
