Thousands of rare seabirds died in the extreme winter weather, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who fear the storms were caused by climate change.

The charity's experts blame the "deaths on a scale unprecedented in living memory” on a combination of sea warming and winter storms.

More than 20 different species were recorded among those found dead overall, including guillemots, razorbills and puffins.

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Puffins suffered significantly, with 100 dead found in the UK, and 14,455 on beaches in south west France.

The RSPB is particularly concerned by these figures, as the puffin only recently recovered from the brink of extinction.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Severe weather batters UK Show all 60 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Severe weather batters UK 1/60 UK The trunk of a storm damaged tree is seen laying across residential property following high winds in Wraysbury 2/60 UK A resident looks at a storm damaged tree as it rests on the roof of a residential property following high winds in Wraysbury 3/60 UK A police officer looks on as a British solider helps a tree surgeon remove a fallen tree in Egham, west of London after high winds brought by a winter storm battered southern England 4/60 UK British soliders help a tree surgeon remove a fallen tree in Egham, west of London 5/60 UK Engineers continue to install high capacity Dutch supplied pumps besides the river near Bridgwater in Somerset 6/60 UK Newhaven lighthouse is battered by waves as high winds from the lastest winter storm continue in Newhaven on the south coast of England 7/60 UK Waves crash into a groyne near the West Pier in Brighton 8/60 UK A police officer walks past the wreck of a car after masonry from a building collapsed onto the car in high winds killing a woman in central London 9/60 UK A volunteer stands by with a spade as he joins others in filling sandbags to be distributed to combat flooding in Egham, west of London 10/60 UK Flooded properties are seen in the now largely evacuated and flooded village of Moorland on the Somerset Levels 11/60 UK A car drives through flood water on the Somerset Levels near Langport in Somerset 12/60 UK Flood water collects in an allotment site near Langport in Somerset 13/60 UK Flooded fields surround the River Tone that has burst its banks viewed from Windmill Hill, in Stoke-St-Gregory near Langport in Somerset 14/60 UK Trees are reflected in flood waters on the Somerset Levels near Langport in Somerset 15/60 UK Farmer Roger Forgan uses a boat to cross farm land in front of his flooded farm which has been cut off by flood waters at Muchelney near Langport in Somerset 16/60 UK A man walks beside the River Tone seen from Windmill Hill, Somerset, as flooding persists on the levels 17/60 UK Flooded fields around the River Tone seen from Windmill Hill, Somerset 18/60 UK An electricity survey helicopter flies over flooded farmland surrounding Burrowbridge in Somerset 19/60 UK Flooded farmland surrounding Burrowbridge in Somerset 20/60 UK Anne Bourmer wades through flood water outside her home in Hooe, East Sussex, as more heavy rain sweeps across the country 21/60 UK Flood water is pumped into the River Parrott by the Environment Agency in Moorland in Somerset 22/60 UK A flood sign is seen in flood waters surrounding farm buildings in Somerset 23/60 UK Debris washed up by flood water is seen at James Winslade's farm in Moorland in Somerset 24/60 UK Farmer James Winslade stands in front of bales of animal feed as he surveys some of his 790 acres of flooded land at his farm in Moorland in Somerset, England 25/60 UK Flood water surrounds a house in the village of Thorney in Somerset 26/60 UK A car is seen submerged on the side of a flooded road leading into the cut-off village of Muchelney in Somerset. A local council declared a major incident on the flood-hit Somerset Levels where some villages like Muchelney have been cut off for weeks by flooding that has submerged roads and thousands of acres of farmland in the area of southwestern England 27/60 UK A policeman on a boat looks at a car submerged on the side of a flooded road leading into the cut-off village of Muchelney in Somerset 28/60 UK The village of Muchelney is seen beyond flood water in Somerset 29/60 UK An anti-fracking campaigner braves the severe weather to take part in a protest march near to the IGas Barton Moss fracking exploration rig in Salford 30/60 UK Snow covered sheep huddle together on moorland as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 31/60 UK A motorist attempts to push his car up a snow covered road as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 32/60 UK A tractor snow plough tries to keep the road open as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 33/60 UK Motorcycle riders take shelter in a roadside hut as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 34/60 UK A couple take their dog for a walk over snow covered fields as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 35/60 UK Waves crash onto the promenade between Fleetwood and Blackpool as high tides and huge waves hit the West Coast of the UK 36/60 UK Waves crash onto the promenade between Fleetwood and Blackpool, as high tides and huge waves hit the North West England 37/60 UK Debris from the previous day's storm weather litters the promenade road in Aberystwyth, West Wales 38/60 UK The damage in Aberystwyth where violent storms and gale force winds have reduced large parts of the historic seafront to rubble and threaten to destroy a popular landmark, the Victorian public shelter 39/60 UK The damage in Aberystwyth where violent storms and gale force winds have reduced large parts of the historic seafront to rubble and threaten to destroy a popular landmark, the Victorian public shelter 40/60 UK A man tries start a Mercedes car left stricken in flood water on the road leading to the village of Muchelney which has been cut off by flooding, near Langport