Happy New Year, and we are off with an Oil Slick Alert

I had a call yesterday from the RSPCA who had been informed by Kent County Council Environmental Emergency Planning Team that there was an oil slick in the English Channel heading towards Folkestone and then Dover measuring 1mile long by 1/4 mile wide. We have contacted all our volunteers to be ready to assist with any oiled birds, both by collection and beach patrols.  It is possible that the oil may miss our beaches but we are now ready. 

The RSPCA Wildlife Centre at Fairlight is on standby and has said that if there are 'bulk' oiled birds then they would arrange for them to go straight to them at Fairlight.  If there are individual birds coming ashore then we have said that they can be brought to us in Dover and we will stabilise before passing them on to Fairlight.

If you are able to help by keeping an eye on the beach around the coast it would be a great help.

Update 19/01/2010 @ 12:00

Alan has spoken to the Coastguard this morning and they have said that the last sighting of the oil slick was in the North Sea, apparently heading towards Harwich.  They could not confirm the most up to date information as the fog was preventing them sending up a spotter plane. If the oil has passed us by then we have been lucky, but we might still get the odd straggler coming ashore.

Best wishes Beryl Goodall (Wildlife Careline)

Beryl lives in Dover, Phone number is 07801-248850.

She would find it difficult to travel to Thanet, but could advise if asked.