FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

South Yorkshire Police tweeted this yesterday: The Off Road Bike Team located 2 gralloched Deer & 3 dead Buzzards on Doncaster patch today. Having spoken to landowners the deer have been poached, & buzzards killed illegally. The team will be extending our patrols into the night‘. There aren’t any further details. RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jVtv61

South Yorkshire Police tweeted this yesterday: The Off Road Bike Team located 2 gralloched Deer & 3 dead Buzzards on Doncaster patch today. Having spoken to landowners the deer have been poached, & buzzards killed illegally. The team will be extending our patrols into the night‘. There aren’t any further details. from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jVtv61 via IFTTT

Wildlife conservation group Wild Justice has today launched a legal challenge against the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for issuing what Wild Justice believes to be scientifically and legally flawed general licences. If you subscribe to Wild Justice’s newsletter, you’ll already be aware of this news (you can subscribe […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3Gx70xI

Wildlife conservation group Wild Justice has today launched a legal challenge against the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for issuing what Wild Justice believes to be scientifically and legally flawed general licences. If you subscribe to Wild Justice’s newsletter, you’ll already be aware of this news (you can subscribe […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3Gx70xI via IFTTT

Timed to publish on the same day as the RSPB’s Birdcrime report, documenting how 2020 was the ‘worst year on record’ for crimes against birds of prey in the UK (see here), National Geographic has just published a lengthy article, written by journalist Rene Ebersole who visited the UK earlier this year specifically to research […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jIPuwH

Timed to publish on the same day as the RSPB’s Birdcrime report, documenting how 2020 was the ‘worst year on record’ for crimes against birds of prey in the UK (see here), National Geographic has just published a lengthy article, written by journalist Rene Ebersole who visited the UK earlier this year specifically to research […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jIPuwH via IFTTT

Press release from RSPB (27th October 2021) The RSPB’s Birdcrime 2020 report has revealed 137 known, confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution last year – the highest number recorded in 30 years. Produced annually by the RSPB’s Investigations unit, Birdcrime is the UK’s only full data set on confirmed incidents of raptor persecution – […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3pBTGSR

Press release from RSPB (27th October 2021) The RSPB’s Birdcrime 2020 report has revealed 137 known, confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution last year – the highest number recorded in 30 years. Produced annually by the RSPB’s Investigations unit, Birdcrime is the UK’s only full data set on confirmed incidents of raptor persecution – […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3pBTGSR via IFTTT

STOP PRESS! Phil Davies, a retired police Chief Inspector with Dyfed Powys Police who has been working for the last ten years as a Police Liaison Officer for the Countryside Alliance, has been booted off the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG). In fact, he’s been removed from all of the wildlife crime priority delivery […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3E8OgCT via IFTTT

STOP PRESS! Phil Davies, a retired police Chief Inspector with Dyfed Powys Police who has been working for the last ten years as a Police Liaison Officer for the Countryside Alliance, has been booted off the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG). In fact, he’s been removed from all of the wildlife crime priority delivery […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3E8OgCT

Last week the RSPB revealed that yet another satellite-tagged hen harrier, this one called ‘Reiver’, had disappeared in suspicious circumstances in September on a grouse moor in Northumberland (see here). Reiver is the 57th hen harrier known to have been killed or disappeared in suspicious circumstances on or close to a grouse moor since 2018 […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3mbffaw via IFTTT

Last week the RSPB revealed that yet another satellite-tagged hen harrier, this one called ‘Reiver’, had disappeared in suspicious circumstances in September on a grouse moor in Northumberland (see here). Reiver is the 57th hen harrier known to have been killed or disappeared in suspicious circumstances on or close to a grouse moor since 2018 […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3mbffaw

Earlier this week I blogged about the discovery of a short-eared owl that had been found shot on a grouse moor on the Wemmergill Estate in the North Pennines AONB (see here). This is the same estate where two short-eared owls were found shot and stuffed into a hole in 2015 (here) and where a […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2ZdFqVk

Earlier this week I blogged about the discovery of a short-eared owl that had been found shot on a grouse moor on the Wemmergill Estate in the North Pennines AONB (see here). This is the same estate where two short-eared owls were found shot and stuffed into a hole in 2015 (here) and where a […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2ZdFqVk via IFTTT

