From the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, 4th March 2015:
“We had to euthanise a beautiful buzzard today, found in West Tilbury it had been shot at least 3 times, twice through the wing, it still has an air gun pellet lodged in its chest. We have of course notified this crime to the police“.
Thanks to Neil Phillips (@UK_Wildlife) for the notification.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Saw on the internet that airguns are described as ´recreational guns´, but someone is able to kill small animals or birds with it. And the worst is: There is not 1 European law made for this, it differs in every country and even county/ departement/ bundesland etc. Time for a good law, which of course has to be enforced…
Air guns, so often used in the wrong way, like a lot more guns, I once saw a youth fire at a swallow with an air gun one sunny April day, whilst I was walking through a caravan site, did I tell him off, yes and hopefully it was nipped in the bud, thankfully he missed the swallow, which had just flown in 6000 miles from South Africa, same really as the woodcock who fly long distances to Winter with us, only to be shot in their hundreds.
We criticise Malta for shooting, but theres a lot of dog shit to be swept off our own steps first, and by god it will be, every week im sickened by your reports on your site of killing killing and more killing.
Joe public knows absolutley f all about whats really going on, I urge all people in a position to kill or not to kill to obey the wildlife laws. Every case is another nail in the shooting industrys cause. Which is harming lawful gun users. Rant over…… nice to see that buzzards are doing really well, despite such morons that shoot them, trap them and poison them.
Buzzards unfortunately are not doing well in the Cairngorms National Park, haven’t seen one here in months.
In Dumfries (ish) Buzzards are doing remarkably well at the moment. I see them every day, up to 7 or 8 at a time sometimes. Beautiful birds.
I envy you. I used to see them on a regular bases but no more. I live on the west side of the park where you should expect to see some. The eastern side is obviously a ‘no go’ area foe birds of prey!
They are pretty bold too Chris. They fly above me when I run, soar directly above the car, stand on fence posts until I’m so close I can basically see every feather. I am continually amazed by them. Funnily enough I never see them hunt – they just eat things on the road, already dead.
“A good law”- so my 2 target air rifles have to be lawfully held (in case I decide to pop off a buzzard – but not a rat) and presumably my bow and arrows as well (likewise and far, far more dangerous) and my Leatherman pliers because the blade can be locked – my bushcraft knife as well (too big) great grandaddy’s cavalry sabre from the Boer war – an offensive weapon, Where would you like to stop? How about the car in case I might run someone over? Or we could just enforce the present laws when an offence is committed – and that really would be a novelty – you can’t regulate for idiots and age is no barrier to stupidity and just as a thought as you seem so keen on good laws I suppose you’d want my pipe and tobacco outlawed as well.
Someone shooting a buzzard with an air rifle (regrettable as it is) pales into insignificance given the mass and indiscriminate slaughter of wildlife carried out in the name of perfectly legal “field sports” and their management.
Pip
The comparison of a Buzzard shot with an air rifle to the mass slaughter of perfectly legal “field sports” while significant is nevertheless just as poignant. Incidentally, the carrying of Leatherman pliers is looked on as a dangerous weapon in certain circumstances, I once had one confiscated at Luton airport because I forgot to put it in my hold luggage. As for the rest of the items you mention, well that’s just being silly isn’t it !!!
By the way, I think all guns should be licenced and the owners vetted as to their reason suitability to have and use one before being issued with a licence, and that includes air guns.