Red kites were illegally poisoned

Two dead red kites found in Dumfries and Galloway were illegally poisoned, police have said.

A post-mortem examination has confirmed that illegal pesticides were used to kill the birds.

Three dead birds were discovered in the Stewartry area in April but the cause of death for the remaining red kite has not yet been established.

It brings the total number of birds poisoned in the region since the beginning of 2018 to four. In January, a red kite was found in Kirkpatrick Durham followed by the discovery of a buzzard in Mossdale in March.

STONEHAVEN