Hundreds of seabirds have been found washed up dead on Scotland’s east coast.
According to the Isle of May Nature Reserve's website, the recent 'Beast from the East' has brought heavy seas and plummeting temperatures, which is said to be a bad combination for seabirds.
Some 300 dead birds have washed up on the coast and are mainly Guillemots and Razorbills.
On their website, the reserve said: “We were hoping it would be short-lived giving the birds an opportunity to feed but things are getting ugly.
“Over the last few days, the ‘mini beast from the east’ has hit bringing yet more mountainous seas and difficult conditions. And the birds are starting to struggle.”
The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, which monitors the nature reserve, has requested that those who find any dead seabirds take photographs and note down ring numbers and send them or tweet them to @CEHseabirds.
Many people have already sent in pictures and information to help.
The bad weather has come at a difficult time for the animals as they prepare for the new breeding season.
CEH suspects that birds have been dying off across the UK and this is not just an isolated case.
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