In addition to the recovery in Ireland, (see over seas), the following red kites have been reported as dead or injured;

(1) Ring number GF99433 Ringed as a chick in a nest near Ystrad Meurig in June 1999. The bird was found dead in a field near Olmarch by a local farmer on 1st November 1999 and handed to nest-watcher Wil Davies. The bird was in good condition with "unusually heavy fat deposits" Analysis for a range of likely agricultural chemicals found no residues and the cause of death remains a mystery.

(2) Ring number GF27773 Ringed as a chick, one of two, in a nest near Sennybridge in June 1994. Found dead on the 8th September 1999 near Trecastle. The bird was reported directly to the BTO so the body was not available for post mortem.

(3) Ring number GF44970. Ringed as a single chick from a nest near Betws-y-Coed, one of very few nests in North Wales. It was found in a field by a local farmer on or about 1st April 2000 and reported to the RSPB office in Bangor. I later collected the bird and took it to the Veterinary Investigation Centre in Aberystwyth. It was a female, in good condition and post mortem examination showed no obvious cause of death. Toxicological tests are being carried out.

In addition to the above, three unringed kites were also found and submitted for analysis.

(a) Found dead near Tregaron on 1st November 1999. The analysing vet comment that this was an unusual case showing several features not seen before. Firstly, when the carcass was picked up both legs fractured at the mid point of the metatarsus. The bones here were very friable whilst other long bones appeared reasonably strong. Secondly, the proventriculus (part of the digestive system) was impacted with grass. Apart from this the kite was fairly well muscled. The vet concluded that the bird may have either been trapped by or damaged its legs (through hitting wires etc) and tried to satisfy its hunger by eating grass. I suggested the grass may have been ingested whilst eating earthworms. The cause of its death thus remains uncertain.

(b) Found near Craig Goch, in the Elan Valley near Rhayader on 16th November. Most mortem analysis found traces of both Bromodiolone (a second generation rodenticide) and Diazinon (a sheep dip). In the absence of any haemorrhaging it was considered that the Bromodiolone was probably not a contributing factor to this birds death. The level of Diazinon was also considered residual and possibly resulting from the bird scavenging the carcase of a recently dipped sheep. Pesticide abuse was not suspected in this instance.

(c) A dead kite picked up near Swansea on 10th January 2000 had apparently starved to death

The unringed adult kite found dead near Beulah in 1999 was confirmed as having died due to poisoning by Carbofuran. Field visits by FRCA staff took place to the local landowners but no further evidence was uncovered. Pesticide abuse is suspected.