The bird was rescued from Grandes Rocques. That was an unusual location because puffins are more often found in rocky areas around Herm, Jethou and Alderney during the summer months.

GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne said that staff and volunteers are sad at the death of the bird they called Oscar Puff the Puffin.

The puffin’s symptoms while he was at the shelter clearly indicated that he had ingested too much oil. Despite round-the-clock intensive care, the shelter was unable to save him. 

“We were all incredibly upset when we were unable to save Oscar Puff the Puffin,” said Mr Byrne.

“It is rare for puffins to come into any rescue and when any bird comes in oiled they are often poisoned from cleaning the oil off themselves.”

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Pictured: Puffins are usually seen in the Bailiwick during the spring and summer months, particularly around Herm, Jethou and Alderney. 

The GSPCA website includes advice about numerous types of animal and bird which can be found at gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice.

Puffins have a black back and white underparts, a distinctive black head with large pale cheeks and a tall, flattened, brightly-coloured bill. They have red and black eye markings and bright orange legs. Adults arrive back at their breeding colonies in March and April and leave again in mid-August. Some remain in the North Sea in winter while others move further south to the Bay of Biscay. They feed on fish, especially sand eels.

Pictured (top): Oscar Puff the Puffin, who has died from excessive oiling despite the care of the GSPCA.