'Alarming' Berry Head seabird disturbance sparks trust warning

The guillemot colony at Berry Head is protected by an Area of Special Protection - the only one of its kind in the UK

Recent disturbance at a seabird colony by kayakers and people on water scooters has been "alarming", a charity has said.

About 900 guillemots breed at Berry Head, in Devon, between March and July.

Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust said "extra caution" was needed by those who explored the coastline.

People who disturb the birds at the national nature reserve could be given a fixed penalty.

The trust said there had been "many disturbances"

The trust said it had recently spotted water scooters in the area, and the noise had "caused huge numbers of guillemots to fly off the cliffs".

It said kayakers had also been spotted in the area making "deliberate attempts to encourage the birds to take flight".

"Unfortunately these are just two examples of many disturbances," it said.

The Area of Special Protection (in blue) prohibits water vessels and users from entering the cove during the breeding season

The guillemot colony at Berry Head is protected by an Area of Special Protection - the only one of its kind in the UK, the trust said.

The area prohibits water vessels and users from entering the cove during the breeding season between March and July.

The trust said: "Guillemots take flight when disturbed and this wastes valuable energy. It also leaves their egg or chick vulnerable to predators like great black-backed gulls."

People within the Area of Special Protection disturbing the birds are liable to a fixed penalty.

Chris Lingard, countryside manager at the trust, said the birds needed "space during their breeding season for them to thrive".

He said: "The guillemots lay only a single egg in a season so we must all help to protect them.

"You can do this by keeping your distance with these special birds and not entering the Area of Special Protection at Berry Head between March - July."