FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

There was an interesting article published in The Observer yesterday, reporting on extensive cancellations of pheasant and partridge shoots in the UK this year, as the game-shooting industry has failed in its attempts to circumvent biosecurity restrictions on the importation of gamebird eggs from France, in relation to a devastating outbreak of avian flu. The … Continue reading "‘Game over for UK shooting season as bird flu & Brexit take a heavy toll’ – new article in The Observer" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/TlzvuiA

There was an interesting article published in The Observer yesterday, reporting on extensive cancellations of pheasant and partridge shoots in the UK this year, as the game-shooting industry has failed in its attempts to circumvent biosecurity restrictions on the importation of gamebird eggs from France, in relation to a devastating outbreak of avian flu. The … Continue reading "‘Game over for UK shooting season as bird flu & Brexit take a heavy toll’ – new article in The Observer" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/rwt4hMU via IFTTT

On 8th October 2019, the Scottish SPCA executed a search warrant with Police Scotland on various properties on Millden Estate in the Angus Glens looking for evidence of animal cruelty and animal fighting, including badger baiting, after 58 gruesome photographs were reportedly sent to a printing shop in England by a Millden Estate employee. Millden … Continue reading "No prosecution for shot raptors found on Millden Estate, Angus Glens" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/MlDvNTg

On 8th October 2019, the Scottish SPCA executed a search warrant with Police Scotland on various properties on Millden Estate in the Angus Glens looking for evidence of animal cruelty and animal fighting, including badger baiting, after 58 gruesome photographs were reportedly sent to a printing shop in England by a Millden Estate employee. Millden … Continue reading "No prosecution for shot raptors found on Millden Estate, Angus Glens" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2hymYno via IFTTT

Defendants: Caer Construction (Directors Jan MILSOM and Mark POTTER) PC1154 Mark Powell the Natural Resources Wales seconded police officer successfully prosecuted Caer Construction Limited (a housing development company based largely within Monmouthshire) for Bat Offences on 26th July 2022. Directors Jan MILSOM and Mark POTTER carried out a renovation of a former primary school at Llanfoist Monmouthshire NP7 9NF and created two new build houses on a project within Pipistrelle Court, Llanfoist, Monmouthshire. Whilst doing so they failed to implement the conditions of a European Protected Species Licence issued by Natural Resources Wales in respect of bats known to be present on the site. Pleading guilty on behalf of the parent company, Caer Construction Limited, they were fined more than £7400. Their fines should stand as a warning to other developers in Wales who carry out work without first ensuring that the agreed licence conditions are followed and that all works support and pr...

Ian Blackford MP (Scottish National Party) is the latest politician with a vested interest to whip up some anti-raptor rhetoric by calling for a cull of white-tailed eagles. It follows recent outbursts from Conservative MP Chris Loder (here and here) and the SNP’s Angus MacNeil (here). Blackford’s hysteria was published in the Sunday Times at … Continue reading "Ian Blackford latest MP calling for a cull of sea eagles" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/6mQ1Bbr

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Ian Blackford MP (Scottish National Party) is the latest politician with a vested interest to whip up some anti-raptor rhetoric by calling for a cull of white-tailed eagles. It follows recent outbursts from Conservative MP Chris Loder (here and here) and the SNP’s Angus MacNeil (here). Blackford’s hysteria was published in the Sunday Times at … Continue reading "Ian Blackford latest MP calling for a cull of sea eagles" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/6AdshQR via IFTTT

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A grouse moor estate in Nidderdale with a history of wildlife crime is set to be rewilded, according to an article in the Telegraph and Argus. In May 2017, the RSPB’s investigations team filmed two armed individuals, dressed like gamekeepers, appearing to shoot at a nesting Marsh harrier and then apparently removing eggs from the … Continue reading "Grouse moor estate in Nidderdale with history of wildlife crime to be rewilded" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/JNFm3Qc

