FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

Press release from Wild Justice (30th October 2020) Wild Justice secures an historic environmental legal victory Just days away from facing a barrage of legal arguments in court (on 3 and 4 November) DEFRA has agreed to license the release of Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges to control ecological damage to wildlife sites.   Wild Justice mounted a […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jIQWwr via IFTTT

Press release from Wild Justice (30th October 2020) Wild Justice secures an historic environmental legal victory Just days away from facing a barrage of legal arguments in court (on 3 and 4 November) DEFRA has agreed to license the release of Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges to control ecological damage to wildlife sites.   Wild Justice mounted a […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jIQWwr

Last year, campaign group Wild Justice launched a legal challenge against DEFRA over the unregulated annual release of 50+ million gamebirds (pheasant and re-legged partridge) in to the English countryside (see here). Permission was granted to Wild Justice for a judicial review and the court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Meanwhile, […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3kIOpU6

Last year, campaign group Wild Justice launched a legal challenge against DEFRA over the unregulated annual release of 50+ million gamebirds (pheasant and re-legged partridge) in to the English countryside (see here). Permission was granted to Wild Justice for a judicial review and the court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Meanwhile, […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3kIOpU6 via IFTTT

Supermarket Sainsbury’s has a new product on sale this autumn – a mixed game casserole, which apparently is made of 50% venison and 50% pheasant and red legged partridge: [All photos by Ruth Tingay] It’s being produced by a company called Holme Farm Venison, a company based in North Yorkshire that specialises in venison but […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3e4ylK5

Supermarket Sainsbury’s has a new product on sale this autumn – a mixed game casserole, which apparently is made of 50% venison and 50% pheasant and red legged partridge: [All photos by Ruth Tingay] It’s being produced by a company called Holme Farm Venison, a company based in North Yorkshire that specialises in venison but […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3e4ylK5 via IFTTT

Press release from the Revive Coalition for grouse moor reform (28 October 2020) Campaigners launch spoof Dragons’ Den film ridiculing grouse shooting industry #GovernmentsDen video shown to MSPs in exclusive preview MSPs have been given an exclusive preview of a spoof Dragons’ Den film, highlighting the weakness of the arguments in favour of managed grouse […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3oznWea via IFTTT

Press release from the Revive Coalition for grouse moor reform (28 October 2020) Campaigners launch spoof Dragons’ Den film ridiculing grouse shooting industry #GovernmentsDen video shown to MSPs in exclusive preview MSPs have been given an exclusive preview of a spoof Dragons’ Den film, highlighting the weakness of the arguments in favour of managed grouse […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3oznWea

The Oct 31st deadline is looming for the Langholm Moor Community Buyout, an initiative aiming to buy land from Buccleuch Estates and transform it from an old grouse moor in to something of benefit for the whole community. At the moment it looks like there may be enough funds to support Plan B, which is […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/31N2h8i

The Oct 31st deadline is looming for the Langholm Moor Community Buyout, an initiative aiming to buy land from Buccleuch Estates and transform it from an old grouse moor in to something of benefit for the whole community. At the moment it looks like there may be enough funds to support Plan B, which is […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/31N2h8i via IFTTT

Press release from South Yorkshire Police (26 October 2020) Information sought following the poisoning of a protected bird Officers investigating reports of a bird of prey being deliberately poisoned are appealing for your help to find those responsible. On Saturday 4 July officers found a juvenile peregrine falcon in ill health in the Fish Dam […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/35CtVGn

Press release from South Yorkshire Police (26 October 2020) Information sought following the poisoning of a protected bird Officers investigating reports of a bird of prey being deliberately poisoned are appealing for your help to find those responsible. On Saturday 4 July officers found a juvenile peregrine falcon in ill health in the Fish Dam […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/35CtVGn via IFTTT

The Revive Coalition for grouse moor reform in Scotland has released a trailer for a forthcoming new film, called ‘Government’s Den’. A parody of the Dragon’s Den format, this short film imagines a world in which driven grouse shooting doesn’t exist – where the grouse shooting industry must pitch its case for starting driven grouse […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/37ujGqh via IFTTT

The Revive Coalition for grouse moor reform in Scotland has released a trailer for a forthcoming new film, called ‘Government’s Den’. A parody of the Dragon’s Den format, this short film imagines a world in which driven grouse shooting doesn’t exist – where the grouse shooting industry must pitch its case for starting driven grouse […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/37ujGqh

