FIRECREST TOURS : Guided Birdwatching & Wildlife Days

The buzzard that was found shot in Colchester, Essex, earlier this month has unfortunately not survived its injuries. It was found on 11th January 2023 near to Hardy’s Green and Heckford Bridge and was picked up by a member of the public. The buzzard had suffered a broken wing and internal injuries and was being … Continue reading "Shot buzzard in Essex succumbs to its injuries" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/fDRu4rV

The RSPB’s Investigations Team has joined forces with a leading wildlife vet, Mark Naguib BVMS(Hons) CertAVP(ZooMed) MRCVS, to create a free, two-hour online course for veterinary professionals to help increase awareness and understanding of crimes against birds of prey. The course, Birds of prey in veterinary practice: Clinical presentations of poisoning, shooting and trapping, includes the … Continue reading "Free online course for veterinary professionals to increase awareness & understanding of crimes against birds of prey" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/8ZHd1iY

The Scottish Parliament’s ‘Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee’ is currently considering a petition that was first submitted in February 2021 by a falconer, Barry Blyther, calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 to allow mountain hares to be … Continue reading "Barely-suppressed contempt for Scottish Environment Minister Mairi McAllan in petitions committee meeting on mountain hare protection vs falconry" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/Lw4SHps

I’ve written many times about how the shooting industry is intent on manipulating the narrative surrounding the illegal killing of birds of prey. Whether that be by publishing blatant propaganda about the extent of these crimes, so distorted the truth is barely recognisable (e.g. here, here, here, here), or by simply choosing not to mention, … Continue reading "Hen harrier chicks stamped to death in nest: how the shooting industry manipulated the narrative" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/WgC23Le

Last week I blogged about how a major shooting industry organisation, BASC, had attacked Suffolk Police for what BASC perceived to be an ‘offensive’ police appeal for information about the shooting of five young goshawks found dead at the edge of woodland near Thetford (here). BASC complained that the police’s appeal was “disparaging to the … Continue reading "National Gamekeepers Organisation is latest from shooting industry to attack police & RSPB for raptor crime reporting" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/JS1c46Q

Press release from League Against Cruel Sports (24th January 2023): The Scottish Parliament has today (Tuesday) voted to pass the new Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill. The vote was passed by 90 for and 30 against, with no abstentions.  The new legislation was introduced last year, two decades after a failed attempt by the Scottish … Continue reading "Significant win for animal welfare as Scottish Parliament votes to pass new hunting legislation" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/bt82q9A

The reward for information leading to the conviction of whoever shot five goshawks and dumped them in Suffolk last week (see here) has now passed £14,000. The RSPB has provided £5,000, Wild Justice has provided £5,000, and Rare Bird Alert’s crowdfunder appeal has so far accrued over £4,000. I haven’t seen any effort by any … Continue reading "Reward for info on who shot five goshawks has passed £14,000" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/2LKJs6Z

  A man who gave a false name to a Fisheries Enforcement Officer in a bid to escape prosecution has been fined a total of £1,455 at Newport Magistrates Court. In May 2022, a Natural Resources Wales Enforcement Officer was undertaking a routine patrol at Llyn Clywedog Reservoir near Llanidloes, when he spotted Robert Simpson, of Aberbargoed, Caerphilly, fishing from a boat. When Mr Simpson returned to shore, he was asked to produce his rod licence, he replied that he had left his licence at home and told the officer his name was Stephen Fisher. The officer conducted a rod licence check and found there was no valid licence in the name of Stephen Fisher at the address supplied by Mr Simpson. Once the officer explained that he could seize the fishing equipment and arrest Mr Simpson if he did not give his correct details, he provided his correct name and address. Under caution Mr Simpson admitted to using a friend’s details for licence checks. Having failed...

A buzzard has been found shot in Colchester, Essex. It is still alive and is undergoing treatment for its injuries. It was found on 11th January 2023 near to Hardy’s Green and Heckford Bridge. Essex Police’s Rural, Wildlife & Heritage Crime Team has put out an appeal for information on Twitter: This isn’t the first … Continue reading "Buzzard found shot in Essex – police appeal for information" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/8dFBhVg

A young white-tailed eagle, released into the wild as part of a conservation reintroduction project, has been found poisoned with the banned pesticide Carbofuran. The National Parks & Wildlife Service in Ireland is appealing for information after the discovery of the dead eagle in November 2022 on land between counties Cavan and Westmeath. The juvenile … Continue reading "Reintroduced white-tailed eagle poisoned with banned pesticide Carbofuran" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/TLo0MuY