Hen Harrier Fest takes place this Sunday (24th July 2022) at Adlington Hall & Gardens in Cheshire. Over 1,400 people have registered to attend – I hope to see many of this blog’s readers there! Registration is still open – you’ll find all the information you need about the event on the Wild Justice website … Continue reading "Hen Harrier Fest – this Sunday!" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/KObDokP

Press release from the Langholm Initiative (20th July 2022) Donations urged to ‘help make history happen’ as South Scotland’s biggest community buyout battles odds in final fortnight Now or never for one of UK’s largest community-led nature projects People are being urged to keep donating to a public crowdfunder and major donors are being asked … Continue reading "Donations urged to ‘help make history happen’ as South Scotland’s biggest community buyout battles odds in final fortnight" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/qD4AQ5N

Investigative journalists from The Guardian newspaper have uncovered more evidence of alleged raptor persecution crimes, not previously reported, at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. They’ve also uncovered documents which reveal that the police have to seek the Queen’s permission before they are allowed to enter the estate and search for evidence if alleged wildlife … Continue reading "Investigative journalists discover more evidence of alleged raptor persecution on Queen’s Sandringham Estate" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/mRPbQ7c

Investigative journalists from The Guardian newspaper have uncovered more evidence of alleged raptor persecution crimes, not previously reported, at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. They’ve also uncovered documents which reveal that the police have to seek the Queen’s permission before they are allowed to enter the estate and search for evidence if alleged wildlife … Continue reading "Investigative journalists discover more evidence of alleged raptor persecution on Queen’s Sandringham Estate" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/hZPBvKC via IFTTT

The following statement was published on social media on Friday (15th July) by Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team: WILDLIFE & COUNTRYSIDE ACT WARRANT Today, PCSO Graham and I assisted with a search warrant led by Merseyside Police in relation to possible offences under the Wildlife & Countryside Act. The activity focused on crime associated with … Continue reading "Multi-agency raid in relation to captive raptors in Merseyside" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/cFeMYWj

Remember all those recent headlines from the game shooting industry, declaring a ‘zero tolerance’ stance against raptor persecution? Well quelle surprise, it seems their interpretation of ‘zero tolerance’ isn’t quite the same as everyone else’s. Last month Moy Estate, a shooting estate in the Monadhliaths was given a three-year General Licence restriction, imposed by NatureScot … Continue reading "Scottish Gamekeepers Association plan awards ceremony at disgraced Moy Estate" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/2DiJ6z9 via IFTTT

Remember all those recent headlines from the game shooting industry, declaring a ‘zero tolerance’ stance against raptor persecution? Well quelle surprise, it seems their interpretation of ‘zero tolerance’ isn’t quite the same as everyone else’s. Last month Moy Estate, a shooting estate in the Monadhliaths was given a three-year General Licence restriction, imposed by NatureScot … Continue reading "Scottish Gamekeepers Association plan awards ceremony at disgraced Moy Estate" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/fv4SLGd

This article appeared in The Journal today: Farmer fined €500 for poisoning protected bird species in Co Wicklow By Lauren Boland A FARMER HAS been fined for poisoning protected birds in Co Wicklow after pleading guilty to what a judge described as a “serious crime”. Christopher Thomas Noel Doyle, also known as Noel Doyle Senior, … Continue reading "Farmer receives pathetic fine for poisoning two buzzards & a raven" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/aC5mkPU

This article appeared in The Journal today: Farmer fined €500 for poisoning protected bird species in Co Wicklow By Lauren Boland A FARMER HAS been fined for poisoning protected birds in Co Wicklow after pleading guilty to what a judge described as a “serious crime”. Christopher Thomas Noel Doyle, also known as Noel Doyle Senior, … Continue reading "Farmer receives pathetic fine for poisoning two buzzards & a raven" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/5noEKQh via IFTTT

