FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

Further to the news that Dorset Police has announced it has prematurely closed its investigation into the poisoned white-tailed eagle that was found dead on a shooting estate in January 2022 (see here,  here, here and here), the post mortem results have now been revealed. According to a blog written by the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation (the group … Continue reading "Poisoned eagle in Dorset had 7 x lethal dose rodenticide in its liver" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/mIeNsnE

Further to the news that Dorset Police has announced it has prematurely closed its investigation into the poisoned white-tailed eagle that was found dead on a shooting estate in January 2022 (see here,  here and here), a question is to be tabled in the House of Lords. Life Peer Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (known to … Continue reading "Question to be tabled in House of Lords about Dorset Police’s decision to close eagle poisoning investigation" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/Yus3qQh via IFTTT

Further to the news that Dorset Police has announced it has closed its investigation into the poisoned white-tailed eagle that was found on a shooting estate in January 2022 (see here and here), the RSPB has released a statement: This story is a long way from over…. RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/ilVoQtG

Further to the news that Dorset Police has announced it has closed its investigation into the poisoned white-tailed eagle that was found on a shooting estate in January 2022 (see here and here), the RSPB has released a statement: This story is a long way from over…. from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/ilVoQtG via IFTTT

Further to this morning’s post when I wrote about the rumours circulating that Dorset Police was about to announce it was closing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a white-tailed eagle found poisoned on a game-shooting estate in January this year (see here), well they’ve only gone and done it. A few … Continue reading "Dorset Police does the unthinkable & confirms no further investigation into poisoned white-tailed eagle" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/fWhG3w6

Further to this morning’s post when I wrote about the rumours circulating that Dorset Police was about to announce it was closing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a white-tailed eagle found poisoned on a game-shooting estate in January this year (see here), well they’ve only gone and done it. A few … Continue reading "Dorset Police does the unthinkable & confirms no further investigation into poisoned white-tailed eagle" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/fWhG3w6 via IFTTT

Dorset has become a bit of a raptor persecution hotspot in recent years following the discovery of a shot buzzard (here), the suspicious deaths of two barn owls and several more buzzards (here), the disturbance of nesting peregrines (here), the suspected poisoning of a number of buzzards and an owl in two separate locations (here) … Continue reading "Serious concerns about Dorset Police’s rumoured response to poisoned white-tailed eagle" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/WQS1JRH via IFTTT

Dorset has become a bit of a raptor persecution hotspot in recent years following the discovery of a shot buzzard (here), the suspicious deaths of two barn owls and several more buzzards (here), the disturbance of nesting peregrines (here), the suspected poisoning of a number of buzzards and an owl in two separate locations (here) … Continue reading "Serious concerns about Dorset Police’s rumoured response to poisoned white-tailed eagle" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/WQS1JRH

Press release from RSPB Scotland (28 March 2022) White-tailed eagles bring tourism boost to Mull New study reveals significant benefits to the island’s economy Between £4.9 million and £8 million of tourist spend is attracted annually by the birds  Up to 160 jobs are supported by this spend At least £2.1 million of local income … Continue reading "White-tailed eagles continue to attract £millions tourism spending on Mull" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/obt86lg

Press release from RSPB Scotland (28 March 2022) White-tailed eagles bring tourism boost to Mull New study reveals significant benefits to the island’s economy Between £4.9 million and £8 million of tourist spend is attracted annually by the birds  Up to 160 jobs are supported by this spend At least £2.1 million of local income … Continue reading "White-tailed eagles continue to attract £millions tourism spending on Mull" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/obt86lg via IFTTT

An article written by James Silvey, Senior Species & Habitats Officer at RSPB Scotland, published by The Scotsman newspaper on 22nd March 2022. Fight continues to protect iconic mountain hares March 1, 2022 marked the first anniversary for protected status of one of Scotland’s most iconic mammals, the mountain hare. This protection was long overdue … Continue reading "Fight continues to protect iconic mountain hares – article from The Scotsman" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2PoW3mi

