FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

Yesterday I blogged (here) about the extended General Licence restriction that has been imposed on Leadhills Estate after further evidence of wildlife crime had come to light since an original three-year restriction was imposed (to run 26 Nov 2019 – 26 Nov 2022). [The grouse moors of Leadhills Estate. Photo by Ruth Tingay] However, there […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2YhxZfr

Yesterday I blogged (here) about the extended General Licence restriction that has been imposed on Leadhills Estate after further evidence of wildlife crime had come to light since an original three-year restriction was imposed (to run 26 Nov 2019 – 26 Nov 2022). [The grouse moors of Leadhills Estate. Photo by Ruth Tingay] However, there […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2YhxZfr via IFTTT

Regular blog readers will be well aware that the notorious Leadhills Estate, a grouse-shooting estate in South Lanarkshire that has been at the centre of police wildlife crime investigations at least 70 times since the early 2000s, is currently serving a three-year General Licence restriction based on ‘clear evidence’ of raptor persecution offences, including the illegal […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3kTZaFy

Regular blog readers will be well aware that the notorious Leadhills Estate, a grouse-shooting estate in South Lanarkshire that has been at the centre of police wildlife crime investigations at least 70 times since the early 2000s, is currently serving a three-year General Licence restriction based on ‘clear evidence’ of raptor persecution offences, including the illegal […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3kTZaFy via IFTTT

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is targeting intensive gamebird management in its latest draft National Park Plan (2022-2027), much to the outrage of some of the CNPA Board members. This focus isn’t just restricted to intensive driven grouse moor management either; this time the CNPA also has its eyes on the release of non-native […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/39D0l5Y

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is targeting intensive gamebird management in its latest draft National Park Plan (2022-2027), much to the outrage of some of the CNPA Board members. This focus isn’t just restricted to intensive driven grouse moor management either; this time the CNPA also has its eyes on the release of non-native […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/39D0l5Y via IFTTT

Well, well, well. Divers from Police Scotland have been searching a loch in the Cairngorms National Park after the recent discovery of a golden eagle’s satellite tag. The tag was found at the edge of Loch an t-Seillich in a period of low water, in what I’m led to believe were circumstances not too dissimilar […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/39Oytfv

Well, well, well. Divers from Police Scotland have been searching a loch in the Cairngorms National Park after the recent discovery of a golden eagle’s satellite tag. The tag was found at the edge of Loch an t-Seillich in a period of low water, in what I’m led to believe were circumstances not too dissimilar […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/39Oytfv via IFTTT

Press release from Trees for Life (24th September 2021) Affric Highlands launched to rewild half a million acres of Scottish Highlands 30-year project joins prestigious European group of awe-inspiring rewilding areas An ambitious 30-year landscape-scale rewilding initiative to link up a majestic sweep of the Scottish Highlands as one vast nature recovery area connecting Loch […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3lOVyUK

Press release from Trees for Life (24th September 2021) Affric Highlands launched to rewild half a million acres of Scottish Highlands 30-year project joins prestigious European group of awe-inspiring rewilding areas An ambitious 30-year landscape-scale rewilding initiative to link up a majestic sweep of the Scottish Highlands as one vast nature recovery area connecting Loch […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3lOVyUK via IFTTT

The blog I wrote a couple of days ago (here) about Police Scotland’s refusal to publicise the discovery of a shot peregrine found on a grouse moor in the notorious raptor persecution area of Strathbraan drew a lot of criticism of wildlife crime policing. Some of that criticism was fair, in my opinion, but some […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3ENBN8D

The blog I wrote a couple of days ago (here) about Police Scotland’s refusal to publicise the discovery of a shot peregrine found on a grouse moor in the notorious raptor persecution area of Strathbraan drew a lot of criticism of wildlife crime policing. Some of that criticism was fair, in my opinion, but some […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3ENBN8D via IFTTT

Some very good news! Police Scotland has issued the following statement this afternoon: A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a sparrowhawk in Inverness-shire. Officers were called to land south of Inverness following a report of a bird of prey which had been killed on Thursday, 16 September. […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3hWGIuh

Some very good news! Police Scotland has issued the following statement this afternoon: A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a sparrowhawk in Inverness-shire. Officers were called to land south of Inverness following a report of a bird of prey which had been killed on Thursday, 16 September. […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3hWGIuh via IFTTT

You may remember last year that NatureScot (formerly known as Scottish Natural Heritage), the statutory conservation agency, granted an out-of-season muirburn licence to the notorious Leadhills Estate in South Lanarkshire (see here, here, here, here). This was a controversial decision for a number of reasons, not least because at the time muirburn had been banned across […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3AxrwuV

You may remember last year that NatureScot (formerly known as Scottish Natural Heritage), the statutory conservation agency, granted an out-of-season muirburn licence to the notorious Leadhills Estate in South Lanarkshire (see here, here, here, here). This was a controversial decision for a number of reasons, not least because at the time muirburn had been banned across […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3AxrwuV via IFTTT