In May this year, Scottish gamekeeper Rhys Owen Davies, 28, pleaded guilty to a number of depraved animal cruelty offences relating to the keeping and training of dogs for animal fighting (badger baiting) and of failing to seek veterinary attention for dogs that had sustained serious injuries from those fights (see here). He also pleaded … Continue reading "Convicted Scottish gamekeeper Rhys Davies: delayed sentencing explained" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/b0rWld8

In May this year, Scottish gamekeeper Rhys Owen Davies, 28, pleaded guilty to a number of depraved animal cruelty offences relating to the keeping and training of dogs for animal fighting (badger baiting) and of failing to seek veterinary attention for dogs that had sustained serious injuries from those fights (see here). He also pleaded … Continue reading "Convicted Scottish gamekeeper Rhys Davies: delayed sentencing explained" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/mCf270v via IFTTT

There was a jaw-droppingly half-baked article published in The Courier last week, featuring commentary from a Scottish gamekeeper. Bob Connelly, who is reportedly a Committee member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), had been speaking at the Scottish Game Fair and the Courier‘s environment journalist Scott Milne took the comments at face value and wrote … Continue reading "Raptor persecution “hasn’t been a problem for years”, claims Scottish Gamekeepers committee member" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/a2Qg1qj

There was a jaw-droppingly half-baked article published in The Courier last week, featuring commentary from a Scottish gamekeeper. Bob Connelly, who is reportedly a Committee member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), had been speaking at the Scottish Game Fair and the Courier‘s environment journalist Scott Milne took the comments at face value and wrote … Continue reading "Raptor persecution “hasn’t been a problem for years”, claims Scottish Gamekeepers committee member" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/SuJG4yw via IFTTT

Last year conservation campaign group Wild Justice won another legal victory after challenging Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) about its awful and unlawful General Licences for killing wild birds (see here). As a result of that successful legal challenge (only possible thanks to a magnificent response to Wild Justice’s crowdfunder), … Continue reading "Have your say on General Licences in Northern Ireland" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/QuTSyOM

This is a guest blog written by Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife, a small Community Interest Company (CIC) working to protect breeding ospreys and other wildlife in the Glaslyn Valley in north west Wales. Ospreys in the Glaslyn Valley Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, the osprey has in recent decades made an encouraging comeback in parts … Continue reading "Guest blog: Ospreys in the Glaslyn Valley" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/tJqFSpb

This is a guest blog written by Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife, a small Community Interest Company (CIC) working to protect breeding ospreys and other wildlife in the Glaslyn Valley in north west Wales. Ospreys in the Glaslyn Valley Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, the osprey has in recent decades made an encouraging comeback in parts … Continue reading "Guest blog: Ospreys in the Glaslyn Valley" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/XoVY9yz via IFTTT

  Two men from Chester, 35-year-old Warren Kelly (29/05/1986) of Sycamore Drive and 58-year-old Andrew Dutton of Clover Place (20/07/1964) have both been given five year criminal behaviour orders (CBOs), after they were convicted of four offences under the Game Act and two offences under the Hunting act, for Hare Coursing in Ormskirk, West Lancashire. Andrew Dutton (Image courtesy of Lancashire Police The pair were known to poach all over Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Humberside, Merseyside, North Wales, Cheshire, West Mercia, Shropshire and Bedfordshire. The CBO bans them from being anywhere in England and Wales in possession or control of a dog other than in their home address and from being with any person anywhere in England and Wales with a dog. It also bans them out of huge portions of Lancashire and Merseyside, (see below maps) from acting in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress.  In addition, they were handed down almost £1000 in fines and...

