MORE than 200 dead seabirds were discovered across East Lothian’s coast and beaches over the weekend as fears continue of a bird flu outbreak – but the cause remains a mystery for now.

Tests for avian flu are being carried out after hundreds of gannets were washed up onshore in the last couple of weeks.

East Lothian Council said that its countryside rangers had reported a further 215 dead birds being found between Friday and Sunday between Yellowcraig beach and Tyninghame.

The location of the most recent discoveries adds to concerns that the birds may be coming from the Bass Rock, which has the world’s biggest population of northern gannets living on it at this time of year.

However, the result of tests which were being carried out on the rock’s population has not been released.

A spokesperson for the council said that the tests were being overseen by DEFRA – the UK Government’s environment agency – and members of the public are being advised to report any findings of dead birds to the body.

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A DEFRA spokesperson said that tests were carried out by the Government’s Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), with results published weekly, but “we aren’t able to comment further on individual cases”.

The APHA website has cases up to June 7 but does not list any confirmed avian flu in East Lothian, despite the high number of deaths which are now believed to be over 700.

The Scottish Seabird Centre confirmed last week that a small number of birds from the Bass Rock population, off North Berwick, had been taken for testing.

Susan Davies, CEO of the Seabird Centre, said that it was too early to tell the severity of the impact on the population if avian flu was confirmed as the reason for the deaths.

She said: “If avian flu is confirmed, we simply don’t know at this stage how severe an impact it may have on the gannet numbers.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and update in due course.”

READ MORE: Public warned about dead seabirds as bird flu fears grow

Meanwhile, dog owners were warned to keep pets away from dead birds; however, the council stressed that they were not at risk from the avian flu strain if they came into contact.

Instead, they said that the advice was to avoid spreading the virus, which could be carried by dogs which came into close contact.

They said: “Dog owners and walkers are advised to keep dogs under control and to keep their pets away from dead or ailing seabirds that may be encountered on local beaches and coastline, which is to minimise the spread of possible avian flu.

“It is in the nature of some dogs to pick up, chew at or even roll on dead wildlife, which can mean they can then carry the virus on their coat and paws and so spread the virus to other locations.”

The Seabird Centre and East Lothian Council urged members of the public not to touch any dead birds they found and to report them to DEFRA on 03459 335577.

Any sick or injured birds should be reported to the SSPCA on 03000 999 999.