Little tern comeback colony hit by fox attack

Attacks by predators have hit years of slow recovery for the last little tern colony in the south-west of England, conservationists have said.

Sixty-six breeding pairs were recorded at Chesil Beach in Dorset this year, which was the highest number since 2001, the RSPB reported.

However, the colony was targeted by a fox which probably got through a defective fence, the charity added.

It said: "Thankfully, some of these small yet incredibly resilient seabirds went on to have second broods and fledged around 20-25 chicks."

Little terns are the second-rarest breeding seabird in the UK and Ireland, according to the RSPB.

However, numbers have declined by 39% since the 1980s, the charity said.

The Chesil Little Tern Recovery Project recorded 11 more breeding pairs this year than in 2025.

However, the RSPB said: "Sadly, the colony did experience a predation event.

"This was very upsetting for our dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect the colony."

The charity said the surviving fledglings were now on their 3,000-mile journey to west Africa for the winter season.

The little tern has a black cap, a distinctive white forehead, and a yellow bill with a black tip.

It weighs no more than a tennis ball, at about 40 to 60g (23 to 34 oz).

Public access to the seaward side of Chesil Beach between Wyke and Abbotsbury is restricted each year from about April to August to allow the birds to thrive.