Henry is visiting Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Owned by the Ministry of Defence, this is an important winter roost site for Hen Harriers.
Despite the shells and mortar bombs, this site is safer for Hen Harriers than on driven grouse moors. Says it all, really.
Henry was escorted by his friends Michael Groves (a volunteer with the South Wiltshire Owl & Raptor Nest Box Project) and Nick Adams (Wiltshire Raptor Group).
Raptor Persecution UK 
Your right, a bomb site is safer for most birds and animals than a grouse moor!!!
Indeed – is this still the case at Shoeburyness in Essex? where, when I lived nearby in the 70s, Brent Geese were safe from disturbance for the same reason.
When I worked there, I was privileged to watch all manner of wildlife. Marsh harriers hunting over the fields, a wonderful sight, they must have nested there too.
Out of interest, where do the winter roasting birds come from? How many nest there?
Certainly not from Britain’s grouse moors Rascal!
I am surprised that no one, including RPA, has mentioned yet that the RSPB are now claiming that pheasant shoots are good for birds. They claim they are neutral with regard to shooting, so why come out in favour? The ‘other side’ are, of course, are ecstatic over this statement.
Hi Chris – it’s worth reading Martin Harper’s follow-up blog on this issue, which puts things in perspective:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/martinharper/archive/2015/03/31/the-rspb-and-shooting-separating-fact-from-fiction-2-29-03-2015.aspx
Thank you RPS that has helped clear up matters. It appears that Martin was embarrassed because he was “Seen with the chief executive of the league against cruel sports” I believe he should have been proud to be seen with him.
Because of his praise of pheasant shoots I have left RSPB after being a member for more years than I care to remember, I shall re-join when they come off the fence with regard to shooting birds for fun.