An article written by James Silvey, Senior Species & Habitats Officer at RSPB Scotland, published by The Scotsman newspaper on 22nd March 2022. Fight continues to protect iconic mountain hares March 1, 2022 marked the first anniversary for protected status of one of Scotland’s most iconic mammals, the mountain hare. This protection was long overdue … Continue reading "Fight continues to protect iconic mountain hares – article from The Scotsman" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2PoW3mi via IFTTT

Earlier this month the RSPB in England announced that members of the public had been using the new Burning App to report upland fires to the RSPB, many of which were on peatland inside supposedly protected areas (see here). This information is crucial for the RSPB to build a picture of where lawful, and more … Continue reading "RSPB Scotland encouraging the public to continue to report upland fires this season" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/WJFKVRB via IFTTT

Earlier this month the RSPB in England announced that members of the public had been using the new Burning App to report upland fires to the RSPB, many of which were on peatland inside supposedly protected areas (see here). This information is crucial for the RSPB to build a picture of where lawful, and more … Continue reading "RSPB Scotland encouraging the public to continue to report upland fires this season" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/WJFKVRB

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 … Continue reading "68 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed since 2018, most of them on or close to UK grouse moors" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/DyO4hBU

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 … Continue reading "68 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed since 2018, most of them on or close to UK grouse moors" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/DyO4hBU via IFTTT

Earlier today, BBC’s Crimewatch Live programme featured the arson attack on Chris Packham’s home last October (see previous blogs here and here). The programme showed new evidence, previously unseen by the public, and it was very clear that this was a targeted and orchestrated attack by individuals intent on sending Chris a sinister message. You […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/pkCxl8S

Earlier today, BBC’s Crimewatch Live programme featured the arson attack on Chris Packham’s home last October (see previous blogs here and here). The programme showed new evidence, previously unseen by the public, and it was very clear that this was a targeted and orchestrated attack by individuals intent on sending Chris a sinister message. You […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/pkCxl8S via IFTTT

Press release from Cambridge University (16th March 2022) Birds of prey populations across Europe suppressed by lead poisoning from gun ammunition – study Toxic lead ammunition used by hunters has long been shown to kill raptors – or birds of prey – by contaminating their food. New study uses data on lead levels in the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/IRkXzOE

Press release from Cambridge University (16th March 2022) Birds of prey populations across Europe suppressed by lead poisoning from gun ammunition – study Toxic lead ammunition used by hunters has long been shown to kill raptors – or birds of prey – by contaminating their food. New study uses data on lead levels in the […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/IRkXzOE via IFTTT

The British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC) has expelled two of its members following convictions for wildlife crimes. The two expelled members are gamekeeper Hilton Prest from Cheshire who was convicted in December 2021 and gamekeeper Shane Leech from Suffolk who was convicted in November 2021. Unusually, BASC posted an announcement about the expulsions […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2nYHP5l via IFTTT

Lochan Estate, a pheasant and grouse-shooting estate in the notorious Strathbraan region of Perthshire has lost its appeal against a General Licence restriction that was imposed on the estate in January 2022 after Police Scotland provided the licensing authority (NatureScot) with evidence of wildlife crime against birds of prey on the estate. Regular blog readers […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/BREUuY2

Lochan Estate, a pheasant and grouse-shooting estate in the notorious Strathbraan region of Perthshire has lost its appeal against a General Licence restriction that was imposed on the estate in January 2022 after Police Scotland provided the licensing authority (NatureScot) with evidence of wildlife crime against birds of prey on the estate. Regular blog readers […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/BREUuY2 via IFTTT

Earlier today, BBC’s Crimewatch Live programme featured the arson attack on Chris Packham’s home last October (see previous blogs here and here). The programme showed new evidence, previously unseen by the public, and it was very clear that this was a targeted and orchestrated attack by individuals intent on sending Chris a sinister message. You […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/JAIVxfz

