FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

On the day we learned that yet another satellite-tagged hen harrier has ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances (the 12th since last summer), this forthcoming training workshop for police wildlife crime officers can’t come soon enough. Following on from the success of a raptor satellite tag training workshop in Scotland earlier this month (see here), a similar […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2tImHOI via IFTTT

On the day we learned that yet another satellite-tagged hen harrier has ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances (the 12th since last summer), this forthcoming training workshop for police wildlife crime officers can’t come soon enough. Following on from the success of a raptor satellite tag training workshop in Scotland earlier this month (see here), a similar […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/28/another-workshop-on-raptor-satellite-tagging-for-police-wildlife-crime-officers/

RSPB press release (28 Feb 2019) Rare hen harrier vanishes in Wiltshire A young male hen harrier has disappeared in suspicious circumstances in Wiltshire and is believed most likely to be dead. The harrier, named Vulcan, was one of five chicks to fledge from a nest in Northumberland last summer. He was fitted with a […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2NyObiy via IFTTT

RSPB press release (28 Feb 2019) Rare hen harrier vanishes in Wiltshire A young male hen harrier has disappeared in suspicious circumstances in Wiltshire and is believed most likely to be dead. The harrier, named Vulcan, was one of five chicks to fledge from a nest in Northumberland last summer. He was fitted with a […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/28/satellite-tagged-hen-harrier-vulcan-disappears-nr-proposed-reintroduction-site-in-southern-england/

Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland is never one to mince his words, especially on the subject of the illegal persecution of birds of prey. Here’s his latest straight-talking podcast with Charlie Moores (a digital producer at Lush) where the discussion includes topics such as the under-recording of wildlife crime, satellite tagging of […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2UaIU3x via IFTTT

Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland is never one to mince his words, especially on the subject of the illegal persecution of birds of prey. Here’s his latest straight-talking podcast with Charlie Moores (a digital producer at Lush) where the discussion includes topics such as the under-recording of wildlife crime, satellite tagging of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/27/new-podcast-ian-thomson-head-of-investigations-rspb-scotland/

Tony Juniper, the nominated candidate for taking on the role of Chair of Natural England, faced a pre-appointment hearing yesterday in front of members of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee. If you weren’t able to watch it, the proceedings have been archived and can be viewed here. And […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/27/questions-on-grouse-shooting-for-tony-juniper-but-not-on-hen-harrier-persecution/

Tony Juniper, the nominated candidate for taking on the role of Chair of Natural England, faced a pre-appointment hearing yesterday in front of members of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee. If you weren’t able to watch it, the proceedings have been archived and can be viewed here. And […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2TeGZ0B via IFTTT

Today at Skipton Magistrates gamekeeper Austin Hawke was convicted of a wildlife crime that took place on a Yorkshire grouse moor in May 2018. The offence related to a dead badger found caught in a snare close to a stink pit on Denton Moor on 28 May 2018. Hawke was found guilty of failing to […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2Ey4JVh via IFTTT

Today at Skipton Magistrates gamekeeper Austin Hawke was convicted of a wildlife crime that took place on a Yorkshire grouse moor in May 2018. The offence related to a dead badger found caught in a snare close to a stink pit on Denton Moor on 28 May 2018. Hawke was found guilty of failing to […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/26/gamekeeper-convicted-of-wildlife-crime-on-yorkshire-grouse-moor-where-marsh-harrier-nest-attacked-in-2017/

Six grouse shooting estates are under investigation by Natural England after campaigners submitted evidence of continued heather burning alleged to be in contravention of a voluntary agreement to stop, signed by five of the estates last year. The Guardian ran with this story on Sunday, as follows: An official watchdog is investigating five grouse-shooting estates […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/26/six-grouse-shooting-estates-under-investigation-for-burning-heather-moorland/

Six grouse shooting estates are under investigation by Natural England after campaigners submitted evidence of continued heather burning alleged to be in contravention of a voluntary agreement to stop, signed by five of the estates last year. The Guardian ran with this story on Sunday, as follows: An official watchdog is investigating five grouse-shooting estates […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2Sof3CU via IFTTT

