FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

The following article was published today in the Wharfedale Observer: Call for robust action to protect grouse on Ilkley Moor by Annette McIntyre (reporter) BRADFORD Council is planning “robust” action after reports of grouse being driven from Ilkley Moor to be shot. Grouse shooting was banned on the moor at the start of 2018 when […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/36nxOyi

The following article was published today in the Wharfedale Observer: Call for robust action to protect grouse on Ilkley Moor by Annette McIntyre (reporter) BRADFORD Council is planning “robust” action after reports of grouse being driven from Ilkley Moor to be shot. Grouse shooting was banned on the moor at the start of 2018 when […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/36nxOyi via IFTTT

Just when you thought the hen harrier brood meddling trial couldn’t be discredited any further…..it turns out that three of the five brood meddled chicks have been fitted with a new, untested type of satellite tag which showed reliability problems right from the start of the trial. A further five hen harrier chicks, unrelated to […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2MVolH8

Just when you thought the hen harrier brood meddling trial couldn’t be discredited any further…..it turns out that three of the five brood meddled chicks have been fitted with a new, untested type of satellite tag which showed reliability problems right from the start of the trial. A further five hen harrier chicks, unrelated to […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2MVolH8 via IFTTT

Revive, the coalition for grouse moor reform in Scotland hosted a well-attended fringe event at the recent SNP national conference in Aberdeen, attracting enthusiasm and support from members just as it did at the SNP’s spring conference event earlier this year (see here). Revive’s campaign manager, Max Wiszniewski has written a blog about the event […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/349yE00

Revive, the coalition for grouse moor reform in Scotland hosted a well-attended fringe event at the recent SNP national conference in Aberdeen, attracting enthusiasm and support from members just as it did at the SNP’s spring conference event earlier this year (see here). Revive’s campaign manager, Max Wiszniewski has written a blog about the event […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/349yE00 via IFTTT

[Photo by Getty] At the RSPB’s AGM yesterday, the Chair of RSPB Council made the following announcement (also published on Martin Harper’s blog): Announcement of review of RSPB policy on gamebird shooting “There is growing concern about the environmental impact (including for carbon, water and biodiversity) of intensive forms of game bird shooting and associated […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2PoQw2S via IFTTT

[Photo by Getty] At the RSPB’s AGM yesterday, the Chair of RSPB Council made the following announcement (also published on Martin Harper’s blog): Announcement of review of RSPB policy on gamebird shooting “There is growing concern about the environmental impact (including for carbon, water and biodiversity) of intensive forms of game bird shooting and associated […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2PoQw2S

You’ll recall that satellite-tagged hen harrier Rosie was reported as being the fourth young hen harrier to disappear this autumn, in a vague statement issued by Northumbria Police on 17th October 2019 (see here). Rosie was not one of the brood meddled hen harriers but was a 2019 bird satellite tagged by Natural England in […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2plk9Y7

You’ll recall that satellite-tagged hen harrier Rosie was reported as being the fourth young hen harrier to disappear this autumn, in a vague statement issued by Northumbria Police on 17th October 2019 (see here). Rosie was not one of the brood meddled hen harriers but was a 2019 bird satellite tagged by Natural England in […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2plk9Y7 via IFTTT

At the beginning of October one of Shooting Times’ regular columnists, David Tomlinson, wrote this: That was decent of him and shows that the sensible people in the game shooting world can see the writing on the wall and recognise that they need to reform quickly before it all comes crashing down. But as we […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2ojQXjD

At the beginning of October one of Shooting Times’ regular columnists, David Tomlinson, wrote this: That was decent of him and shows that the sensible people in the game shooting world can see the writing on the wall and recognise that they need to reform quickly before it all comes crashing down. But as we […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2ojQXjD via IFTTT

Earlier this summer six young white-tailed eagles were collected from nests in Scotland and translocated to release aviaries on the Isle of Wight at the start of a new five year project aimed at restoring this species back to the south of England (see here). This conservation initiative is being led by the Roy Dennis […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2NcluYW via IFTTT

Earlier this summer six young white-tailed eagles were collected from nests in Scotland and translocated to release aviaries on the Isle of Wight at the start of a new five year project aimed at restoring this species back to the south of England (see here). This conservation initiative is being led by the Roy Dennis […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2NcluYW

Last week RSPB Scotland published a blog called ‘Why vicarious liability is failing to have an impact in Scotland‘. Written by Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species & Land Management, it’s the latest in a series, following on from the excellent blog challenging the Scottish Gamekeepers’ ignorance on satellite tags, written by Ian Thomson, Head of […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2W8rqGz via IFTTT

