Vermin

What's he been up to? Blood on his hands?

I got news yesterday that the Hen harriers I had been watching recently had been "knobbled". They're gone, perhaps killed. A territory holding pair of the rarest raptors in the UK will not breed this year. There was no reason for these birds to leave the area in the midst of the nesting season. It's difficult to prove, but the disappearance of these birds is consistent with previous occurrences in the area. Suspicion must fall on the estate and reports have been made to the police.

Breeding success of Hen harriers is far higher on moors managed as water catchment than for driven grouse shooting. The grouse shooting estates are heavily implicated in the illegal persecution of these birds. This 2002 BBC report and this from the RSPB states the facts and demonstrates something of the culture which supports this illegal activity. This report makes the case for alternatives to persecution in managing raptors and red grouse together.

AN APPEAL

Be vigilant and report suspicious activity on your local moors to the police or RSPB. Case law would support a belief that many gamekeepers and their employers routinely act illegally, with breathtaking arrogance and not a little cruelty with regard to our natural heritage and biodiversity.

Two weeks ago I saw my first male Hen harrier. I'd like to think it wasn't my last and that future generations will be able to experience this privilege. Don't let grouse estate landowners take this from us.

You can use this form to report suspicious wildlife crime activity to the RSPB here.

Mustn't grouse

The Easter period has proved very productive for the list taking it well past the 100 mark. My partner and I travelled to Scotland for some hillwalking...

An RAF helicopter searches Five-finger Gully on Ben Nevis.

cycling...

My Planet X Kaffenback on a trail in the Rothiemurchus Forest.

sightseeing...

Lantern-jawed, steely-eyed sentinels of a rain-lashed Commando Monument at Spean Bridge. If you go there look at their hands. You can well believe they could kill a man. Probably crushed between thumb and forefinger!

and birding. Guided by the wisdom of Katie "bogbumper" Fuller we visited the Loch Garten area and added this lot to the list.

Hooded Crow, Greylag Goose, Osprey, Capercaillie, Coal Tit, Siskin, Crested Tit, Slavonian Grebe, Ptarmigan, Wheatear, Black Grouse, Ring Ouzel. Check this link to find out about these birds.

The ones in red are lifers for me and some are seriously endangered in the UK. Together with Red Grouse that's the full compliment of British breeding grouse (or "gryce" - if you're one of those people who like to shoot them).

Osprey EJ awaits her mate at Loch Garten RSPB. The "ironmongery" as well as supporting CCTV cameras, repairs the nesting tree after vandals tried to cut it down. It was very memorable watching the sun rise silhouetting the perched Ospreys as we waited for "Caperwatch" to get underway.

A greedy Chaffinch eyes up a Bank vole's nuts under a Loch Garten feeder. The Chaffinches would frighten the vole and steal its food. We also saw Red squirrel.

Another highlight was watching Goldeneye defend breeding territories. Here the drake is displaying to see off a rival, out of shot.


Two shots of Slavonian grebe, near Aviemore.

On our return to home we called in at Flodden where the English defeated the Scots in 1513. Thousands were killed back then on a day of terrible wet weather while flailing around in a bog among mud, blood and their dead and dying comrades. Today it looks like this.

Flodden Field. The killing happened in the dip at the bottom of this slope. Here we're looking north from the Scottish positions; the English were facing on the raised land around the monument. The Pentland and Lammermuir Hills and the Scottish border are on the horizon. The way home for the Scottish troops was through the English battle lines.

On my return home the birding adventure has continued. I was asked to help warden a territory holding pair of Hen harriers by friends in the Yorkshire Dales Upland Bird Study Group. We got fantastic views of these incredible raptors as well as Raven, Peregrine and Adder, at last. Thanks Paul! Hen Harriers are heavily persecuted in many of the areas they nest in the UK.

• Read about Hen harriers here.
• Read about their persecution here.
• And support YDUBSG by buying their report here. An excellent way to spend £3.55.

Today was my induction as Field Teacher at Fairburn Ings RSPB. Here I saw Willow tit and was told my first assignment will be next week. Holiday over now. Back to work!

The list - an update

With nearly 100 species seen so far this year, adding new ones to the list is getting more difficult. While out looking for Hen harrier this week, I only got Red grouse and Red-legged partridge.

The day previously, while I crawled forward to get this shot of Oystercatchers in the Forest of Bowland, I flushed a pair of Grey partridge (a red list species).