Press release from North Yorkshire Police (21st October 2020) Police appeal for information after peregrine falcons found dead near Tadcaster Analysis finds carcasses containing pesticides North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information following investigations into the death of two peregrine falcons found at a quarry near Stutton, Tadcaster. [Photos by Guy Shorrock] A member of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3o8V4ZU

Press release from North Yorkshire Police (21st October 2020) Police appeal for information after peregrine falcons found dead near Tadcaster Analysis finds carcasses containing pesticides North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information following investigations into the death of two peregrine falcons found at a quarry near Stutton, Tadcaster. [Photos by Guy Shorrock] A member of […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3o8V4ZU via IFTTT

Last year Waitrose became the first (and only?) supermarket to ban the sale of gamebirds that have been shot with toxic lead ammunition (see here). It was a bold move but one that was welcomed across the conservation sector. Meanwhile, after years of consistently defending the use of toxic lead ammunition (e.g. here’s a classic […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3kiqwmf

Last year Waitrose became the first (and only?) supermarket to ban the sale of gamebirds that have been shot with toxic lead ammunition (see here). It was a bold move but one that was welcomed across the conservation sector. Meanwhile, after years of consistently defending the use of toxic lead ammunition (e.g. here’s a classic […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3kiqwmf via IFTTT

A new report has been published today reviewing confirmed incidents of illegal persecution and other threats to raptors in Ireland between 2007-2019. The report is the cumulative work of the RAPTOR protocol (Recording and Addressing Persecution and Threats to Our Raptors) which was a collaborative approach between the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Regional Veterinary […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2TcY49r

A new report has been published today reviewing confirmed incidents of illegal persecution and other threats to raptors in Ireland between 2007-2019. The report is the cumulative work of the RAPTOR protocol (Recording and Addressing Persecution and Threats to Our Raptors) which was a collaborative approach between the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Regional Veterinary […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2TcY49r via IFTTT

Regular blog readers will know that there are currently two separate projects, by two very different organisations, considering the reintroduction of eagles in to Wales. [Golden eagle photo by Steve Liptrot] One organisation called ‘Wilder Britain‘, headed by Dr Paul O’Donoghue, is apparently seeking to reintroduce a total of ten golden eagles to Snowdonia National […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2IPIheP via IFTTT

Regular blog readers will know that there are currently two separate projects, by two very different organisations, considering the reintroduction of eagles in to Wales. [Golden eagle photo by Steve Liptrot] One organisation called ‘Wilder Britain‘, headed by Dr Paul O’Donoghue, is apparently seeking to reintroduce a total of ten golden eagles to Snowdonia National […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2IPIheP

Earlier this month two blogs were published here about an application from Mark Osborne (representing the Leadhills Estate) to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH, now re-branded as Nature Scot) for a licence to undertake out-of-season muirburn on the grouse moors of Leadhills (see here and here). A bit of scene setting – regular blog readers will […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2HeUPMb via IFTTT

Earlier this month two blogs were published here about an application from Mark Osborne (representing the Leadhills Estate) to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH, now re-branded as Nature Scot) for a licence to undertake out-of-season muirburn on the grouse moors of Leadhills (see here and here). A bit of scene setting – regular blog readers will […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2HeUPMb

The young bearded vulture that summered in the UK has been photographed flying over Beachy Head on the south coast, presumably heading back to France. A number of photographers captured the vulture’s apparent departure yesterday, including this fantastic image from Peter Alan Coe: The vulture, nicknamed Vigo, had been a cause of concern in the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2GWRGAQ

The young bearded vulture that summered in the UK has been photographed flying over Beachy Head on the south coast, presumably heading back to France. A number of photographers captured the vulture’s apparent departure yesterday, including this fantastic image from Peter Alan Coe: The vulture, nicknamed Vigo, had been a cause of concern in the […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2GWRGAQ via IFTTT

Regular blog readers will be aware of an on-going controversy about plans to reintroduce golden eagles to Wales. There are two separate groups involved, with two very different approaches -see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here for previous blogs. [Young golden eagle, photo by Getty Images] You may remember in September there was a parliamentary discussion in the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/37352Gm

Regular blog readers will be aware of an on-going controversy about plans to reintroduce golden eagles to Wales. There are two separate groups involved, with two very different approaches -see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here for previous blogs. [Young golden eagle, photo by Getty Images] You may remember in September there was a parliamentary discussion in the […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/37352Gm via IFTTT

