ISLAND police are urging people to stick to public footpaths when visiting nature reserves following a report of a man disturbing a number of nesting birds at Brading Marsh.

Police received a report of the man climbing over a fence and trespassing onto a private area of the RSPB's Brading Marsh Nature Reserve to photograph birds — "disturbing and flushing a number of birds in the process," they said.

Brading Marsh, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is home to a number of protected species of wild bird; ground nesting birds, such as lapwing, which are susceptible to disturbance; and other 'Schedule 1' birds, some of which breed at the marsh annually.

What to do if you witness a wildlife crime

Anyone with information about wildlife crime is urged to report it to police on 101, or via the report tool on the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary website. Dial 999 if a crime is in progress.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 1 birds are afforded special protection.

For a full list of Schedule I birds, visit the British Trust for Ornithology website.

PC Dianne Read, from the police's Country Watch team on the Island, said: “Brading Marsh is the Island’s only RSPB reserve and is home to an array of fascinating species, including rare visitors and a number of protected species that breed every year.

“Trespassing on the protected areas of the reserve will disturb the birds, as was seen in this case, and at this time of year this activity could deter them from breeding or nest building all together — or cause them to abandon their nests or young.

“We are a nation of wildlife lovers, and there is a strong community of wildlife and bird enthusiasts and photographers on the Isle of Wight — the vast majority of which behave responsibly and put the welfare of the wildlife first.

“Unfortunately, incidents such as this highlight a small minority who pose a risk to our native wildlife.

"Please stick to public footpaths at any beauty spots across the Island to ensure you are not disturbing birds during the breeding season.”