At the beginning of this week, Suffolk Police put out an appeal on Twitter asking the shooting community to help identify the person who shot dead five young goshawks, which had been dumped at the edge of The King’s Forest near Thetford on Monday (see here). The following day, Suffolk Police’s tweet was deleted without … Continue reading "Shooting industry ‘offended’ about being asked to help identify the person who shot five goshawks" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/i957drh

Further to the news that the RSPB and Wild Justice have put up a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person who shot five young goshawks and dumped their bodies at the edge of The King’s Wood in Suffolk on Monday (see here), the bird news service Rare Bird Alert has … Continue reading "Crowdfunder launched to increase reward for information on five shot goshawks found in Suffolk" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/lLBd7qP

Further to the news that Suffolk Police have found five shot goshawks, dumped at the edge of the King’s Forest near Thetford (see here), conservation campaign group Wild Justice has partnered with the RSPB to increase the reward for information from £5,000 (here) to £10,000 (see here). In a statement, Wild Justice said: “We are … Continue reading "Wild Justice partners with RSPB to offer £10,000 reward for info on five shot goshawks" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/rnFN9w2

Further to this morning’s blog about Suffolk Police finding five shot goshawks on Monday, that had been dumped at the edge of the King’s Forest near Thetford (see here), the RSPB has issued an appeal for information and is offering a £5K reward, it’s highest ever. Here is the joint statement from the RSPB and … Continue reading "Five shot goshawks in Suffolk – RSPB offers £5K reward for information" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/5Ia1mvF

Yesterday evening, Suffolk Police’s Rural, Wildlife & Heritage Unit posted an appeal on Twitter asking for information about the discovery of five young goshawks, reportedly shot and dumped in the King’s Forest, Suffolk. The corpses were found on Monday (16th Jan 2023) and the police say all five birds were x-rayed and all were found … Continue reading "Five goshawks shot & dumped in King’s Forest, Suffolk: Police appeal for information" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/lvAD384

Last month I blogged about a poisoned red kite that had been found dead, laying close to a poisoned bait (a Lapwing, of all things) on Dava Moor, a grouse moor in the Scottish Highlands, just outside the boundary of the Cairngorms National Park (see here). The poisoned red kite and the poisoned bait had … Continue reading "Police Scotland confirm red kite found poisoned on grouse moor had been killed with banned pesticide" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/Qlyn3oK

Over the weekend I was advised that a barn owl had reportedly been found dead inside a crow cage trap situated on a grouse moor in the notorious raptor persecution hotspot, the Angus Glens. The discovery was apparently made during the first week of January 2023. I understand the trap was tagged with the operator’s … Continue reading "Barn owl found dead in a crow cage trap on an Angus Glens grouse moor" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/HKfXA3a

A wildlife crime officer from Lincolnshire Police is warning of the risk to humans, dogs and cats from the dangerous substances used to illegally kill birds of prey. Detective Constable Aaron Flint, from the Lincolnshire Police Rural Crime Action Team, is quoted in an article published two days ago on the BBC News website (here), … Continue reading "“I honestly think that one day we are going to have a human fatality” – Lincolnshire Police warn of danger of bird of prey poisonings" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/VPvgKiW

A court case relating to a Scottish gamekeeper continued at Banff Sheriff Court yesterday. Terry Lindsay is charged with the alleged taking of a wild bird (raptor) in an illegally-set trap in August 2020. The case was adjourned until a later date. As this is a live prosecution, comments won’t be accepted on this blog … Continue reading "Scottish gamekeeper in court charged with taking a wild bird in an illegally-set trap" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/vwDiMnS

Kent Police Appeal for Information (9th January 2023): Unlawful killing of owl in Upchurch. Kent Police’s Rural Task Force is investigating the suspected killing of a tawny owl in Upchurch. The incident is believed to have happened in October 2022 and officers have recently come into possession of images of two men they would like to speak to. … Continue reading "Kent police appeal for info re: unlawful killing of tawny owl. Do you recognise these men?" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/6ivCSqG

Five days ago, 54 year old gamekeeper Paul Allen pleaded guilty to seven counts of wildlife, poisons and firearms offences, which he committed in March 2021 whilst working on the Shaftesbury Estate in Dorset (see here). A poisoned red kite had been found dead on the estate in November 2020 (confirmed Bendiocarb poisoning) which triggered … Continue reading "How has the game-shooting industry reacted to the conviction of gamekeeper Paul Allen?" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/4o32GUj

