Conservationists baffled by mass deaths as seabirds fail to move on

THOUSANDS of guillemot and razorbills have mysteriously descended on Britain’s coastlines, with some even spotted 10 miles up rivers.

The birds, which usually live on craggy cliff-faces and remote islands, have been seen in large numbers on the Tyne in Newcastle, the Tees and beaches and rivers from Aberdeenshire to North Yorkshire.

Conservationists wonder why they are not moving to their winter feeding grounds and say many birds, which have washed on shore, appear to have starved to death. They do not appear able to fly, and are instead swimming and diving for food. They are also not steering clear of boats or swimmers.

Mark Eaton, at the RSPB, spotted more than 400 razorbills near Bamburgh in Northumberland on Saturday.

Although most were feeding, others were dead in the water or washed up. Mass deaths – known as “wrecks” – are unusual at this time of year and tend to happen after winter storms.

Francis Daunt, of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) said hundreds of birds had been found dead or starving along the Northumberland and Scottish coast, and he warned that the event was moving south.

Dr Daunt said many were “emaciated” and less than half their usual weight, which he described as “catastrophically low”. The CEH ruled out bird flu after testing, but said it could be poisoning from algal blooms.

Birdwatchers said many of the birds appeared “listless” and “a bit dopey” and were taking no evasive action when boats approached.

Conservationists in Northumberland said razorbills and guillemots from the Farne Islands should usually be getting ready to go out to sea for the winter and suggested they may have moulted late, meaning they cannot fly yet.

Although recent northerly winds may have disturbed feeding grounds, experts said that it had settled down, so there seemed little reason for the birds not to be heading further out to sea.

There are rough sand eels to eat, so the starvation is confusing.

Tom Cadwallender, a freelance ornithologist who formerly worked for the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), said: “I’ve been birdwatching on the Northumberland coast for 50 years and this is unprecedented. Hopefully we will find out soon what is happening but it is quite alarming.”

Seabirds were thought to have had a good breeding season this year, particularly in areas such as the Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast, which experts said was due to Covid closures, which kept tourists away.

The public have been warned not to touch the birds without gloves in case they are carrying an infection.

400

Number of razorbills – some dead in the water or washed up – spotted near Bamburgh in Northumberland on Saturday