Last week RSPB Scotland published a blog called ‘Why vicarious liability is failing to have an impact in Scotland‘. Written by Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species & Land Management, it’s the latest in a series, following on from the excellent blog challenging the Scottish Gamekeepers’ ignorance on satellite tags, written by Ian Thomson, Head of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2W8rqGz

A couple of weeks ago the Scottish SPCA, assisted by Police Scotland, conducted a pre-dawn raid on properties in Angus and Aberdeenshire as part of an investigation in to suspected animal fighting (see here). This story has attracted huge media attention and more details have been emerging as journalists begin to dig. The first insight […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/35TF3y3

A couple of weeks ago the Scottish SPCA, assisted by Police Scotland, conducted a pre-dawn raid on properties in Angus and Aberdeenshire as part of an investigation in to suspected animal fighting (see here). This story has attracted huge media attention and more details have been emerging as journalists begin to dig. The first insight […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/35TF3y3 via IFTTT

Following last Thursday’s news that a fourth satellite tagged hen harrier had ‘disappeared’ this autumn  – one called Rosie who vanished in Northumberland on an unknown date (here), news emerged last night on Supt Nick Lyall’s twitter feed that apparently she is alive and well. There is no further detail at the moment. [Hen harrier […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2o3avZs via IFTTT

Following last Thursday’s news that a fourth satellite tagged hen harrier had ‘disappeared’ this autumn  – one called Rosie who vanished in Northumberland on an unknown date (here), news emerged last night on Supt Nick Lyall’s twitter feed that apparently she is alive and well. There is no further detail at the moment. [Hen harrier […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2o3avZs

A small gaggle of anti-Chris Packham pro-grouse shooting protesters turned up in Harrogate last night to demonstrate outside the theatre where Chris (and Steve Backshall) were presenting shows to help raise awareness of wildlife in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). [Photo by Gary Lawson] Much to the bemusement (and amusement) of theatre-goers, […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2W5g7PC

A small gaggle of anti-Chris Packham pro-grouse shooting protesters turned up in Harrogate last night to demonstrate outside the theatre where Chris (and Steve Backshall) were presenting shows to help raise awareness of wildlife in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). [Photo by Gary Lawson] Much to the bemusement (and amusement) of theatre-goers, […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2W5g7PC via IFTTT

Yesterday, before the news that a fourth satellite-tagged hen harrier had vanished in suspicious circumstances this autumn (see here), DEFRA published the following blog: We’re still waiting to learn from Natural England what, exactly, is the exit strategy for the hen harrier brood meddling trial and specifically, what are the criteria for making that decision? […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/32ogQ0E

Yesterday, before the news that a fourth satellite-tagged hen harrier had vanished in suspicious circumstances this autumn (see here), DEFRA published the following blog: We’re still waiting to learn from Natural England what, exactly, is the exit strategy for the hen harrier brood meddling trial and specifically, what are the criteria for making that decision? […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/32ogQ0E via IFTTT

A fourth young hen harrier has vanished in suspicious circumstances this year. The first three disappeared in September from moors in County Durham (here) and the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here and here). The latest one to go, ‘Rosie’ is not believed to be part of Natural England’s outrageous brood meddling trial, but is believed […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2prKWli

A fourth young hen harrier has vanished in suspicious circumstances this year. The first three disappeared in September from moors in County Durham (here) and the Yorkshire Dales National Park (here and here). The latest one to go, ‘Rosie’ is not believed to be part of Natural England’s outrageous brood meddling trial, but is believed […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2prKWli via IFTTT

Further to Monday’s blog about a joint Scottish SPCA/Police Scotland raid on various properties as part of an investigation in to suspected animal fighting (here), it has emerged that one of the addresses was the Millden Estate in the Angus Glens. An exclusive article by journalist David Leask is on the front page of this […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2oNLdPq via IFTTT

Further to Monday’s blog about a joint Scottish SPCA/Police Scotland raid on various properties as part of an investigation in to suspected animal fighting (here), it has emerged that one of the addresses was the Millden Estate in the Angus Glens. An exclusive article by journalist David Leask is on the front page of this […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2oNLdPq

Autumn is here; Werritty’s report is not. For new readers, the long anticipated and long overdue Werritty Review is a Government-commissioned report on grouse moor management in Scotland. Environment Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham commissioned it following the publication of the authoritative, ‘exemplary and thorough‘ Golden Eagle Satellite Tag Review in May 2017, which revealed the […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/31jE7PV via IFTTT

Autumn is here; Werritty’s report is not. For new readers, the long anticipated and long overdue Werritty Review is a Government-commissioned report on grouse moor management in Scotland. Environment Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham commissioned it following the publication of the authoritative, ‘exemplary and thorough‘ Golden Eagle Satellite Tag Review in May 2017, which revealed the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/31jE7PV