Suffolk Police’s Rural, Wildlife & Heritage Team has seized what it describes as a ‘vast’ egg collection in Halesworth. The haul is thought to include clutches of hen harrier and osprey eggs. The police raid last Friday was part of Operation Easter, a policing initiative that began in Scotland 25 years ago (see here for … Continue reading "‘Vast’ egg collection, including hen harrier & osprey eggs, seized by Suffolk Police" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/GLgT2us

You’d think, after the high profile conviction of gamekeeper Paul Allen two days ago, who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wildlife, poisons and firearms offences on the Shaftesbury Estate (see here), that Dorset Police might have issued a statement. You might think that Dorset Police would have wanted to publicise the conviction, not only … Continue reading "Unusual silence from Dorset Police after conviction of gamekeeper Paul Allen" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/wGu52AR

RSPB press release: *Multiple illegally killed birds of prey, six of which were confirmed shot and one poisoned, were uncovered by Dorset Police and the RSPB on the Shaftesbury Estate near Wimborne St Giles *The recently published RSPB Birdcrime report identified Dorset as the second worst county in the UK for confirmed bird of prey … Continue reading "‘Gamekeeper pleads guilty after illegally killed raptors & poisons found on Dorset estate’ – RSPB press release" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/zu38ahE

After today’s court case, where gamekeeper Paul Allen was found guilty of seven wildlife, poisons and firearms offences, including the possession of six shot buzzards and banned poisons in March 2021 (here), it can now be revealed that the poisoned white-tailed eagle that was found dead on a Dorset estate in January 2022 was on … Continue reading "The estate that Dorset Police refused to search after discovery of poisoned eagle is the same location where gamekeeper was today convicted of multiple raptor persecution crimes" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/7RnkXDq

Further to my blog post on January 1st 2023 (here), this morning gamekeeper Paul Scott Allen, 54, of Baileys Hill, Brockington, near Wimbourne in Dorset, has pleaded guilty to seven charges of raptor persecution, poisons and firearms offences whilst he was working on a private gamebird shoot located on the Shaftesbury Estate in March 2021. … Continue reading "Dorset gamekeeper Paul Allen guilty of multiple raptor persecution, poisons & firearms offences" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/tzOZyTP

Dorset Police were never far from the headlines last spring and summer, thanks to their appalling, botched investigation into the poisoning of a white-tailed eagle, found dead on a game-shooting estate and containing seven times the lethal dose of the rodenticide Brodifacoum. As a recap for new blog readers, the corpse of the young satellite-tagged … Continue reading "More info revealed on Dorset Police’s relationship with local MP & the botched investigation into the poisoned white-tailed eagle" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/XdI9yxv

More detail has emerged about the discovery of five dead birds of prey and two magpies found in suspicious circumstances and the subject of an appeal for information yesterday by Lincolnshire Police’s Wildlife Crime Team (see here). The five raptors are reported to be three barn owls, one tawny owl and a red kite. The … Continue reading "Three barn owls, one tawny owl & one red kite found dumped in ditch – police appeal for information" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/m0NVkMh

Last month I wrote about a poisoned red kite that had been found dead on a grouse moor, next to a poisoned bait (a Lapwing), and how Police Scotland had deliberately withheld the details of this crime for over 18 months (see here). Now there’s another poisoning crime where Police Scotland has deliberately withheld information … Continue reading "Raven poisoned with banned chemicals – Police Scotland withhold information" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/DS2vTAJ

Lincolnshire Police’s Wildlife Crime Team has issued an appeal for information after the discovery of five birds of prey and two magpies found in suspicious circumstances. The details are a bit sketchy – no date, no specific location, no species identification, but there’s a photograph of what looks to be an assortment of avian body … Continue reading "Police appeal for information after discovery of five birds of prey & two magpies found in suspicious circumstances in Lincolnshire" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/1tdjzpk

A gamekeeper is due in court on Wednesday 4th January 2023 to answer multiple charges of alleged raptor persecution, poisons and firearms offences. This case relates to the multi-agency raid carried out on a shooting estate in Dorset in March 2021, led by the now former wildlife crime officer Claire Dinsdale (see here). This prosecution … Continue reading "Gamekeeper due in court facing multiple charges of raptor persecution, poisons & firearms offences" RaptorPersecutionUK https://ift.tt/CqeA4tz