Puffin numbers on the Farne Islands, Northumberland may have fallen by an average of 12 percent since the last census. Grim news for the struggling seabird according to early figures in the Natural Trust five-yearly census.

Initial numbers suggest the population has fallen by up to 42 per cent on one of the islands – much worse than expected since the last count in 2013 when nearly 40,000 breeding pairs were recorded. The puffins have also returned four weeks later than usual to their nesting grounds due to the prolonged, harsh winter.

Ranger Tom Hendry says: “Initial findings are concerning.  Numbers could be down due to stormy or wetter weather as well as changes in the sandeel population, which is one of their staple foods. “So far we’ve surveyed four of the eight islands where we conduct the census. Figures from the two largest islands are vastly contradictory with numbers on Brownsman 42 per cent down, while recordings on Staple show an 18 per cent increase.  We will now do some further investigations as to why this might be. Click here to read more