Flu fears as dozens of birds die

DOZENS of wild birds have died in a suspected avian flu outbreak at a national nature reserve in the Highlands.

Consultant ornithologist Peter Stronach found

160 individual birds of 20 species at Loch Fleet, near Golspie, Sutherland. The species included pinkfooted geese, eider ducks, cormorants and curlews.

Mr Stronach said he believed a virus was the likely cause due to the large number of dead birds.

The Scottish Government said the recent winter had seen the largest outbreak of avian flu in the UK to date. It said more than

100 commercial and garden poultry flocks were affected.

There were cases reported in Dumfries and Galloway, Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire.