Wales’ national bird at risk from toxic lead

Red Kites (Linda Yeardley-Williams)

A flock of 30 Red Kites in central Anglesey last week must be the largest on the island in at least 250 years. In the modern era, they have only nested on Anglesey since 2020. While Red Kites continue to recover from near-extinction in Britain, their Europe-wide population remains suppressed by toxic ammunition used to shoot gamebirds and deer, as are other raptors such as Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle and Marsh Harrier according to a Cambridge University study.

While lead has long been banned in products such as petrol and paints because of human health risks, an estimated 7000 tonnes from shot and bullets is left in the countryside each year, contaminating soil and the food chain. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust estimates that up to 400,000 waterbirds suffer lead poisoning every winter in the UK. Shooting organisations committed to end the use of lead shot voluntarily by this year.
Welsh Government is now considering recommendations from the Health & Safety Executive to restrict lead in ammunition used for killing game. Last week, wildlife organisations wrote to Wales’ Deputy First Minister calling for a transition to a full ban on lead in no more than 18 months. They are asking people to support a Britain-wide ban by emailing the UK Government.

The sea off Llanddulas is winter home for thousands of seaducks, mostly Common Scoters but with several Surf and Velvet Scoters among them, and at least two Long-tailed Ducks. Another Long-tailed Duck was with three Velvet Scoters and 70 Red-throated Divers off Llanddona on Saturday, and a similar number of Red-throats were in Caernarfon Bay along with 21 Great Northern Divers. Underwatched Barmouth Bay hosts Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver, while a Sandwich Tern, which should be wintering off southwest Africa, fished off Colwyn Bay’s Porth Eirias at the weekend.

Horton’s Nose in Kinmel Bay continues to host Snow Bunting, Hooded Crow and Black Redstart, while two Snow Buntings remain on the Great Orme. Other Black Redstarts were at Pwllheli and Amlwch. Upland snow pushed thousands of Redwings into the valleys while hundreds of Lapwings and Golden Plovers on Anglesey have doubtless moved from snow-covered fields farther east. Frozen lakes elsewhere brought more than 50 Goosanders, a high count in North Wales, with over 200 Pintails to the Dee floodplain at Holt. A Firecrest was at Anglesey’s Llyn Parc Mawr, several Hawfinches at Coed Cilgroeslwyd and a Spotted Redshank at RSPB Conwy, while several Water Pipits and a Cattle Egret were at RSPB Cors Ddyga on Monday.