Following last week’s news that the Wild Ken Hill Estate in Norfolk has inexplicably backed out of hosting a project for the restoration of white-tailed eagles in East Anglia, which was due to start next year (see here), project leaders at The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation have announced that the search is on for a […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3Cbw76J

Following last week’s news that the Wild Ken Hill Estate in Norfolk has inexplicably backed out of hosting a project for the restoration of white-tailed eagles in East Anglia, which was due to start next year (see here), project leaders at The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation have announced that the search is on for a […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3Cbw76J via IFTTT

Beaver culling is off-topic for this blog but there are wider implications relevant to the culling of other protected species, including raptors. Earlier this year, Scottish charity Trees for Life launched a judicial review against the Government’s beaver-killing policy, whereby it was argued that NatureScot was too quick to issue beaver-killing licences to landowners and […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2ZbULGl

Beaver culling is off-topic for this blog but there are wider implications relevant to the culling of other protected species, including raptors. Earlier this year, Scottish charity Trees for Life launched a judicial review against the Government’s beaver-killing policy, whereby it was argued that NatureScot was too quick to issue beaver-killing licences to landowners and […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2ZbULGl via IFTTT

Press statement from National Parks & Wildlife Service (Ireland), 21 October 2021: Three Month Suspended Jail Sentence for the Possession of two dead Buzzards A County Laois man has been given a three month suspended prison sentence for the possession of two dead Buzzards, which were found strung up on his land. On Friday the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3pGltSj

Press statement from National Parks & Wildlife Service (Ireland), 21 October 2021: Three Month Suspended Jail Sentence for the Possession of two dead Buzzards A County Laois man has been given a three month suspended prison sentence for the possession of two dead Buzzards, which were found strung up on his land. On Friday the […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3pGltSj via IFTTT

Police Scotland issued the following statement yesterday: Four men charged with wildlife crime offences in Stewartry Police Scotland can confirm that four men have been charged in connection with a number of wildlife crime offences in the Stewartry area of Dumfries & Galloway. Extensive investigations have been ongoing throughout 2021 following reports of ongoing persecution […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3m3ya78 via IFTTT

Police Scotland issued the following statement yesterday: Four men charged with wildlife crime offences in Stewartry Police Scotland can confirm that four men have been charged in connection with a number of wildlife crime offences in the Stewartry area of Dumfries & Galloway. Extensive investigations have been ongoing throughout 2021 following reports of ongoing persecution […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3m3ya78

A couple of days ago I wrote a blog about whether the Countryside Alliance’s position as a member of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) should be reviewed following the judge’s summary comments during the sentencing of huntsman Mark Hankinson, who had been convicted of encouraging or assisting others to commit an offence during […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jlQy9w via IFTTT

A couple of days ago I wrote a blog about whether the Countryside Alliance’s position as a member of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) should be reviewed following the judge’s summary comments during the sentencing of huntsman Mark Hankinson, who had been convicted of encouraging or assisting others to commit an offence during […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jlQy9w

Article published in the Northern Echo yesterday: Short-eared owl shot and killed in Teesdale POLICE are appealing for information after a short-eared owl was shot down in Teesdale earlier this year. A post-mortem on the bird has confirmed the likely cause of its death was being shot with a shot gun. The owl was found by […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2ZcmrKT

Article published in the Northern Echo yesterday: Short-eared owl shot and killed in Teesdale POLICE are appealing for information after a short-eared owl was shot down in Teesdale earlier this year. A post-mortem on the bird has confirmed the likely cause of its death was being shot with a shot gun. The owl was found by […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2ZcmrKT via IFTTT

This comment piece from TV and radio broadcaster James Whale was published in The Express yesterday, in response to the ongoing and targeted abuse directed at Chris Packham by many within the hunting & shooting sector, encouraged by some of the industry’s large membership organisations. Thanks to blog reader Keith Dancey for the link. CHRIS […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3n3ULjq via IFTTT

This comment piece from TV and radio broadcaster James Whale was published in The Express yesterday, in response to the ongoing and targeted abuse directed at Chris Packham by many within the hunting & shooting sector, encouraged by some of the industry’s large membership organisations. Thanks to blog reader Keith Dancey for the link. CHRIS […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3n3ULjq

The following article was published in The Times last Saturday. It sits behind a paywall so I’ve reproduced it below: The BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has described how his stepdaughter faced a torrent of online abuse after a game-shooting organisation drew attention to her social media account and the fact they are related. Megan […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3aSiUDT via IFTTT

