Victims of the Storms ?

[Jackaroo]

After yesterday's downpours the Missus and I decided to take a jaunt as the weather faired up around seven in the evening. Because we were both heartily fed up of water we (somewhat illogically) decided to set sail for the beach with the dogs. The destination was Lunan Bay, a sandy estuary between Montrose and Arbroath in Angus. The bay is bounded at either end by sandstone cliffs and rocky foreshore but the beach is all sand and backed by fairly substantial dunes. If the winds right it's quite sheltered but it seems there must have been a stiff easterly at some point in the last couple of days judging by the weed and various jetsam lying well up on the high tide line. We were intrigued to find among the weed and assorted rubbish as well as the usual shells and busted up wee crabs and jelly fish, dozens, if not scores, of dead, presumably drowned, birds. I identified several gulls, lots of Guillemots and even around seven or ten Puffins. Also, most surprisingly a couple of Shags and at least one Razorbill which I identified by its beak. I'm puzzled as to how so many sea-oriented birds could've come a cropper all at once. I can't remember coming across this before in such a concentration. Sad sight it was too.

[Kayleigh]

OMG,
it must have been horrendous to see that many birds all dead I have no idea so cant help you.
It must have been a bad storm, I wonder if this is normal or some freak accident..

[Littlesparrow]

I use to live in weston Super Mare and after storms you would find dead birds including gulls and racing pigeons. For there to have been a large number sounds like there must have been some kind of super cell that picked them up and killed them. This sort of thing is more common in America where the larger land mass causes more freaky weather, flocks of birds get caught in it and the next thing its raining dead birds on a town.

[Jackaroo]

The mind-boggling thing is that this bay is a mere mile across, if that, and one can't help speculating just how many birds have been cast up along the shoreline in our area. There are well established colonies of sea-birds on the local sea-cliffs which stretch for several miles on either side of the bay with similar inlets and smaller beaches at intervals along their length. I'm especially upset by the Puffins as I've been trying to get close enough to that particular colony to get decent photos but I never suspected that I'd be snapping them with my mobile in such sad circumstances.

[Kayleigh]

Can you get out to the other areas to see if there are any more..

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

I'm puzzled as to how so many sea-oriented birds could've come a cropper all at once. I can't remember coming across this before in such a concentration. Sad sight it was too.

Hi Jackaroo .... I don't think you can necessarily assume that they all came a cropper all at once, or at that location, or that any particular weather event may have been responsible.

I remembered a similar report of a high number of bird carcases found at Lunan Bay from a few years back (see entry for 12/08/04 at this link to the Marine Life Rescue weblog: Montrose Area Marine Life Rescue ), and I'm sure if you read through the more recent entries that you'll probably find accounts of similar events.

I think the most pertinent thing of note is the morphology (shape) of Lunan Bay itself ... with the longshore drift carrying flotsam along this coast from south to north, the bay just becomes an efficient catch-net for anything drifting from all points south.

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Hi Jackaroo .... I don't think you can necessarily assume that they all came a cropper all at once, or at that location, or that any particular weather event may have been responsible.

I remembered a similar report of a high number of bird carcases found at Lunan Bay from a few years back (see entry for 12/08/04 at this link to the Marine Life Rescue weblog: Montrose Area Marine Life Rescue ), and I'm sure if you read through the more recent entries that you'll probably find accounts of similar events.

I think the most pertinent thing of note is the morphology (shape) of Lunan Bay itself ... with the longshore drift carrying flotsam along this coast from south to north, the bay just becomes an efficient catch-net for anything drifting from all points south.

What you say regarding Lunan Bay is perfectly accurate and there were a number of carcasses which had obviously been there longer than the others going by the degree of scavenger damage. But still, there were a significant majority of fresher bodies, especially Guillemots, enough to be notable.Perhaps I just noticed them more on this occasion because I've only recently taken up nature watching for it's own sake. You know how easy it is to be blind to things if they're not actively taking an interest. Thanks for the links, I'll have a proper look at them when I get home.

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Can you get out to the other areas to see if there are any more..

I've no plans to visit the general area in the next few days and the sea is notoriously efficient at clearing up after itself. I doubt if there would be much evidence left on the rockier foreshore especially with the thousands of resident gulls etc. Also much of the shore-line in the general area is difficult to access due to the unstable nature of the cliffs these days. I don't fancy emulating my Dad, who fell from these cliffs while gathering gulls eggs in the Forties, although he did survive to tell the tale.
Have a good week-end El.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

I've no plans to visit the general area in the next few days and the sea is notoriously efficient at clearing up after itself. I doubt if there would be much evidence left on the rockier foreshore especially with the thousands of resident gulls etc. Also much of the shore-line in the general area is difficult to access due to the unstable nature of the cliffs these days. I don't fancy emulating my Dad, who fell from these cliffs while gathering gulls eggs in the Forties, although he did survive to tell the tale.
Have a good week-end El.

OMG..I don't want you to risk life and limb..

I don't suppose there would be anything left and its not nice to be out in this weather..

Glad your dad was OK..x

I am stuck in this weekend the Grand Prix is on at Silverstone so the roads are turned into one way systems, one way to the track, if you get on that you cant get off..
I will try to get shots of the red arrows as they pass over my house but not if the weather don't improve..

Have a good one yourself x

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

OMG..I don't want you to risk life and limb..



Glad your dad was OK..x

I will try to get shots of the red arrows as they pass over my house but not if the weather don't improve..

Have a good one yourself x

I didn't say he was ok, he's nuts.Lol. It's hereditary.

Ooooh, haven't seen them since....... a while ago.