Further to yesterday’s blog about a shot peregrine being found dead on a grouse moor in the notorious raptor persecution hotspot of Strathbraan (see here), further news has just emerged of another offence being committed on the same shooting estate. Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland has just tweeted the following: ‘The dead […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3hTAlb5

Further to yesterday’s blog about a shot peregrine being found dead on a grouse moor in the notorious raptor persecution hotspot of Strathbraan (see here), further news has just emerged of another offence being committed on the same shooting estate. Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland has just tweeted the following: ‘The dead […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3hTAlb5 via IFTTT

A peregrine falcon was found shot dead on a grouse-shooting estate in the Strathbraan area of Perthshire in November 2020. The discovery was made during a police-led multi-agency raid following reports of suspected wildlife crime taking place on the estate. I blogged about that raid in February this year (see here). This is an estate […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3nPKvx3

A peregrine falcon was found shot dead on a grouse-shooting estate in the Strathbraan area of Perthshire in November 2020. The discovery was made during a police-led multi-agency raid following reports of suspected wildlife crime taking place on the estate. I blogged about that raid in February this year (see here). This is an estate […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3nPKvx3 via IFTTT

REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform in Scotland has announced details of its 2021 national conference, taking place at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 14th November from 10.30am. The event will be hosted by Chris Packham and will include speakers from the five coalition partners (Raptor Persecution UK, Friends of the Earth (Scotland), OneKind, […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2XztdcM

REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform in Scotland has announced details of its 2021 national conference, taking place at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 14th November from 10.30am. The event will be hosted by Chris Packham and will include speakers from the five coalition partners (Raptor Persecution UK, Friends of the Earth (Scotland), OneKind, […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2XztdcM via IFTTT

Boris Johnson’s recent cabinet reshuffle has not affected George Eustice, who remains Secretary of State at DEFRA. There have though, been a few changes at the junior ministerial level. Rebecca Pow MP has been moved on, and I’m sorry to say is no great loss whatsoever given her recent ill-informed remarks on tackling raptor persecution […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3EkuPYy

Boris Johnson’s recent cabinet reshuffle has not affected George Eustice, who remains Secretary of State at DEFRA. There have though, been a few changes at the junior ministerial level. Rebecca Pow MP has been moved on, and I’m sorry to say is no great loss whatsoever given her recent ill-informed remarks on tackling raptor persecution […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3EkuPYy via IFTTT

Norfolk Police led a multi-agency raid in yesterday, executing a warrant in Breckland in relation to suspected raptor persecution crimes. The police were joined by staff from Natural England, National Wildlife Crime Unit and RSPB Investigation’s team. Items were seized and dead birds of prey were found. The investigation is ongoing. [Photo by RSPB] The […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3hzp3IG

Norfolk Police led a multi-agency raid in yesterday, executing a warrant in Breckland in relation to suspected raptor persecution crimes. The police were joined by staff from Natural England, National Wildlife Crime Unit and RSPB Investigation’s team. Items were seized and dead birds of prey were found. The investigation is ongoing. [Photo by RSPB] The […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3hzp3IG via IFTTT

How about this for blatant wilful blindness from an Environment Minister. This response to a Westminster parliamentary question on the continued illegal persecution of birds of prey in the uplands is about as disingenuous as it gets. I doubt very much if Rebecca Pow wrote it herself – this’ll be the work of a DEFRA […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3l9w83G

How about this for blatant wilful blindness from an Environment Minister. This response to a Westminster parliamentary question on the continued illegal persecution of birds of prey in the uplands is about as disingenuous as it gets. I doubt very much if Rebecca Pow wrote it herself – this’ll be the work of a DEFRA […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3l9w83G via IFTTT

In April 2020, during the first lockdown, North Yorkshire Police conducted a search of Bransdale Estate in the North York Moors National Park where they discovered five dead buzzards that had been shoved in a hole under a large rock, presumably to conceal them. X-rays confirmed that at least four of those buzzards had been […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3BYwn8x

In April 2020, during the first lockdown, North Yorkshire Police conducted a search of Bransdale Estate in the North York Moors National Park where they discovered five dead buzzards that had been shoved in a hole under a large rock, presumably to conceal them. X-rays confirmed that at least four of those buzzards had been […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3BYwn8x via IFTTT

The scandalous hen harrier brood meddling trial lurched onwards again this year, with reports that two nests were ‘meddled’ with (i.e. the chicks were removed under a licence issued by Natural England, they were raised in captivity, and were then released back in to the wild, to be illegally killed on a grouse moor somewhere […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/38TQ9FX via IFTTT

The scandalous hen harrier brood meddling trial lurched onwards again this year, with reports that two nests were ‘meddled’ with (i.e. the chicks were removed under a licence issued by Natural England, they were raised in captivity, and were then released back in to the wild, to be illegally killed on a grouse moor somewhere […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/38TQ9FX

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has today revealed the 2021 to 2022 Programme for Government, outlining the policies and actions that are expected to take place over the coming year as well as the expected legislative programme for the forthcoming parliamentary year. This programme for Government is the first one since the historic power-sharing agreement […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3tqzDGL