Earlier today, BBC’s Crimewatch Live programme featured the arson attack on Chris Packham’s home last October (see previous blogs here and here). The programme showed new evidence, previously unseen by the public, and it was very clear that this was a targeted and orchestrated attack by individuals intent on sending Chris a sinister message. You […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/JAIVxfz via IFTTT

Press release from Cambridge University (16th March 2022) Birds of prey populations across Europe suppressed by lead poisoning from gun ammunition – study Toxic lead ammunition used by hunters has long been shown to kill raptors – or birds of prey – by contaminating their food. New study uses data on lead levels in the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/ln9oZSI

Press release from Cambridge University (16th March 2022) Birds of prey populations across Europe suppressed by lead poisoning from gun ammunition – study Toxic lead ammunition used by hunters has long been shown to kill raptors – or birds of prey – by contaminating their food. New study uses data on lead levels in the […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/ln9oZSI via IFTTT

In October last year, a stolen Land Rover was packed with fuel cannisters, driven to the front gates of Chris Packham’s house just after midnight and set alight. The vehicle exploded and the subsequent inferno caused considerable damage to Chris’s property (see here). Two masked individuals were caught on security cameras and were seen to […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/Gep5q9V

In October last year, a stolen Land Rover was packed with fuel cannisters, driven to the front gates of Chris Packham’s house just after midnight and set alight. The vehicle exploded and the subsequent inferno caused considerable damage to Chris’s property (see here). Two masked individuals were caught on security cameras and were seen to […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/Gep5q9V via IFTTT

Multi-agency searches were conducted last week at a raptor-poisoning hotspot in Derbyshire. Since 2015, at least eight illegally poisoned birds of prey including buzzards and kestrels, as well as poisoned pheasant baits, have been uncovered on farmland in the Glapwell / Ault Hucknall / Rowthorne / Pleasley area of north east Derbyshire. Toxicology analysis has […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/R5cnG6S

Another white-tailed eagle has died in southern England and another police investigation has been launched. This is the third one since October 2021 and all three investigations are focused on eagles from the Isle of Wight Reintroduction Project. [A young white-tailed eagle, photo by Garth Peacock] Hampshire Police have become involved after this latest eagle’s […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/rfXMZvH

Last month conservation campaign group Wild Justice started legal proceedings against DEFRA over changes that DEFRA had apparently slipped in to General Licence #42 in January, extending the definition of ‘livestock’ which meant permitting the killing of so-called ‘pest’ species to protect pheasants when they were classified as ‘livestock’ (see here and here). Wild Justice […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/JVI8naS

Last month conservation campaign group Wild Justice started legal proceedings against DEFRA over changes that DEFRA had apparently slipped in to General Licence #42 in January, extending the definition of ‘livestock’ which meant permitting the killing of so-called ‘pest’ species to protect pheasants when they were classified as ‘livestock’ (see here and here). Wild Justice […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/JVI8naS via IFTTT

Even though the pheasant-shooting season ended over a month ago, shot and dumped pheasants are still being discovered by shocked members of the public. Many thanks to the blog reader who sent in this photo of shot & dumped pheasants, found last Monday chucked behind a hedge at the T-junction of Green Lane and Barnburgh […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/ZwBHuRz

A High Court judge has this morning ruled that 19 separate articles, tweets and videos containing allegations about Chris Packham are defamatory at common law and that Chris’s lawsuit for damages against three defendants can proceed to trial later this year. [Chris, his partner Charlotte, and some of his legal team at the High Court […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/Mghs149

Last autumn the RSPB launched an online reporting system for members of the public to document moorland fires (muirburn) to help build a picture of where heather moorland is being set alight as part of so-called grouse moor ‘management’ (see here). In February 2022 the RSPB renewed its call for muirburn reports from the public with […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/Kt0eQVI

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/iHZOjTb via IFTTT

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/iHZOjTb

Six more satellite-tagged hen harriers have gone missing in suspicious circumstances, according to the most recent data published by Natural England last Friday, 4th March. Natural England’s previous hen harrier update, published in December 2021 (here), identified three other tagged harriers that had vanished in the summer/autumn of 2021. Now there are six more. Three […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/CNZxfGW