Earlier this month the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Michael Gove MP, announced that Tony Juniper had been selected as the Government’s preferred candidate to take up the post of Chair of Natural England, the Government’s advisor for the natural environment in England (see here). This was a surprising but welcome […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2Nvp7sK via IFTTT

Earlier this month the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Michael Gove MP, announced that Tony Juniper had been selected as the Government’s preferred candidate to take up the post of Chair of Natural England, the Government’s advisor for the natural environment in England (see here). This was a surprising but welcome […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/26/countryside-alliance-agitated-over-tony-junipers-nomination-for-natural-england-chair/

The following photographs were taken by Curtis Thackray on Sunday 17 February 2019. The location was Bingley Moor, a driven grouse moor adjacent to Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire. This disgusting display of savagery is common on many driven grouse moors. This is a stink pit, where gamekeepers toss their victims in a putrid pile, […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2TUktah via IFTTT

The following photographs were taken by Curtis Thackray on Sunday 17 February 2019. The location was Bingley Moor, a driven grouse moor adjacent to Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire. This disgusting display of savagery is common on many driven grouse moors. This is a stink pit, where gamekeepers toss their victims in a putrid pile, […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/20/disgusting-display-of-savagery-on-yorkshire-grouse-moor/

Press release from Humberside Police (20 Feb 2019) Poisoned buzzard East Yorkshire, renewed appeal for information On the 2nd October 2018 Humberside Police appealed for information regarding the discovery of a dead Common Buzzard, which x-rays showed as having three shotgun pellets within its body [Ed: see RPUK blog here]. These were old injuries but […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2tvwNlW via IFTTT

Press release from Humberside Police (20 Feb 2019) Poisoned buzzard East Yorkshire, renewed appeal for information On the 2nd October 2018 Humberside Police appealed for information regarding the discovery of a dead Common Buzzard, which x-rays showed as having three shotgun pellets within its body [Ed: see RPUK blog here]. These were old injuries but […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/20/buzzard-shot-and-poisoned-in-east-yorkshire-police-renew-appeal-for-info/

Press release from RSPB (19 February 2019) Ravens found poisoned on farmland West Mercia Police undertook an investigation after ten dead ravens, a dead crow and parts of a dead lamb were found close together on farmland near Vron Woods, Beguildy on the Wales/Shropshire border. The birds were reported to the RSPB and collected by […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2T4TU58 via IFTTT

Press release from RSPB (19 February 2019) Ravens found poisoned on farmland West Mercia Police undertook an investigation after ten dead ravens, a dead crow and parts of a dead lamb were found close together on farmland near Vron Woods, Beguildy on the Wales/Shropshire border. The birds were reported to the RSPB and collected by […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/heap-of-poisoned-ravens-found-on-welsh-english-border/

The prospect of potentially reintroducing golden and white-tailed eagles to Wales has been on the cards for many years. The most serious effort to examine whether this might be feasible and appropriate is being undertaken by a team of researchers at Cardiff University under the auspices of the Eagle Reintroduction Wales (EWR) Project (view their […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/conflicting-approaches-to-reintroducing-golden-eagles-to-wales/

The prospect of potentially reintroducing golden and white-tailed eagles to Wales has been on the cards for many years. The most serious effort to examine whether this might be feasible and appropriate is being undertaken by a team of researchers at Cardiff University under the auspices of the Eagle Reintroduction Wales (EWR) Project (view their […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2TRyohg via IFTTT

A couple of weeks ago we attended a raptor satellite tracking workshop in Perthshire that was designed to bring together raptor tagging experts and law enforcement officers to help promote a better understanding of how satellite tags work and how the tag data can help the police in the investigation of crimes against birds of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/raptor-satellite-tracking-workshop-beneficial-for-genuine-partnership-working/

A couple of weeks ago we attended a raptor satellite tracking workshop in Perthshire that was designed to bring together raptor tagging experts and law enforcement officers to help promote a better understanding of how satellite tags work and how the tag data can help the police in the investigation of crimes against birds of […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2TUZqVd via IFTTT

