Wild victims of bird flu on the rise

Whooper Swan (Tony Pope)

As ‘flockdown’ rules require keepers of birds to introduce strict biosecurity measures in Wales, increased deaths of wild birds have raised fears that it could be the worst winter yet for bird flu victims in Europe. The latest assessment from Defra reports that Mute Swans and, increasingly, Whooper Swans are particularly affected. It shows multiple outbreaks around Liverpool Bay since the start of October, while across mainland Europe, thousands of Cranes have died on their migration route between Scandinavia and Spain. Ornithologists in Iceland report that the population of Gyr Falcon, the largest falcon in the World, have fallen from 2000 to around 500, while the British Antarctic Survey found that numbers of female Southern Elephant Seals breeding on South Georgia fell 47% during 2022-24.

​The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has urged birdwatchers to report all dead and sick birds of any species to Defra (online or 03459 335577) and to BirdTrack online or via the free app. Defra will decide whether to collect the dead birds and test them for the disease. It has also reminded people not to touch dead or sick birds, and to keep dogs on leads to prevent the further spread of disease.

Storm Claudia’s deluge flooded parts of the Cefni Valley, attracting thousands of ducks and waders to RSPB Cors Ddyga, including Whooper Swans and a flock of Pink-footed Geese. A Water Pipit, Cattle Egrets, Great White Egret and Scaup were also on the reserve at the weekend, with another Scaup in Foryd Bay. Red-necked Grebes, now scarce visitors to Wales, were in Holyhead harbour and off Llanfairfechan, perhaps seeking shelter from the storm. At least five Slavonian Grebes are in Beddmanarch Bay and another is off Morfa Harlech.

A lone Shorelark continued its stay on the Great Orme, joined briefly by three Snow Buntings, with another at Abermenai Point, and two each at Gronant and Mynydd y Gwyddel at the end of Pen Llŷn. A Ring-necked Duck at Llyn Caer Euni is almost certainly a returning bird; this scarce visitor from North America has been on this small lake north of Bala – or on Llyn Tegid or Llyn Brenig – each winter since 2020.

A Black Redstart was at Mynydd Bodafon, a Sandwich Tern in Pwllheli harbour and a Firecrest in a Bangor garden last week, and a Hoopoe was reported on Parys Mountain. 

---