Six more satellite-tagged hen harriers have gone missing in suspicious circumstances, according to the most recent data published by Natural England last Friday, 4th March. Natural England’s previous hen harrier update, published in December 2021 (here), identified three other tagged harriers that had vanished in the summer/autumn of 2021. Now there are six more. Three […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/CNZxfGW via IFTTT

It seems Natural England has some (more) explaining to do. In the latest NE update on satellite-tagged hen harriers published last Friday, buried amongst the spreadsheet notes and carefully not mentioned in NE’s accompanying blog, I found the following information: Two sibling hen harriers, both hatched in the same nest in 2020 (nest site: BM […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/zQaE83f

Natural England is maintaining its silence about the gruesome fate of one of its satellite-tagged hen harriers whose wings were torn off in an act of inconceivable violence in March last year. I first blogged about this criminal investigation in December 2021 (here), where I discussed how Natural England had remained silent about it for […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/T7qYBkH

Natural England has finally published the post-mortem results of two brood meddled hen harriers found dead in October 2021. You’ll recall I’ve been chasing Natural England for these results for months (see here and here) and I last heard from them on 23 February 2022 telling me they couldn’t provide the results just yet because […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/F7zH9Tv

REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform, held a fringe event at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow yesterday. The REVIVE coalition comprises five organisations (League Against Cruel Sports, OneKind, Common Weal, Friends of the Earth and Raptor Persecution UK), employing Max Wiszniewski as its Campaigns Manager. Colin Smyth MSP, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/1McHvt5

The following is a guest blog written by Bob Berzins, a conservation campaigner from the Peak District who has previously featured on this blog here and here. Peak District Mountain Hares: Abundance or a struggling population? The Peak District holds England’s only Mountain Hare population and there has been a great deal of concern in […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/Bx1GSr4

The following is a guest blog written by Bob Berzins, a conservation campaigner from the Peak District who has previously featured on this blog here and here. Peak District Mountain Hares: Abundance or a struggling population? The Peak District holds England’s only Mountain Hare population and there has been a great deal of concern in […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/Bx1GSr4 via IFTTT

Many congratulations to Dave Dick who has won the Scottish Raptor Study Group‘s coveted Donald & Jeff Watson Award for his work tackling raptor persecution and supporting raptor conservation in Scotland over several decades. [Dave collecting his award from Mark Rafferty at the SRSG annual conference last weekend] Working for the RSPB’s Investigations Unit in […] from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/LAaodzx via IFTTT

Many congratulations to Dave Dick who has won the Scottish Raptor Study Group‘s coveted Donald & Jeff Watson Award for his work tackling raptor persecution and supporting raptor conservation in Scotland over several decades. [Dave collecting his award from Mark Rafferty at the SRSG annual conference last weekend] Working for the RSPB’s Investigations Unit in […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/LAaodzx

Press release from South Yorkshire Police & RSPB (4th March 2022) Buzzard found shot dead in Peak District South Yorkshire Police and the RSPB are appealing for information after a buzzard was found shot dead in the Peak District National Park. The body of the bird was discovered in woodland at Flouch, near the popular […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/GNAoIry

Today this blog reached its 12th year anniversary. I didn’t imagine I’d still be writing it after all this time, but the blog stats show it’s still relevant and of interest, recently passing 8 million blog views. As ever, huge thanks to those who help fund my time, those who work with me behind the […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/40tkw6G

Press release from Peak District National Park Authority (2nd March 2022) National Park Authority and Derbyshire Constabulary in new agreement to tackle rural issues in the Peak District The two organisations will work together to ‘support a safe home and welcoming place for people and wildlife in the Peak District National Park. A new Memorandum […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/Y9fE1os

Press release, South Scotland Golden Eagle Project (3rd March 2022) South of Scotland golden eagle population reaches new heights thanks to novel research technique The pioneering South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has become the first in the UK to successfully translocate free-flying young golden eagles (aged between 6 months and 3 years) to boost […] RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/uF4pQW2