Little tern comeback colony in Dorset 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.”