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Hundreds of birds fall from sky in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire City Council confirmed that 200 birds died in the incident.
The cause of the deaths remains unknown. 

Some 200 starlings are reported to have died in mysterious circumstances in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening (10 Feb) between Waterston and Hazelbeach. A Pembrokeshire Herald reporter described the scene as “birds falling from the sky in what looked like the hundreds”.

“There were 50 plus birds on the road, and you could hear them all in the hedges, squawking and making noises,” they said. “I don’t know what happened, really no idea, I can’t think it was a bird of prey, they weren’t flying and hitting the road, they were falling dead.”

An RSPB spokesperson said this can occur if birds are disturbed during their evening roost, adding: “When this happens during night-time, it can cause them to collide with the ground as they become disorientated.”

Officers from Pembrokeshire City Council confirmed that 200 birds had died but the cause of the deaths remains unknown. The incident has been reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

This is not the first time starlings have fallen from the sky in mysterious circumstances. In December 2019, hundreds of starlings were found dead on an unclassified road in Anglesey.

The birds were also found in nearby hedgerows, but not in the surrounding fields, sparking international speculation on the various possible causes, from avian flu to 5G signals, to a sonic boom.

North Wales Police said at the time: “It’s highly likely the murmuration took avoiding action whilst airborne, possibly [from] a bird of prey, with the rear of the group not pulling up in time and striking the ground.”

Tests carried out by the APHA on the birds confirmed trauma and internal bleeding as the cause of death, supporting the theory that the birds died from impact with the road.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
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NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.