Councillors have issued a warning to dog walkers heading to a Lancashire Beach after a video emerged from a worried member of the public.
Endangered ringed plover birds are believed to be nesting on Fleetwood Beach and are classed as 'birds of conservation concern four' on the UK red list for birds.
As a result the council has erected signs advising visitors to keep dogs on a lead and be careful where they step as the birds can nest under pebbles.
However, now a video has emerged of dogs running around on the beach off their leads.
You can also hear what appears to be the ringed plovers chirping in the distance.
Ian Vickers, who captured the video, said: “I spotted two sections of beach where the chicks were running around and the adults were flying.
“I became accustomed to the noise the adults made and if any person, dog or seagull went near I would see the adults go into action.
“Dog walkers were all over this section of the beach.
“One woman with two dogs just did not listen to me and let her dogs chase the adults.
“You can head the bird’s call on the video it is heart breaking.”
A spokesperson for Wyre Council said the birds can be difficult to spot.
They said: “The Ringed Plovers can be incredibly difficult to spot, even to the trained eye.
“Once hatched, the birds roam the beach and don’t always stick to the original nest area.
“ In fact, the adult birds hide the broken eggs so that predators can’t find the site of the nest.
“This means they are not necessarily confined to one location.
“Because of this, we erected signs a number of weeks ago in the area when our rangers spotted them on the beach to advise visitors to be careful not to step on the eggs and to keep a look out for the young.”
The council has urged the public to keep their dogs on a lead while on the beach.
They said: “We believe that there are still some ringed plover birds nesting in the area and we would like to ask visitors to the beach to keep their dogs on a lead and to watch where you are walking as the nests can be hidden within pebbles on the beach.”
Ringed plovers are characterised by their orange bills with a black tip, and orange legs.
They are sandy-brown above and white below and has a black chest-band and black bridle markings on its head.
When it flies, it displays a broad, white wingbar, pale, creamy-brown legs, and a bright yellow ring around the eye.
It nests on bare gravel and sand at the coast and around flooded gravel pits and reservoirs.
The ringed plover tempts underground prey to the surface by 'foot-trembling': tapping its feet fast on the ground to mimic raindrops
The best time to see them is between January-December.
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