Puffin washed ashore in East Lothian was Scotland's oldest at grand age of 38

A 38-year-old puffin that washed up on a beach in East Lothian was the oldest ever recorded on the Scottish mainland, experts have confirmed.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Atlantic puffin was originally ringed at West Wideopens, one of the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast, as a chick on 29 June 1984.

Its discovery on the shore at Dunbar on March 22 means 13,780 days had passed between ringing and the bird being found.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The puffin is thought to have been part of the population on NatureScot's Isle of May National Nature Reserve (NNR) in the outer Firth of Forth, and may have succumbed after spending the winter out at sea.

It is believed that the oldest puffin was heading to join the huge colony on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth for the annual breeding season.
Pic: Saltire/George MairIt is believed that the oldest puffin was heading to join the huge colony on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth for the annual breeding season.
Pic: Saltire/George Mair
It is believed that the oldest puffin was heading to join the huge colony on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth for the annual breeding season. Pic: Saltire/George Mair

A British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) spokesman confirmed the puffin was "definitely the oldest for mainland Scotland" and second only to a bird on Orkney that was recorded at 38 years, 11 months and 22 days.

David Steel, NatureScot's reserve manager on the Isle of May, hailed the "amazing discovery", adding: "At 38 years old, this bird certainly had a good life. In general Puffins live between 30-35 years but it just shows the importance of bird ringing as details of longevity can be revealed like in this individual."

Thousands of puffins have returned to the Isle of May for this year's breeding season. More than 40,000 pairs will eventually make their nests in burrows on the UK's third largest puffin colony, which lies five miles off the coast of Fife. The island is open to visitors daily and all trips have to be booked in advance.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription at https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.