The following article was published in The Times last Saturday. It sits behind a paywall so I’ve reproduced it below: The BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has described how his stepdaughter faced a torrent of online abuse after a game-shooting organisation drew attention to her social media account and the fact they are related. Megan […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3aSiUDT

For anyone who still wants to pretend that the grouse shooting industry isn’t responsible for the systematic extermination of hen harriers on grouse moors across the UK, here’s the latest catalogue of crime that suggests otherwise. [This male hen harrier died in 2019 after his leg was almost severed in an illegally set trap that […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2Z77cTF

For anyone who still wants to pretend that the grouse shooting industry isn’t responsible for the systematic extermination of hen harriers on grouse moors across the UK, here’s the latest catalogue of crime that suggests otherwise. [This male hen harrier died in 2019 after his leg was almost severed in an illegally set trap that […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2Z77cTF via IFTTT

Press release from RSPB Another hen harrier disappears in suspicious circumstances Another satellite tagged hen harrier has suddenly and unexpectedly disappeared, strengthening the RSPB’s call for the urgent licensing of grouse moors. Reiver, a young female, fledged from a nest on Langholm Moor in the south of Scotland this summer. She was fitted with a […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3jcBknc

Press release from RSPB Another hen harrier disappears in suspicious circumstances Another satellite tagged hen harrier has suddenly and unexpectedly disappeared, strengthening the RSPB’s call for the urgent licensing of grouse moors. Reiver, a young female, fledged from a nest on Langholm Moor in the south of Scotland this summer. She was fitted with a […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3jcBknc via IFTTT

Last year the Hunt Saboteurs Association published two secretly-recorded Zoom webinars showing some of the UK’s leading hunting personnel, including high-ranking former police officers, providing a training seminar to over 100 hunt masters across the UK about so-called ‘trail hunting’ (where hunts supposedly follow a laid scent to imitate a fox hunt, since actual fox […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3BT7k7s

Last year the Hunt Saboteurs Association published two secretly-recorded Zoom webinars showing some of the UK’s leading hunting personnel, including high-ranking former police officers, providing a training seminar to over 100 hunt masters across the UK about so-called ‘trail hunting’ (where hunts supposedly follow a laid scent to imitate a fox hunt, since actual fox […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3BT7k7s via IFTTT

REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform is holding its 2021 national conference at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 14th November. REVIVE’s first conference was held at the Perth Theatre in 2019 and was a sell out event. Two years on, interest and support for the coalition’s aims continues to grow so this year’s conference has […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3aM57ig

REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform is holding its 2021 national conference at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 14th November. REVIVE’s first conference was held at the Perth Theatre in 2019 and was a sell out event. Two years on, interest and support for the coalition’s aims continues to grow so this year’s conference has […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3aM57ig via IFTTT

Well this is all a bit odd. The Wild Ken Hill Estate has pulled out of hosting a white-tailed eagle restoration project in west Norfolk. Earlier this year, the progressive rewilding estate was hailed by conservationists as news emerged that the estate had joined forces with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to release up to […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3BOQdUg

Well this is all a bit odd. The Wild Ken Hill Estate has pulled out of hosting a white-tailed eagle restoration project in west Norfolk. Earlier this year, the progressive rewilding estate was hailed by conservationists as news emerged that the estate had joined forces with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to release up to […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3BOQdUg via IFTTT

It’s always interesting to look at the auction lots in the shooting world’s regular fundraising drives. I think it’s useful, and quite telling, to see who’s supporting who and it can often explain a great deal about why many shooting organisations refuse to call out the criminals when yet another raptor persecution crime is uncovered […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3j269v6

It’s always interesting to look at the auction lots in the shooting world’s regular fundraising drives. I think it’s useful, and quite telling, to see who’s supporting who and it can often explain a great deal about why many shooting organisations refuse to call out the criminals when yet another raptor persecution crime is uncovered […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3j269v6 via IFTTT

Further to the terrifying arson attack at Chris Packham’s home last week, believed by many to be an act of intimidation / domestic terrorism in response to Chris’s environmental and animal welfare campaign work (see here), two journalists have written articles that attempt to put the escalating violence into a wider context. [CCTV image of […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2YHFc8x