It didn’t take them long. Following the successful launch yesterday of the new, non-profit organisation, Wild Justice, the gameshooting industry’s lies, spin and blatant fake news has begun. Check out this ‘article’ on the Fieldsports Channel (here). It opens like this: It goes on to accuse Wild Justice Director Chris Packham of saying something that he […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/14/fieldsports-channel-blatantly-misrepresents-chris-packhams-remarks-on-wild-justice/

It didn’t take them long. Following the successful launch yesterday of the new, non-profit organisation, Wild Justice, the gameshooting industry’s lies, spin and blatant fake news has begun. Check out this ‘article’ on the Fieldsports Channel (here). It opens like this: It goes on to accuse Wild Justice Director Chris Packham of saying something that he […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2Sxawmy via IFTTT

Wild Justice, a not-for-profit company set up by TV presenter, photographer and wildlife campaigner Chris Packham CBE, author, blogger and campaigner Dr Mark Avery and blogger, researcher and wildlife campaigner Dr Ruth Tingay is launched today (Wednesday 13 February). Wild Justice exists to take legal cases on behalf of wildlife against public bodies where they […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/wild-justice-launches-today/

Wild Justice, a not-for-profit company set up by TV presenter, photographer and wildlife campaigner Chris Packham CBE, author, blogger and campaigner Dr Mark Avery and blogger, researcher and wildlife campaigner Dr Ruth Tingay is launched today (Wednesday 13 February). Wild Justice exists to take legal cases on behalf of wildlife against public bodies where they […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2TJcBZ2 via IFTTT

Last month we blogged about how several organisations from the game shooting lobby had ‘boycotted’ a meeting of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) in what looked an attempt to disrupt the plans of the new Chair, Police Supt Nick Lyall (see here, here, here, here). For the benefit of those not on social […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/12/supt-nick-lyalls-plans-to-tackle-raptor-crime-unaffected-by-disruptive-ploy/

Last month we blogged about how several organisations from the game shooting lobby had ‘boycotted’ a meeting of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) in what looked an attempt to disrupt the plans of the new Chair, Police Supt Nick Lyall (see here, here, here, here). For the benefit of those not on social […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2I8cTY3 via IFTTT

No surprise, another week and another report of dumped gamebirds. It’s Cheshire this time, to add to the reports of shot birds dumped in the Scottish borders (here), Norfolk (here), Perthshire (here), Berkshire (here), North York Moors National Park (here) and some more (here), Co. Derry (here), West Yorkshire (here), N Wales (here), mid-Wales (here), […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2GyF4wV via IFTTT

No surprise, another week and another report of dumped gamebirds. It’s Cheshire this time, to add to the reports of shot birds dumped in the Scottish borders (here), Norfolk (here), Perthshire (here), Berkshire (here), North York Moors National Park (here) and some more (here), Co. Derry (here), West Yorkshire (here), N Wales (here), mid-Wales (here), […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/10/dead-pheasants-dumped-in-cheshire/

Tom was like no other. Quite simply, a legend. Here’s a photo of him addressing the crowd at his 90th birthday celebrations last year (photo by The Peregrine Fund) Here’s a tribute from his colleagues at The Peregrine Fund in the USA: In memoriam: Tom J Cade PhD 1928-2019 Founding Chairman On a spring day […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2RGZzcF via IFTTT

Tom was like no other. Quite simply, a legend. Here’s a photo of him addressing the crowd at his 90th birthday celebrations last year (photo by The Peregrine Fund) Here’s a tribute from his colleagues at The Peregrine Fund in the USA: In memoriam: Tom J Cade PhD 1928-2019 Founding Chairman On a spring day […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/07/obituary-professor-tom-cade/

Here’s the third distorted news item from the current edition of Shooting Times (we blogged about the first one here and the second one here). This article is about the coordinated boycotting of last month’s Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) meeting by the Moorland Association, National Gamekeepers Organisation, BASC and Countryside Alliance. Mark Avery […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2Si7n9Z via IFTTT