Following the news that two of this year’s five brood meddled hen harriers had ‘vanished’ on grouse moors in the north of England in September 2019 (one in County Durham here and one in the Yorkshire Dales National Park here), we now learn that a third harrier has disappeared, also in the Yorkshire Dales National […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2BdOMB5 via IFTTT

Following the news that two of this year’s five brood meddled hen harriers had ‘vanished’ on grouse moors in the north of England in September 2019 (one in County Durham here and one in the Yorkshire Dales National Park here), we now learn that a third harrier has disappeared, also in the Yorkshire Dales National […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2BdOMB5

Press release from Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland, 14th October 2019 Double swoop on suspected animal fighters Numerous dogs have been seized by the Scottish SPCA following two simultaneous raids at different addresses in Scotland Working in partnership with Police Scotland, the Scottish SPCA led raids at an address in Angus and an address in […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2IO9jjW via IFTTT

Press release from Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland, 14th October 2019 Double swoop on suspected animal fighters Numerous dogs have been seized by the Scottish SPCA following two simultaneous raids at different addresses in Scotland Working in partnership with Police Scotland, the Scottish SPCA led raids at an address in Angus and an address in […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2IO9jjW

Appeal for information from North Yorkshire Police (11 October 2019): APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER BUZZARD FOUND SHOT NEAR SHERBURN IN ELMET North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a dead buzzard was found by a member of the public at 11.45am on 3 October on a footpath close to Hagg lane near Sherburn in […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/328yPrJ

Appeal for information from North Yorkshire Police (11 October 2019): APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER BUZZARD FOUND SHOT NEAR SHERBURN IN ELMET North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a dead buzzard was found by a member of the public at 11.45am on 3 October on a footpath close to Hagg lane near Sherburn in […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/328yPrJ via IFTTT

This is an excellent blog written by Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland, countering the misinformation (that’s being kind) about satellite tags that is being touted by some in the game shooting industry. We’ll be writing more on this shortly. We’ve reproduced Ian’s blog here: Challenging misinformation about satellite tags RSPB Scotland’s Head […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/324uLZz

This is an excellent blog written by Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland, countering the misinformation (that’s being kind) about satellite tags that is being touted by some in the game shooting industry. We’ll be writing more on this shortly. We’ve reproduced Ian’s blog here: Challenging misinformation about satellite tags RSPB Scotland’s Head […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/324uLZz via IFTTT

North Yorkshire Police have issued the following appeal for information: Police appeal after an injured marsh harrier was found near Scarborough 8 October 2019 Police are appealing for information after an injured marsh harrier was found near Scarborough. The bird was found at 4pm on Sunday 18 August 2019 by a member of the public […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2VrGcrx via IFTTT

North Yorkshire Police have issued the following appeal for information: Police appeal after an injured marsh harrier was found near Scarborough 8 October 2019 Police are appealing for information after an injured marsh harrier was found near Scarborough. The bird was found at 4pm on Sunday 18 August 2019 by a member of the public […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2VrGcrx

Fantastic news! Mark Avery is going back to the Royal Courts of Justice in London after being given permission by the Appeal Court to challenge an earlier court decision that hen harrier brood meddling is legal. [Back to the High Court for Mark and his brilliant legal team. Photo by Ruth Tingay] The RSPB has […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2MnFxDw via IFTTT

Fantastic news! Mark Avery is going back to the Royal Courts of Justice in London after being given permission by the Appeal Court to challenge an earlier court decision that hen harrier brood meddling is legal. [Back to the High Court for Mark and his brilliant legal team. Photo by Ruth Tingay] The RSPB has […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2MnFxDw

Press release from Scottish Ramblers, working on behalf of Scottish Environment LINK Hilltracks Group 7 October 2019 Landowner told to remove track scarring Cairngorms hill A landowner in the Cairngorms National Park has been ordered to remove a controversial vehicle track that is visible from miles around in scenic Glen Clova, Angus. Campaigners have welcomed […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2Mkelp2

Press release from Scottish Ramblers, working on behalf of Scottish Environment LINK Hilltracks Group 7 October 2019 Landowner told to remove track scarring Cairngorms hill A landowner in the Cairngorms National Park has been ordered to remove a controversial vehicle track that is visible from miles around in scenic Glen Clova, Angus. Campaigners have welcomed […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2Mkelp2 via IFTTT

Following earlier blogs about the two ‘missing’ brood meddled hen harriers (here), one of which vanished on a grouse moor in County Durham on 9th September 2019 (here), further detail has now emerged about the loss of the second harrier. Here’s a press statement published this afternoon by North Yorkshire Police: Appeal for information about […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2VqYn0t via IFTTT

