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Seabirds injured 'crash landing' during storm

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue Two black and white birds are sitting on pieces of paper in a plastic container . They are both looking at the camera. Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue
Two little auks recovering from Storm Darragh and being cared for by Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue

Wildlife rescue centres along the UK's east coast are caring for a number of seabirds called little auks that were injured during Storm Darragh.

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue in North East Lincolnshire said a number of the birds in their care had suffered "minor injuries from crash landings" during the high winds.

The birds have been found in gardens and streets from the Scottish borders down to the Lincolnshire Wash.

Every winter little auks attempt to migrate west from the Arctic to feed in warmer areas, but strong winds can knock them off course.

Darren Norton A sea front with tall waves crashing against a stone wall and railings. A figure is walking a dog on the left side of the image. Darren Norton
Strong winds have battered the east coast in recent days

The little auk is a small seabird, no bigger than 7.5in (19cm) in height, that flies with very fast whirring wingbeats low over the sea according to the RSPB.

Aaron Goss from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said his charity had taken in six birds in recent days and was expecting more to arrive.

"The highest concentration of these birds has been reported in and around Louth. To assist these birds, we are extending our hours tonight to triage them" he said.

Mr Goss said some already had undergone X-rays and "veterinary evaluations for injuries sustained during landing".

Tom Tams A little auk flying above a dark and stormy sea with white-capped waves. Tom Tams
Little auks migrate for thousands of miles across the sea from October onwards

Little auks begin their migration from the Arctic from October onwards. They are one of dozens of seabird species monitored by experts all around the UK coastline.

On the East Yorkshire coast hundreds of little auks have been spotted in recent days.

"The thinking is that quite a few birds were attempting to move west, some as far as Newfoundland, but as a result of Storm Darragh they were pushed into the North Sea" according to Craig Thomas, chair of Flamborough Bird Observatory.

Paul Murphy / BBC Mr Thomas is wearing a black fleece with a bird logo in white on the left hand side. He is standing in front of a telescope and is wearing glasses, he has grey stubble. Paul Murphy / BBC
Craig Thomas, Chair of the Flamborough Bird Observatory in East Yorkshire

Mr Thomas said the birds were often not powerful enough to fly in strong winds and could become exhausted.

"Yesterday we saw 330 little auks moving north from Flamborough - that's the highest count we've had for a decade" he said.

Mr Thomas said many birds will try to "sit it out" and wait for the strong winds to drop before resuming their journeys.

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue A small black and white bird is sitting in a plastic tub lined with paper towels. The container has two tubes fed from the outside and is resting on a red towel. Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue
A rescued little auk being kept warm in a container at Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue

Writing on its social media pages Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said it was working with other rescues and veterinary practices to support any further admissions in the local area.

"While we don't have an exact count, reports indicate that up to 30 little auks have been sighted inland at various times."

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