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has today revealed the 2021 to 2022 Programme for Government, outlining the policies and actions that are expected to take place over the coming year as well as the expected legislative programme for the forthcoming parliamentary year. This programme for Government is the first one since the historic power-sharing agreement […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3tqzDGL via IFTTT

Back in April and May this year, I blogged about this spring’s hen harrier diversionary feeding fiasco at Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire after footage was sent to me of two individuals apparently putting out food at an active nest site during a period when it was expressly forbidden to take place (see here and […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2VkE7Cb

Back in April and May this year, I blogged about this spring’s hen harrier diversionary feeding fiasco at Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire after footage was sent to me of two individuals apparently putting out food at an active nest site during a period when it was expressly forbidden to take place (see here and […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2VkE7Cb via IFTTT

Press release from Police Scotland: Operation Wingspan, a year-long campaign to tackle wildlife crime, working with partners, including the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland, has seen considerable success and is now entering its final phase. This involves officers working on the persecution of fresh water pearl mussels and tackling all aspects of poaching, including […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3BIt2ue

Press release from Police Scotland: Operation Wingspan, a year-long campaign to tackle wildlife crime, working with partners, including the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland, has seen considerable success and is now entering its final phase. This involves officers working on the persecution of fresh water pearl mussels and tackling all aspects of poaching, including […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3BIt2ue via IFTTT

Various media fora in the Irish Republic have reported on the suspected poisoning of two buzzards in Kerry. A member of the public found the birds in August in the Currow/Scartaglen area, south of Castleisland, Co. Kerry. One buzzard was dead and the other one was taken for treatment and possible rehabilitation. The National Parks and […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3BOMWUi

Various media fora in the Irish Republic have reported on the suspected poisoning of two buzzards in Kerry. A member of the public found the birds in August in the Currow/Scartaglen area, south of Castleisland, Co. Kerry. One buzzard was dead and the other one was taken for treatment and possible rehabilitation. The National Parks and […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3BOMWUi via IFTTT

The Langholm Initiative is recruiting again for the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve (formerly a knackered old grouse moor owned by Buccleuch Estates, sold in a huge community buyout earlier this year – here). Job title: Creative Digital Media Manager: Communities & Conservation – a digital journey of landscape restoration Location: Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway Employer: […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3thRsI5 via IFTTT

The Langholm Initiative is recruiting again for the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve (formerly a knackered old grouse moor owned by Buccleuch Estates, sold in a huge community buyout earlier this year – here). Job title: Creative Digital Media Manager: Communities & Conservation – a digital journey of landscape restoration Location: Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway Employer: […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3thRsI5

Ten more young ospreys have been successfully translocated from Scotland and released at Poole Harbour in Dorset as part of a project to re-establish a breeding population in southern England. Beginning in 2017, the Poole Harbour Osprey Translocation Project is led by the charity Birds of Poole Harbour, the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and local […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3zZdNMU

Ten more young ospreys have been successfully translocated from Scotland and released at Poole Harbour in Dorset as part of a project to re-establish a breeding population in southern England. Beginning in 2017, the Poole Harbour Osprey Translocation Project is led by the charity Birds of Poole Harbour, the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and local […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3zZdNMU via IFTTT

The Scottish animal welfare charity OneKind has today revealed that Forestry Land Scotland (FLS) is still permitting the use of fox-hunting foot packs in several public forests, partly for the benefit of privately-owned grouse shooting estates. These public forests also happen to be in well-known raptor persecution hotspots. In a freedom of information response, FLS […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3BFPtjR

The Scottish animal welfare charity OneKind has today revealed that Forestry Land Scotland (FLS) is still permitting the use of fox-hunting foot packs in several public forests, partly for the benefit of privately-owned grouse shooting estates. These public forests also happen to be in well-known raptor persecution hotspots. In a freedom of information response, FLS […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3BFPtjR via IFTTT

Twelve more white-tailed eagles (also known as sea eagles) have been released on the Isle of Wight as part of a licensed project to reintroduce the species to southern England. Formerly resident in parts of England, the sea eagle was extirpated a few hundred years ago thanks to persecution. The same thing happened in Scotland […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3yLnXj0

Twelve more white-tailed eagles (also known as sea eagles) have been released on the Isle of Wight as part of a licensed project to reintroduce the species to southern England. Formerly resident in parts of England, the sea eagle was extirpated a few hundred years ago thanks to persecution. The same thing happened in Scotland […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3yLnXj0 via IFTTT

Scotland has a new Biodiversity Minister following the historic power share agreement between the SNP and the Greens. As part of the agreement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has appointed two new Ministers from the Greens – Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. Here’s the formal announcement from the Scottish Government, dated 30 Aug 2021: New Ministers […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3gWcIhA

Scotland has a new Biodiversity Minister following the historic power share agreement between the SNP and the Greens. As part of the agreement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has appointed two new Ministers from the Greens – Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. Here’s the formal announcement from the Scottish Government, dated 30 Aug 2021: New Ministers […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3gWcIhA via IFTTT