in Somerset 41/60 UK Flood water is seen inside the home of Muchelney resident and farmer Mike Curtis in the village of Muchelney which has been cut off by flooding, near Langport in Somerset 42/60 UK Water covers the coastal roads at Clevelys near Blackpool as large waves crash over the sea defences as high tides and huge waves hit the west coast of the UK 43/60 UK Cars drive through flood water from the river Arun in Pulborough, England 44/60 UK Flood water from the River Wey fills a field in Guildford, England 45/60 UK A workman clears drains, after high tide caused flooding on the coast road in Carnlough, Co Antrim 46/60 UK The Tewkesbury Abbey is seen surrounded by flood water in Tewkesbury 47/60 UK A swan swims on flood water surrounding Tewkesbury Abbey in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire 48/60 UK A flooded playground is seen by the Tewkesbury Abbey in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. Emergency services in weather-battered Britain are attempting to cope with a trail of damage caused by severe winter storms and flooding - the worst such sustained period of stormy weather for two decades 49/60 UK A flooded house is seen in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire as large areas of the country continue to experience heavy rainfall, strong winds and high tides 50/60 UK A flooded road is seen in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire 51/60 UK High tide waves break along the seafront at Porthcawl in Mid Glamorgon, Wales. After a period of recent storms and heavy rain, forecasters are warning that there is still more bad weather to come over the next few days 52/60 UK Areas next to the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire 53/60 UK Environment Agency workers lay sandbags onto river defence barriers next to the River Thames on Osney Island in Oxford 54/60 UK Sandbags near river defence barriers next to the River Thames on Osney Island in Oxford 55/60 UK Police tape near Osney Lock in Oxford, where a 47-year-old man died when his mobility scooter fell into a river after he apparently drove it along a flooded pathway 56/60 UK People watch the waves at Cleveleys, Lancashire as stormy weather continues across parts of the country 57/60 UK Areas next to the River Thames in Shinfield, Berkshire, are flooded after the river burst its banks 58/60 UK Flooded areas next to the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire 59/60 UK Severe floods in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire 60/60 UK A wave breaks along the seafront at Porthcawl in Mid Glamorgon, Wales 1/60 UK The trunk of a storm damaged tree is seen laying across residential property following high winds in Wraysbury 2/60 UK A resident looks at a storm damaged tree as it rests on the roof of a residential property following high winds in Wraysbury 3/60 UK A police officer looks on as a British solider helps a tree surgeon remove a fallen tree in Egham, west of London after high winds brought by a winter storm battered southern England 4/60 UK British soliders help a tree surgeon remove a fallen tree in Egham, west of London 5/60 UK Engineers continue to install high capacity Dutch supplied pumps besides the river near Bridgwater in Somerset 6/60 UK Newhaven lighthouse is battered by waves as high winds from the lastest winter storm continue in Newhaven on the south coast of England 7/60 UK Waves crash into a groyne near the West Pier in Brighton 8/60 UK A police officer walks past the wreck of a car after masonry from a building collapsed onto the car in high winds killing a woman in central London 9/60 UK A volunteer stands by with a spade as he joins others in filling sandbags to be distributed to combat flooding in Egham, west of London 10/60 UK Flooded properties are seen in the now largely evacuated and flooded village of Moorland on the Somerset Levels 11/60 UK A car drives through flood water on the Somerset Levels near Langport in Somerset 12/60 UK Flood water collects in an allotment site near Langport in Somerset 13/60 UK Flooded fields surround the River Tone that has burst its banks viewed from Windmill Hill, in Stoke-St-Gregory near Langport in Somerset 14/60 UK Trees are reflected in flood waters on the Somerset Levels near Langport in Somerset 15/60 UK Farmer Roger Forgan uses a boat to cross farm land in front of his flooded farm which has been cut off by flood waters at Muchelney near Langport in Somerset 16/60 UK A man walks beside the River Tone seen from Windmill Hill, Somerset, as flooding persists on the levels 17/60 UK Flooded fields around the River Tone seen from Windmill Hill, Somerset 18/60 UK An electricity survey helicopter flies over flooded farmland surrounding Burrowbridge in Somerset 19/60 UK Flooded farmland surrounding Burrowbridge in Somerset 20/60 UK Anne Bourmer wades through flood water outside her home in Hooe, East Sussex, as more heavy rain sweeps across the country 21/60 UK Flood water is pumped into the River Parrott by the Environment Agency in Moorland in Somerset 22/60 UK A flood sign is seen in flood waters surrounding farm buildings in Somerset 23/60 UK Debris washed up by flood water is seen at James Winslade's farm in Moorland in Somerset 24/60 UK Farmer James Winslade stands in front of bales of animal feed as he surveys some of his 790 acres of flooded land at his farm in Moorland in Somerset, England 25/60 UK Flood water surrounds a house in the village of Thorney in Somerset 26/60 UK A car is seen submerged on the side of a flooded road leading into the cut-off village of Muchelney in Somerset. A local council declared a major incident on the flood-hit Somerset Levels where some villages like Muchelney have been cut off for weeks by flooding that has submerged roads and thousands of acres of farmland in the area of southwestern England 27/60 UK A policeman on a boat looks at a car submerged on the side of a flooded road leading into the cut-off village of Muchelney in Somerset 28/60 UK The village of Muchelney