Many East End residents are alarmed after rare birds washed up on the shore of several communities in the Hamptons.

About 20 Shear Water birds have been found on the beaches of Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton, Wainscott and Georgica Pond Beach. Experts say Shear Waters are rare for the area and usually travel the Atlantic Ocean between Europe, Africa and North America.

Three of the dead birds are being tested by the state Department of Environmental Conservation for bird flu and West Nile. Test results are expected by the end of the week. Dead Shear Water birds washed up in parts of New Jersey and Maryland last year. Experts say those birds died of malnutrition.