Further to the terrifying arson attack at Chris Packham’s home last week, believed by many to be an act of intimidation / domestic terrorism in response to Chris’s environmental and animal welfare campaign work (see here), two journalists have written articles that attempt to put the escalating violence into a wider context. [CCTV image of […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2YHFc8x via IFTTT

A good news story! This article has been reproduced from Scottish Construction Now (7th October 2021). Nesting hen harriers have been protected by Network Rail during its successfully completed tree and vegetation management work between Rogart and Lairg. Urgent works needed for the safe operation of the railway coincided with breeding season and were in a location that […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3lAUSDo via IFTTT

A good news story! This article has been reproduced from Scottish Construction Now (7th October 2021). Nesting hen harriers have been protected by Network Rail during its successfully completed tree and vegetation management work between Rogart and Lairg. Urgent works needed for the safe operation of the railway coincided with breeding season and were in a location that […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3lAUSDo

Press release from RSPB (13th October 2021) Outrage as peatlands burn ahead of UK hosting crucial climate talks The RSPB calls on Defra and Natural England to urgently investigate possible illegal peatland burning on a grouse shooting estate in West Yorkshire. The charity has also received other reports of burning over the weekend The active burning […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3p1UaBl

Press release from RSPB (13th October 2021) Outrage as peatlands burn ahead of UK hosting crucial climate talks The RSPB calls on Defra and Natural England to urgently investigate possible illegal peatland burning on a grouse shooting estate in West Yorkshire. The charity has also received other reports of burning over the weekend The active burning […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3p1UaBl via IFTTT

Just after midnight on Thursday night / Friday morning, in a remote part of the New Forest, two masked men were caught on CCTV driving a Land Rover up to the gates of Chris Packham’s home and setting it alight before escaping in a getaway vehicle. The Land Rover exploded and the flames spread to […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3FxgM2v via IFTTT

Just after midnight on Thursday night / Friday morning, in a remote part of the New Forest, two masked men were caught on CCTV driving a Land Rover up to the gates of Chris Packham’s home and setting it alight before escaping in a getaway vehicle. The Land Rover exploded and the flames spread to […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3FxgM2v

Article from The Leader (8th October 2021) MORE than a dozen shotguns and a dead bird of prey have been seized following an investigation into the illegal killing of raptors in the Ceiriog Valley. The operation that took place this week was carried out by North Wales Police’s Rural Crime Team, in partnership with the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3anK19w

Article from The Leader (8th October 2021) MORE than a dozen shotguns and a dead bird of prey have been seized following an investigation into the illegal killing of raptors in the Ceiriog Valley. The operation that took place this week was carried out by North Wales Police’s Rural Crime Team, in partnership with the […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3anK19w via IFTTT

Last week I blogged about how NatureScot has extended the General Licence restriction on the notorious Leadhills Estate after receiving more evidence of wildlife crime (see here). The extension was supposedly for a further three years for alleged offences that were uncovered in July 2020, but in effect is only for eight months because it […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3Bj8vfV

Last week I blogged about how NatureScot has extended the General Licence restriction on the notorious Leadhills Estate after receiving more evidence of wildlife crime (see here). The extension was supposedly for a further three years for alleged offences that were uncovered in July 2020, but in effect is only for eight months because it […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3Bj8vfV via IFTTT

Video footage has emerged, filmed in mid-September, of two primitive and illegal traps that had been set inside a pheasant pen in woodland near the village of Chelmarsh, just south of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. One of the traps had been triggered and had caught a buzzard. The other trap had been baited with a dead pheasant […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2YhzDhp

Video footage has emerged, filmed in mid-September, of two primitive and illegal traps that had been set inside a pheasant pen in woodland near the village of Chelmarsh, just south of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. One of the traps had been triggered and had caught a buzzard. The other trap had been baited with a dead pheasant […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2YhzDhp via IFTTT

Press release from RSPB Scotland (1st October 2021) Scotland’s climate targets are at risk of going up in smoke Scotland’s hopes of meeting its Net Zero by 2045 goal to address the nature and climate emergency are at risk of failing unless the burning of grassland and heather moorland is more strictly regulated, and almost […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/3itKX0y

Press release from RSPB Scotland (1st October 2021) Scotland’s climate targets are at risk of going up in smoke Scotland’s hopes of meeting its Net Zero by 2045 goal to address the nature and climate emergency are at risk of failing unless the burning of grassland and heather moorland is more strictly regulated, and almost […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/3itKX0y via IFTTT