A puffin found stranded on a Northumberland beach has been returned to its natural habitat by the RSPCA after making a long-distance trip for specialist care
There were fears the unlucky seabird had been affected by oil contamination after he was rescued on the shore near to Bamburgh Castle in early April. The bird, christened Clifford, was taken to the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Centre in Norfolk for some rehabilitation.
The centre’s staff ensured his plumage was properly waterproofed so he could be returned safely to the wild. That involved a co-ordinated effort with RSPCA Inspector Lucy Green, who had found the puffin, and the charity’s volunteers ensuring he could swim and dive again in familiar waters at the Farne Islands.
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John and Cora Kitchen, who are wildlife casualty volunteers and help rescue and release birds and small animals for the charity, drove Clifford from East Winch to the harbour at Seahouses - a journey of 266 miles - where they were met by Lucy on April 27.
The trio then headed out to sea thanks to Serenity Boat Tours who arranged to take Clifford and his rescuers close to the puffin colony four miles off the Northumberland coastline.
Lucy said: “I picked Clifford up at Bamburgh beach, but all the puffins live and breed on the Farne Islands so we wanted to get him as close to the colony as we could.
“John and Cora volunteered to bring him all the way from Norfolk and we got help from the boat tour operators. We were able to stop where we saw the highest concentration of puffins and soon Clifford was swimming around and diving for food.
“He was eyeing up some of the other puffins and seemed happy. I’ve done a fair few releases, but I’ve never released a puffin - one of the best parts of the job is releasing animals that you have rescued yourself.”
It was a first as well for John and Cora, who are part of the charity’s Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Group of wildlife casualty volunteers.
John said: “Cliff was much admired by the public at the quayside, but once he got out to sea and got a lungful of sea air I think the penny dropped that this was his big day.
“He just dived into the sea and enjoyed a swim. He had a bit of a dive and looked perfectly at home.”
RSPCA National Wildlife Coordinator Geoff Edmond said: “This was a great example of teamwork and highlights how wildlife casualty volunteers are such a valuable asset to the RSPCA.
“I would like to thank John and Cora for offering to transport Clifford back home and I was pleased to see they enjoyed their trip out at sea with us.”
Wildlife Casualty Volunteer Team Manager for the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Group Becky Harper said: “It is hugely rewarding knowing that our team efforts paid off.
“For every wildlife rescue that we do we consider the animal’s welfare as of foremost importance.
“There is a chain of dedicated staff and volunteers involved. When we have an exciting rehabilitation such as Clifford’s it makes it extra special that we can include our volunteers and the inspector who initially did the rescue.”
You can find out more about becoming a wildlife volunteer for the RSPCA here
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181 .
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