Large numbers of dead guillemots have been found on the West coast of Scotland since the weekend of 18-19 Sept., according to a newspaper report dated 21 Sept:
http://www.lennoxherald.co.uk/dunbartonshire-news/tm_objectid=17796748&method=full&siteid=78846-name_page.html
Could the dead guillemots (see photo) which were washed up here at Castle
Point the same weekend, and the three found at Ynyslas be part of the same
problem? Here's what the newspaper report says of the cause:
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency says it is almost certainly the
result of a drop in sand eel stocks. Common guillemots, who lay just one egg
per year and breed across Scotland's coasts, have suffered dramatic losses
in recent years, as stocks of their main prey items in the breeding season
decrease, possibly through over-fishing and warming seas.
John Robins, of Animal Concern, said: "What I think is happening
is that sand eel stocks further north and west are very low and this year's
young birds are moving south looking for food. "There are good stocks of
sprats and fry in the Clyde and there are shoals of unusually small
mackerel, unusually far upriver, unusually late in the year feeding on them
too. "The problem is that by the time the guillemots get here they are
exhausted and dehydrated."
Is it possible that the dead and weak guillemots found here were driven
south by hunger? If so, it will be useful to check any dead birds for rings.
There's more on the shortage of sand eels causing deaths of guillemots on
the east coast in
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=13&listcatid=32&listitemid=1203#cr
Laurie Wright