Puffling rescued under ice cream van in East Lothian named Mr Whippy

A puffling found in East Lothian has been named Mr Whippy after the ice cream van it was found under.

Mr Whippy the puffling. Picture; contributed

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Mike Thornton, from North Berwick found the puffling under a Mr Whippy van and named the youngster after the treat.

The puffling was found during the heat of breeding season and the Scottish Seabird Centre has urged residents in East Lothian to look out for more youngsters.

Mr Whippy was safely caught and taken into the Centre, where Discovery Centre Manager, Alexander Turnbull, was able to assist.

Speaking about the discovery, Mr Thornton said: “I have some experience of catching puffins after working on the Farne Islands, where they would often get trapped in the walled garden and would occasionally come into the warden’s house.

Alexander Turnbull, Discovery Centre Manager, said: “The puffling itself was fine though a little confused and scared.

“I waited until sunset before releasing it by the old pier just as high tide was spilling over onto the surface.

Puffling, baby puffin. Picture; contributed

“It flew out of my hands and gently landed on the water a metre away from the pier, before diving a few times.”

Puffins and their pufflings are now leaving their burrows on the islands of Craigleith, Fidra and the Isle of May National Nature Reserve, and heading out to sea.

However, after leaving their burrows on the island of Craigleith, just offshore from North Berwick, some pufflings become disorientated by lights from the mainland.

The Scottish Seabird Centre has appealed for everyone to be vigilant and to call the Scottish Seabird Centre on 01620 890202 or the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999 if they find a puffling.