Following earlier blogs about the two ‘missing’ brood meddled hen harriers (here), one of which vanished on a grouse moor in County Durham on 9th September 2019 (here), further detail has now emerged about the loss of the second harrier. Here’s a press statement published this afternoon by North Yorkshire Police: Appeal for information about […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2VqYn0t

This seems timely given the news that one of the brood meddled hen harriers vanished in suspicious circumstances on a grouse moor in County Durham earlier in September. From the Teesdale Mercury, 7 Oct 2019: Fighting raptor crime soars to new heights A CONSERVATION organisation and the police have joined forces to protect birds of […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2LUMQne via IFTTT

This seems timely given the news that one of the brood meddled hen harriers vanished in suspicious circumstances on a grouse moor in County Durham earlier in September. From the Teesdale Mercury, 7 Oct 2019: Fighting raptor crime soars to new heights A CONSERVATION organisation and the police have joined forces to protect birds of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2LUMQne

A new petition has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament calling for ‘an end to the killing of wildlife on grouse moors and elsewhere in Scotland’. Petition # PE01762 is the work of animal welfare charity OneKind and runs from now until 13 November 2019. Petitions to the Scottish Parliament are different to those lodged […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/339wU6q

A new petition has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament calling for ‘an end to the killing of wildlife on grouse moors and elsewhere in Scotland’. Petition # PE01762 is the work of animal welfare charity OneKind and runs from now until 13 November 2019. Petitions to the Scottish Parliament are different to those lodged […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/339wU6q via IFTTT

Durham Constabulary has issued a press statement about one of the two brood meddled hen harrier chicks that vanished off the face of the earth in September, which the Moorland Association was so keen to play down. From it we learn that this young male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ on 9th September 2019 (what’s that, just […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2OoHT7M

Durham Constabulary has issued a press statement about one of the two brood meddled hen harrier chicks that vanished off the face of the earth in September, which the Moorland Association was so keen to play down. From it we learn that this young male hen harrier ‘disappeared’ on 9th September 2019 (what’s that, just […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2OoHT7M via IFTTT

Following on from the news earlier this week that two of this year’s five brood meddled hen harrier chicks have ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances (both on grouse moors, we’ve been told unofficially), questions have been asked about when Natural England will pull the plug on this outrageous five year ‘trial’. [The most pitiful photograph of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2oGiyLL

Following on from the news earlier this week that two of this year’s five brood meddled hen harrier chicks have ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances (both on grouse moors, we’ve been told unofficially), questions have been asked about when Natural England will pull the plug on this outrageous five year ‘trial’. [The most pitiful photograph of […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2oGiyLL via IFTTT

Press release: Chris Packham to highlight lack of hen harriers in our skies with mass kite-flying event this Saturday at Box Hill, Surrey Naturalist and television presenter Chris Packham is hoping for good kite flying weather this Saturday at Box Hill in the Surrey Hills. To highlight the plight of Hen Harriers he’s had 100 […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2pnuQZS via IFTTT

Press release: Chris Packham to highlight lack of hen harriers in our skies with mass kite-flying event this Saturday at Box Hill, Surrey Naturalist and television presenter Chris Packham is hoping for good kite flying weather this Saturday at Box Hill in the Surrey Hills. To highlight the plight of Hen Harriers he’s had 100 […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2pnuQZS

Whichever way you look at it, the Moorland Association’s press release on hen harrier brood meddling amounts to an abuse of process. First of all there’s the abuse of process in terms of the internal governance of the brood meddling project. We know, from the formal brood meddling project plan, that there’s a Project Board […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2ntLpm9 via IFTTT

Whichever way you look at it, the Moorland Association’s press release on hen harrier brood meddling amounts to an abuse of process. First of all there’s the abuse of process in terms of the internal governance of the brood meddling project. We know, from the formal brood meddling project plan, that there’s a Project Board […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2ntLpm9

Huge congratulations to Chris Packham who was honoured at last night’s Mirror Animal Hero Awards 2019, winning the Outstanding Contribution Award. [Chris at the awards ceremony last night, taking the opportunity to distribute Wild Justice postcards urging people to sign his petition to ban driven grouse shooting. Photo by Press Association] His citation read as […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2nVVTL3

Huge congratulations to Chris Packham who was honoured at last night’s Mirror Animal Hero Awards 2019, winning the Outstanding Contribution Award. [Chris at the awards ceremony last night, taking the opportunity to distribute Wild Justice postcards urging people to sign his petition to ban driven grouse shooting. Photo by Press Association] His citation read as […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2nVVTL3 via IFTTT