Here’s the third distorted news item from the current edition of Shooting Times (we blogged about the first one here and the second one here). This article is about the coordinated boycotting of last month’s Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) meeting by the Moorland Association, National Gamekeepers Organisation, BASC and Countryside Alliance. Mark Avery […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/more-half-baked-half-truths-from-shooting-times/

The trial of Edradynate Estate’s former head gamekeeper, David Campbell, continued at Perth Sheriff Court in late January. David Campbell, 69, denies that between 14 and 16 April 2017 at Edradynate Estate he maliciously damaged game crops by spraying them with an unknown substance which caused them to rot and perish. At the time of the […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2Gp15OD via IFTTT

The trial of Edradynate Estate’s former head gamekeeper, David Campbell, continued at Perth Sheriff Court in late January. David Campbell, 69, denies that between 14 and 16 April 2017 at Edradynate Estate he maliciously damaged game crops by spraying them with an unknown substance which caused them to rot and perish. At the time of the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/05/trial-continues-for-now-ex-head-gamekeeper-of-edradynate-estate/

The charity Birds of Poole Harbour is recruiting for two (paid!) Osprey Project Assistants. Summary: An exceptional opportunity for a keen conservationist to get experience on a landmark Osprey translocation project in Poole Harbour. The role will include husbandry and monitoring of translocated chicks pre and post release. Background: Birds of Poole Harbour was founded […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2S90rvI via IFTTT

The charity Birds of Poole Harbour is recruiting for two (paid!) Osprey Project Assistants. Summary: An exceptional opportunity for a keen conservationist to get experience on a landmark Osprey translocation project in Poole Harbour. The role will include husbandry and monitoring of translocated chicks pre and post release. Background: Birds of Poole Harbour was founded […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/03/job-vacancies-x2-osprey-project-assistant-birds-of-poole-harbour/

Here’s the second distorted news item from this week’s Shooting Times (we blogged about the first one here and we’ll be blogging about the third, and most perhaps most disingenuous one next). The editor’s stated emphasis on “communicating the truth and demanding high standards” seems to have fallen upon deaf ears again. Here’s the article: […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2Sl1Yy9 via IFTTT

Here’s the second distorted news item from this week’s Shooting Times (we blogged about the first one here and we’ll be blogging about the third, and most perhaps most disingenuous one next). The editor’s stated emphasis on “communicating the truth and demanding high standards” seems to have fallen upon deaf ears again. Here’s the article: […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/shooting-times-fakes-conflict-between-chris-packham-royal-family/

Further to this morning’s blog about the GWCT’s claim that the preliminary results of the Werritty grouse moor review will be presented at a GWCT conference in March (see here), we’ve received confirmation from the Werritty Review secretary, Karen Rentoul, that GWCT does not have any prior insight to the recommendations of the group. GWCT […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/secretary-for-werritty-review-confirms-prelim-results-will-not-be-presented-at-gwct-conference/

Further to this morning’s blog about the GWCT’s claim that the preliminary results of the Werritty grouse moor review will be presented at a GWCT conference in March (see here), we’ve received confirmation from the Werritty Review secretary, Karen Rentoul, that GWCT does not have any prior insight to the recommendations of the group. GWCT […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2S1LrQn via IFTTT

Shooting Times is always good for a laugh but the latest edition (30 Jan 2019) is particularly entertaining. It starts with Patrick Galbraith’s editorial where he discusses the “few rogues” (ahem) causing problems for the shooting industry and emphasises the importance of ‘communicating the truth and demanding high standards’. Sadly, three of the six news […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/bizarre-news-item-in-shooting-times-re-les-wallaces-grouse-petition/

Shooting Times is always good for a laugh but the latest edition (30 Jan 2019) is particularly entertaining. It starts with Patrick Galbraith’s editorial where he discusses the “few rogues” (ahem) causing problems for the shooting industry and emphasises the importance of ‘communicating the truth and demanding high standards’. Sadly, three of the six news […] from Raptor Persecution UK http://bit.ly/2DNrzHV via IFTTT