OnTheWight reader Phil Warner got in touch with us yesterday after spotting ‘a large number of dead seabirds’ (he thinks may be Razorbills) on the beach on Sandown seafront, near the war memorial.
Sandown resident and regular dog walker on the beach, Claire Speight, told OnTheWight she’d spotted at least six dead birds on the beach yesterday and took the photo above.
She thought perhaps it was related to the recent bad weather, but Phil also questions whether the deaths are related to the recent warning about palm oil on some Island beaches.
Update from the council
We got in touch with the council to see if they could shed any light on this, they told us,
An officer visited Sandown Beach today after the council received a call from a member of the public reporting a number of dead seabirds along the coast. No birds were found at the beach, however it is very likely that the dead birds were washed out to sea by the tide.
Dr Colin Pope, senior ecologist at the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“Unfortunately we have seen an increase in the number of dead birds – mostly guillemots – being washed up on our shores, mainly as a result of the prolonged period of stormy weather we have experienced.
“Exhausted and malnourished birds become vulnerable in extreme weather conditions and tragically many do not survive.
“It is likely that the vast majority of sea birds are being washed up as a result of the recent storms.”
Thanks to Phil for the photos below.
Click on the photos to see larger versions