is seen beyond flood water in Somerset 29/60 UK An anti-fracking campaigner braves the severe weather to take part in a protest march near to the IGas Barton Moss fracking exploration rig in Salford 30/60 UK Snow covered sheep huddle together on moorland as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 31/60 UK A motorist attempts to push his car up a snow covered road as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 32/60 UK A tractor snow plough tries to keep the road open as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 33/60 UK Motorcycle riders take shelter in a roadside hut as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 34/60 UK A couple take their dog for a walk over snow covered fields as heavy snow falls on the North Yorkshire Moors near Castleton 35/60 UK Waves crash onto the promenade between Fleetwood and Blackpool as high tides and huge waves hit the West Coast of the UK 36/60 UK Waves crash onto the promenade between Fleetwood and Blackpool, as high tides and huge waves hit the North West England 37/60 UK Debris from the previous day's storm weather litters the promenade road in Aberystwyth, West Wales 38/60 UK The damage in Aberystwyth where violent storms and gale force winds have reduced large parts of the historic seafront to rubble and threaten to destroy a popular landmark, the Victorian public shelter 39/60 UK The damage in Aberystwyth where violent storms and gale force winds have reduced large parts of the historic seafront to rubble and threaten to destroy a popular landmark, the Victorian public shelter 40/60 UK A man tries start a Mercedes car left stricken in flood water on the road leading to the village of Muchelney which has been cut off by flooding, near Langport in Somerset 41/60 UK Flood water is seen inside the home of Muchelney resident and farmer Mike Curtis in the village of Muchelney which has been cut off by flooding, near Langport in Somerset 42/60 UK Water covers the coastal roads at Clevelys near Blackpool as large waves crash over the sea defences as high tides and huge waves hit the west coast of the UK 43/60 UK Cars drive through flood water from the river Arun in Pulborough, England 44/60 UK Flood water from the River Wey fills a field in Guildford, England 45/60 UK A workman clears drains, after high tide caused flooding on the coast road in Carnlough, Co Antrim 46/60 UK The Tewkesbury Abbey is seen surrounded by flood water in Tewkesbury 47/60 UK A swan swims on flood water surrounding Tewkesbury Abbey in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire 48/60 UK A flooded playground is seen by the Tewkesbury Abbey in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. Emergency services in weather-battered Britain are attempting to cope with a trail of damage caused by severe winter storms and flooding - the worst such sustained period of stormy weather for two decades 49/60 UK A flooded house is seen in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire as large areas of the country continue to experience heavy rainfall, strong winds and high tides 50/60 UK A flooded road is seen in the small town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire 51/60 UK High tide waves break along the seafront at Porthcawl in Mid Glamorgon, Wales. After a period of recent storms and heavy rain, forecasters are warning that there is still more bad weather to come over the next few days 52/60 UK Areas next to the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire 53/60 UK Environment Agency workers lay sandbags onto river defence barriers next to the River Thames on Osney Island in Oxford 54/60 UK Sandbags near river defence barriers next to the River Thames on Osney Island in Oxford 55/60 UK Police tape near Osney Lock in Oxford, where a 47-year-old man died when his mobility scooter fell into a river after he apparently drove it along a flooded pathway 56/60 UK People watch the waves at Cleveleys, Lancashire as stormy weather continues across parts of the country 57/60 UK Areas next to the River Thames in Shinfield, Berkshire, are flooded after the river burst its banks 58/60 UK Flooded areas next to the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire 59/60 UK Severe floods in Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire 60/60 UK A wave breaks along the seafront at Porthcawl in Mid Glamorgon, Wales

Experts who analysed the corpses believe the birds died of starvation as small birds are unable to dive very deep to find their food and storm turbulence means fish are likely to move deeper in the water column to find calmer conditions.

The RSPB claims that over 1,000 dead seabirds were found on the coasts of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset along the South West in February, a figure also matched in the Channel Island.

Dead birds “carpeted the sea” along the South Western coast of France, according to fishermen who spoke to the bird charity's French counterpart the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO).

Over 21,000 dead birds were found on the northern Bay of Biscay, while around 200 dead guillemots were recorded on northern Spanish beaches.

It has predicted that many more birds will have died at sea or ashore, where they would have been left unrecorded.

The findings come after it was reported in February that the floods caused a wide variety of animals, from insects to small mammals, to die by from drowning or starvation.

Dr Euan Dunn, RSPB principal marine advisor, said; “This seabird wreck, on a scale unprecedented in living memory, could have profound impacts on vulnerable seabird breeding colonies, including the Channel Islands and the Isles of Scilly, where puffins have a fragile toehold, and on Lundy, where puffins are starting to recover from near extinction.”

"We must do everything in our power to protect our seabird populations and make them and other marine life more resilient to the devastating effects of these `storm wrecks’ by designating marine protected areas (MPAs).”