The REVIVE coalition has come up with another creative idea to lobby effectively for grouse moor reform in Scotland. In 2020 the coalition produced a spoof version of Dragon’s Den, where representatives of the grouse shooting industry were seen pitching their case in the Den, only to be met with incredulity by the Dragons (watch … Continue reading "‘Higher, lower’ – Revive coalition takes Play Your Cards Right into Scottish Parliament" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/EvGxzKC via IFTTT

The REVIVE coalition has come up with another creative idea to lobby effectively for grouse moor reform in Scotland. In 2020 the coalition produced a spoof version of Dragon’s Den, where representatives of the grouse shooting industry were seen pitching their case in the Den, only to be met with incredulity by the Dragons (watch … Continue reading "‘Higher, lower’ – Revive coalition takes Play Your Cards Right into Scottish Parliament" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/JQK1BTj

Yesterday the Scottish Government moved forward with its latest land reform proposals by launching a consultation for a new Land Reform Bill, which it has committed to bring in during this parliamentary session. This is a result of the Bute House Agreement in August 2021 when the Scottish Greens and the SNP reached an agreement … Continue reading "Large Scottish estates face fines for ‘nature restoration’ failings in new land reform proposals" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/glPXb4i

Yesterday the Scottish Government moved forward with its latest land reform proposals by launching a consultation for a new Land Reform Bill, which it has committed to bring in during this parliamentary session. This is a result of the Bute House Agreement in August 2021 when the Scottish Greens and the SNP reached an agreement … Continue reading "Large Scottish estates face fines for ‘nature restoration’ failings in new land reform proposals" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/NAH7Dcb via IFTTT

Hen Harrier Fest takes place in just under three weeks time on Sunday 24th July at Adlington Hall & Gardens, Cheshire. To register for this free event, please visit Wild Justice’s Hen Harrier Fest webpage (here) and keep an eye on it as more detail will be uploaded soon! from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/qP0K3WM via IFTTT

Hen Harrier Fest takes place in just under three weeks time on Sunday 24th July at Adlington Hall & Gardens, Cheshire. To register for this free event, please visit Wild Justice’s Hen Harrier Fest webpage (here) and keep an eye on it as more detail will be uploaded soon! RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/z8b2pQj

Yesterday, the Scottish Government made the following announcement on Twitter: As a quick recap, the SSPCA’s current powers (under animal welfare legislation) limits their investigations to cases that involve a live animal in distress (including some wildlife crimes). The proposed new powers would also allow them to investigate wildlife crimes under the Wildlife & Countryside … Continue reading "Scottish Government appoints taskforce to review SSPCA’s powers to investigate wildlife crime" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/Oa2yXmT via IFTTT

Yesterday, the Scottish Government made the following announcement on Twitter: As a quick recap, the SSPCA’s current powers (under animal welfare legislation) limits their investigations to cases that involve a live animal in distress (including some wildlife crimes). The proposed new powers would also allow them to investigate wildlife crimes under the Wildlife & Countryside … Continue reading "Scottish Government appoints taskforce to review SSPCA’s powers to investigate wildlife crime" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/GIvczVh

Hallelujah! After almost three years of wasting valuable parliamentary time, the Scottish Parliament has finally closed the petition lodged by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) calling for the ‘independent monitoring of satellite tags fitted to raptors’. I’ve blogged about this petition several times before (here, here), as has Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB … Continue reading "Scottish Parliament sees sense & closes SGA’s petition seeking ‘independent monitoring of satellite tags fitted to raptors’" from Raptor Persecution UK https://ift.tt/UpjtaX6 via IFTTT

Hallelujah! After almost three years of wasting valuable parliamentary time, the Scottish Parliament has finally closed the petition lodged by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) calling for the ‘independent monitoring of satellite tags fitted to raptors’. I’ve blogged about this petition several times before (here, here), as has Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB … Continue reading "Scottish Parliament sees sense & closes SGA’s petition seeking ‘independent monitoring of satellite tags fitted to raptors’" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/wdMGBW3

Three tawny owls have been seized at a house in St Helens as police carried out a raid as part of an investigation into an alleged wild bird disturbance in Cheshire. [Photo of the seized owls, by Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team] Officers in St Helens joined Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team to execute the … Continue reading "Police seize three tawny owls during raid on Cheshire home" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/0GSHAmM