Oldest little terns recorded on Chesil Beach

The scheme to protect and record the birds at Chesil Beach began in 2009

Little terns ringed on a Dorset beach 16 years ago are believed to be the oldest recorded on the site, Dorset Wildlife Trust has said.

Birds first ringed on Chesil Beach in 1999 have now been identified breeding at the colony on the beach.

The discovery was made when new rings were fitted to the birds as part of a scheme to boost their numbers.

Nesting terns are protected on the beach with electric fencing and round the clock RSPB-led warden patrols.

'Travelled 100,000km'

Thalassa McMurdo Hamilton, a project officer, said: "I couldn't believe they were so old. I was amazed to discover that these birds are returning here where they were first reared and that they are still breeding after 16 years.

The fish-eating birds are watched round the clock at Chesil Beach by RSPB-led warden patrols

"They are much tougher than we think, as these birds have travelled over 100,000km in their lifetime which is astounding."

The small seabirds, which weigh about the same as a tennis ball, typically live for around 14 years. The oldest recorded by the British Trust for Ornithology is 17 years, nine months and 28 days.

Once they have reached maturity aged two, the terns migrate from the shingle beach to West Africa and back - a journey of 2,485miles (4,000km).

The birds visit the beach in April and May, migration back to West Africa starts in August.

According to the charity it is the only colony of little terns in the south west of England.

The birds are protected on the beach through a partnership between RSPB, Natural England, Crown Estate, Portland Court Leet, Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Chesil and Fleet Nature Reserve.