A video of a dog chasing sea birds while off the lead in a protected area has prompted calls for owners to keep their pets under control.

The 60-second clip was captured by a wildlife watcher in Pegwell Bay, between Ramsgate and Sandwich.

It shows the dog running across the mudflats, a restricted part of the nature reserve which is a vital feeding ground for the birds.

Owners risk a £100 fine for breaching the public space protection order by letting their dogs off the lead in the zone, a step that has been taken by the council bosses to protect the precious wildlife in the area.

Experts say while the footage of the dog frolicking in the water may look like harmless fun, it “causes a huge amount of stress” to the birds, which may not return to the area.

They warn it may be the cause of a “major decline” in some migratory species at the bay.

The wildlife watcher who captured the video, and has asked not to be named, said: “The poor birds have little chance to rest and feed if they are being chased by dogs off the lead.

“Pegwell Bay is part of the Nature Reserve and is a vital feeding ground for migrating birds. By all means, take your dog for a walk but keep it under control on a lead.”

Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) manages Sandwich and Pegwell Bay on behalf of multiple landowners and has been working with Birdwise East Kent, Thanet District Council enforcement officers and Kent Police’s Rural Task Force in a bid to combat the ongoing disturbance of wildlife on this protected site.

KWT’s protected area warden Nina Jones said: “We are working hard to protect the wildlife on this site, but continued disturbance is an ongoing problem and may be the cause of a major decline in some migratory bird species.

“This area should be their haven, but we are seeing more and more reports of dogs chasing vulnerable birds that need to rest and feed before long migratory journeys to wintering or breeding grounds.

“Statistics show that dog ownership spiked during the pandemic, and it is only natural that people want somewhere nice to walk their pet, but all too many owners simply ignore the signage and just do not just understand the damage their pet is doing.

“A dog frolicking in the water with birds, to some, looks harmless but it causes a huge amount of stress on those birds who simply will not return to the area.

“So, I would ask all dog walkers in the area to please, respect the dog control area and keep your pet on a lead.”

The video was shared online by wildlife presenter Richard Taylor-Jones who explained why the captured incident is so harmful to wildlife.

He said: “Every time birds are disturbed by dogs, they use energy they would not otherwise do so. So not only does it mean the birds are stressed and scared, but they must also find more food to get through the day.

“At this time of year, some of these birds have just returned from the Arctic Circle, travelling thousands of miles, and are exhausted.

“This disturbance could be the difference between making it and not.

“This type of disturbance is simply all too common at Pegwell Bay, a site of European Site of Special Conservation.

“It’s time to start enforcing the law and fining the people that are breaking it.”

It’s not the first time wildlife has been disturbed at Pegwell Bay, with a multi-agency operation launched earlier this month to protect seals from jet-skiers.

Officers from Kent Police’s rural task force have been monitoring the area following reports that vessels had disrupted marine life inhabiting the location by the mouth of the River Stour.