Police are investigating following the discovery of a buzzard that had been shot dead in July.
The bird was found in a wooded area near Dundrum Road, Newcastle, Co Down on 9th July, according to an article in the local Mourne Observer (thanks to the contributor who sent us a copy).
An RSPB spokesperson said: “Any incident of wildlife crime is to be condemned but the shooting of a majestic bird of prey is completely abhorrent”.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Newcastle police station on the non-emergency number 101.
Buzzard photograph: unknown photographer.
By the way, in case you’re thinking that due to a paucity of recently reported information, raptor persecution in Scotland has suddenly stopped, think again. We’re just waiting to see how long it takes Police Scotland to make these crimes public…..
Raptor Persecution UK 
This is sickening news, again!
And my heart just sank at the thought of yet more bad news from Scotland. It makes me wonder what the police ever gain by withholding news of these incidents for so long.
Happened in July. This is August. That delay is bad enough, but it is a whole lot better than the average police performance.
I agree, only yesterday I was watching a young buzzard flying quite close to me, it was on the fellside near Crummock water, I had a very good view, and thought to my self how on earth can anyone take a gun to such a beauty, with it being a young bird it was flying around me and was not bothered by my presence. Hope it survives.
This part of NI seems to be overrun with wildlife criminals.
I see Hawks in my garden often, maybe two or three times a day. So beautiful. I saw a Merlin two weeks ago, just a flash as she went behind a fir tree. On warm days i hear and watch, that i think are Buzzards. There is always three. I always wondered why there is three?
Male and female plus offspring, perhaps.