Imagine you are a member of the gamebird shooting industry in the UK, you’d just heard about the RSPB’s plans calling for gamebird shooting reform, and then you’d read the following damning editorial, in The Times no less, you’d surely realise the writing’s on the wall: And if you were a member of the gamebird […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/33R8EZM via IFTTT

Imagine you are a member of the gamebird shooting industry in the UK, you’d just heard about the RSPB’s plans calling for gamebird shooting reform, and then you’d read the following damning editorial, in The Times no less, you’d surely realise the writing’s on the wall: And if you were a member of the gamebird […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/33R8EZM

‘Raptors in Britain are still affected by illegal persecution’ is stating the bleedin’ obvious to many readers of this blog but it’s still an important statement to repeat, especially when it’s done by one of the world’s most distinguished ornithologists, Professor Ian Newton. Ian has just written a review paper on the subject, which again […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/36TOJvj

‘Raptors in Britain are still affected by illegal persecution’ is stating the bleedin’ obvious to many readers of this blog but it’s still an important statement to repeat, especially when it’s done by one of the world’s most distinguished ornithologists, Professor Ian Newton. Ian has just written a review paper on the subject, which again […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/36TOJvj via IFTTT

The campaign group Wild Justice has announced the launch of its Raptor Forensics Fund, with an initial budget of £10K available to support police investigations in to raptor persecution crimes. This fund was first proposed in April 2020 after discussions with a number of Police wildlife crime officers who were frustrated that funding cuts and […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3nFspvm via IFTTT

At this morning’s AGM, the RSPB announced the findings of its year-long policy review on gamebird shooting. The full statement can be read here. The main thrust of it is that the RSPB sees two separate approaches, one for driven grouse shooting in the uplands and one for lowland pheasant/partridge shoots, although there is a […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2GJ18Yi via IFTTT

The UK game-shooting industry is ratcheting-up its attempts to appear reasonable and law-abiding as the prospect of enforced regulation looms large. Tomorrow (Saturday) the RSPB announces the results of its year-long review of its policy on gamebird shooting. There has been very little hint of what its new policy might be, but many of us […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3nwGknj

The UK game-shooting industry is ratcheting-up its attempts to appear reasonable and law-abiding as the prospect of enforced regulation looms large. Tomorrow (Saturday) the RSPB announces the results of its year-long review of its policy on gamebird shooting. There has been very little hint of what its new policy might be, but many of us […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3nwGknj via IFTTT

Chief Inspector Louise Hubble is leaving her role as Chair of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) in November. In a letter to colleagues last month, Lou wrote, ‘I am writing to notify you that my  two year secondment to the NWCU, which was extended by twelve months last year, concludes in November 2020.  Following […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jKahOz via IFTTT

Chief Inspector Louise Hubble is leaving her role as Chair of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) in November. In a letter to colleagues last month, Lou wrote, ‘I am writing to notify you that my  two year secondment to the NWCU, which was extended by twelve months last year, concludes in November 2020.  Following […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jKahOz

The name of Police Supt Nick Lyall should be familiar to readers of this blog. Nick, whose day job was Head of Operations at Bedfordshire Police, was also the latest incumbent tasked with chairing the poisoned chalice of the RPPDG (Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group) in England and Wales. The RPPDG had been nothing more […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jD9Sxl via IFTTT

The name of Police Supt Nick Lyall should be familiar to readers of this blog. Nick, whose day job was Head of Operations at Bedfordshire Police, was also the latest incumbent tasked with chairing the poisoned chalice of the RPPDG (Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group) in England and Wales. The RPPDG had been nothing more […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jD9Sxl

A 38-year-old man has been ‘cautioned and charged’ for wildlife offences in relation to the illegal trapping of a bird of prey on 26th August 2020 in Aberdeenshire, according to Police Scotland. PC Davis is quoted as saying: “Police responded to a report of a trapped bird of prey which was recovered safe and well […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/36F7PFk

A 38-year-old man has been ‘cautioned and charged’ for wildlife offences in relation to the illegal trapping of a bird of prey on 26th August 2020 in Aberdeenshire, according to Police Scotland. PC Davis is quoted as saying: “Police responded to a report of a trapped bird of prey which was recovered safe and well […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/36F7PFk via IFTTT

