scarce curlew among victims of bird flu sudden increase

Consultant ornithologist Peter Stronach discovered 160 individual birds of 20 species at Loch Fleet, near Golspie in Sutherland.

Scotland’s chief vet Sheila Voas said there had been a meaningful number of wild bird deaths in the area in recent weeks.

Bodies of curlew, geese and ducks were among those recovered and tested.

There have also been recent suspected avian flu outbreaks on the Dumfries and Galloway coast.