Further to yesterday’s blog where it was revealed that earlier this summer, Mark Osborne, the agent/manager at Leadhills Estate had applied to SNH for an out-of-season muirburn licence to allow him to set fire to parts of the grouse moor after being sprayed with toxic glyphosate (see here), here’s what happened next. [Setting fire to […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jCViWr via IFTTT

Further to yesterday’s blog where it was revealed that earlier this summer, Mark Osborne, the agent/manager at Leadhills Estate had applied to SNH for an out-of-season muirburn licence to allow him to set fire to parts of the grouse moor after being sprayed with toxic glyphosate (see here), here’s what happened next. [Setting fire to […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jCViWr

Every report of a shot raptor is shameful, but there’s just something even more senseless about shooting a kestrel. [Photo by Annette Cutts] A kestrel has been shot and killed in the Pudsey area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, according to a tweet from West Yorkshire Police’s Leeds Wildlife and Rural Crime Team today. No further […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2I0ItYf via IFTTT

Every report of a shot raptor is shameful, but there’s just something even more senseless about shooting a kestrel. [Photo by Annette Cutts] A kestrel has been shot and killed in the Pudsey area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, according to a tweet from West Yorkshire Police’s Leeds Wildlife and Rural Crime Team today. No further […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2I0ItYf

Do you remember back in April, during lockdown, Scottish Greens MSP Andy Wightman secured an amendment to the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill (Emergency Bill) that meant that ALL muirburn was banned (temporarily, until the emergency regs were revaluated on 30 Sept 2020) (see here). This temporary ban was intended to relieve pressure on emergency services, who […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jxS6eF

Do you remember back in April, during lockdown, Scottish Greens MSP Andy Wightman secured an amendment to the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill (Emergency Bill) that meant that ALL muirburn was banned (temporarily, until the emergency regs were revaluated on 30 Sept 2020) (see here). This temporary ban was intended to relieve pressure on emergency services, who […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jxS6eF via IFTTT

It just never bloody stops. Do you remember way back in May, during lockdown, Staffordshire Police asked the public to be vigilant after the discovery of a dead buzzard and two dead peregrines in the Peak District National Park? Officers suspected those protected raptors had been illegally poisoned and the corpses were sent for toxicology […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3cTg0Ps

It just never bloody stops. Do you remember way back in May, during lockdown, Staffordshire Police asked the public to be vigilant after the discovery of a dead buzzard and two dead peregrines in the Peak District National Park? Officers suspected those protected raptors had been illegally poisoned and the corpses were sent for toxicology […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3cTg0Ps via IFTTT

The unregulated annual release of millions of non-native gamebirds in to the UK countryside (~47 million pheasants + ~10 million red-legged partridge) continues to draw attention, much to the dismay of some in the commercial shooting industry who probably wish the scrutiny would all disappear so they could get on with doing what the hell […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3cT2nQ5

The unregulated annual release of millions of non-native gamebirds in to the UK countryside (~47 million pheasants + ~10 million red-legged partridge) continues to draw attention, much to the dismay of some in the commercial shooting industry who probably wish the scrutiny would all disappear so they could get on with doing what the hell […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3cT2nQ5 via IFTTT

RSPB press release (1 October 2020) Mayors, councils, local communities, and RSPB unite in support of the call to urgently ban peatland burning on grouse moors. The RSPB is today calling on Government to implement an immediate end to the burning of precious peatlands on moors managed for grouse shooting. The call, which comes on […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3l5m7TQ via IFTTT

RSPB press release (1 October 2020) Mayors, councils, local communities, and RSPB unite in support of the call to urgently ban peatland burning on grouse moors. The RSPB is today calling on Government to implement an immediate end to the burning of precious peatlands on moors managed for grouse shooting. The call, which comes on […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3l5m7TQ

Press release RSPB (1 October 2020) The law has failed our birds of prey RSPB Birdcrime report reveals 85 confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution in the UK in 2019 including shooting, trapping, and poisoning  RSPB data, peer-reviewed science, and population surveys prove these crimes are concentrated on and near driven grouse moors Between 2012-2019 half (49%) of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/33io4pF

Press release RSPB (1 October 2020) The law has failed our birds of prey RSPB Birdcrime report reveals 85 confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution in the UK in 2019 including shooting, trapping, and poisoning  RSPB data, peer-reviewed science, and population surveys prove these crimes are concentrated on and near driven grouse moors Between 2012-2019 half (49%) of […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/33io4pF via IFTTT