Where does the time go?
It’s been another good year for our little blog as we edge towards 1.8 million blog views. That’s amazing, and it’s thanks to you all for reading, commenting, sharing, re-tweeting etc.
Our readership is a diverse bunch, mostly from within the UK but with growing audiences in mainland Europe, North America and beyond. The message that illegal raptor persecution is still rampant in some parts of the UK, and particularly on driven grouse moors, is steadily spreading. A significant number of journalists now follow this blog and we’ve also seen a small increase in the number of political advisors (in both Holyrood & Westminster) who have subscribed. They’re paying attention, but whether their bosses are listening is another matter.
Here are our top ten most viewed posts during the last year:
- Now THAT’S a deterrent!
- Langholm hen harrier ‘Annie’ found shot dead on a Scottish grouse moor.
- George Mutch sentenced to four months in prison.
- Stody Estate receives £221,000 subsidy penalty for mass raptor poisoning.
- The red grouse and medicated grit scandal: it’s hard to swallow.
- Desperate days as 5th male hen harrier ‘disappears’.
- More mountain hares slaughtered in the Angus Glens.
- Scottish gamekeeper fined £2,000 for killing a buzzard.
- Masked gunmen caught on camera attacking goshawk nest in Cairngorms National Park.
- Gas-gun bird scarers deployed on Leadhills Estate grouse moor.
Thank you for your continued support. Let’s see what 2016 brings…..there may be a few surprises in store…
Raptor Persecution UK 
Happy Birthday!
Excellent work RPS, it’s definately made an impact since it started reporting all the nasty tricks the shooting fraternity get up to in the name of “Sport”.
Well done, the fact that RPS gets mentioned\derided by ‘the other side’ which thinks buzzards are responsible for wader declines, pine martens are killing off capercaillie, sea eagles are a threat to small children, grouse moors have nothing to do with flooding and are good for rural economies – is a really good sign. Keep rattling their cages and thanks!
I couldn’t put it better!
Happy birthday, very well done, thank you….
Impressive increase in blog views, which is all adding up to pushing us where we want to be. All these things take time but the publicity will eventually work its way into mainstream public opinion. Then we will win the argument and help protect our wildlife for future generations. Good work.
Happy Birthday, keep going, you do an excellent job!
Thanks for keeping us sane in a mad world where money talks and the liars, cheats and criminals not only get away with there behaviour but are often lauded for it by our politicians.
Thanks for committing so much of your time to pursuing the wildlife criminals who illegally deplete our heritage while creating chaos with our biodiversity while trying to maximise incomes for the already wealthy. Taking these issues from under the bed and presenting it to be viewed in full by the public is one of the most constructive activities I have seen the social media utilised for. As a cautionary word I sincerely hope that Dr. Eileen McLeod’s decision to increase the penalties for wildlife crime has not been simply a public relations exercise because, as you so pointedly noted, increased penalties only serve to fool the public that Dr. McLeod is serious about wildlife crime unless enforcement is considerably strengthened. All that wins is her electability in the eyes of the ecologically conscious. More power to you.
You lead the way.Thank you.
Thankyou for keeping us informed now & into the future.
Happy Birthday. And of course the bosses in Westminster are listening, how else can they find new ways to weasel around the laws and deliberately flaunt their ability to break them. :(
Happy birthday and long may you continue to enlighten. The appearance of RPS brings a gleam of hope to an otherwise desperate world of British conservation.
Happy 6th birthday RPS. Without you I would still be in ignorance with regard to what illegal activities our estates and their gamekeepers get up to. Long may you continue.
If I want to scare myself I think about how little the public [informed and ill informed to start with] would know about the true situation on scottish shooting estates, if your Blog didnt exist. It is in fact, a continuing indictment of government and NGOs alike, that they trail along behind you. Imagine a world where the only information you got came from SGA, SLE and scottish government press releases…..and then say a big thank you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to raptorpersecutionscotland. Many happy returns.
I would agree with all that Dave Dick has said.
Happy Birthday and hope there are many more to come.
And so would I!
Me too!
Me too, eloquent as ever Dave!
Many congratulations RPS. from all of us at the World Owl Trust. Yes I know they are not Scottish Hen Harriers or Peregrines, but your fantastic work and dedication helps us to keep the faith that we are not alone in trying to protect the same species in Bowland – with special emphasis on the Eagle Owls and Short-eared Owls of course in our case.
More power to your arm. We couldn’t do without you and we greatly admire you. With your continued leadership we are confident that we will win in the end. Thank you.
Happy birthday – and keep up the good work!
Happy birthday to you all, what a wonderful job you have been doing, no politician or member of the establishment can claim ignorance of the criminality that is necessary to sustain driven grouse shooting thanks to you or the illegal practises that are involved with so many pheasant shoots. Now more than ever members of the public express to me their disgust of activities on shooting estates. And the thugs know they might be the next one in the dock or indeed sharing premises with other villains……..
Happy birthday! Keep the fantastic work going.
Happy birthday RPS. Everyone I know who reads your blog has huge respect for what you do and how you do it. Your analysis and presentation are second to none.
Many happy returns. I hope the upcoming spring wildlife crime season is not a busy one for you.
Happy birthday RPS – keep up the fight so that one day there’ll be no more candlelight vigils for our hen harriers and their cousins..
Happy Birtday R.P.S. Long may you continue ruffling the feathers of the Shooting Estates.
In our ever increasing world of spin your blogs are the sanity that we –those that want justice and protection for our wildlife–crave and need . Ditto all the comments above–I don’t know how you do it! Einstein said ” Great spirits will always encounter opposition from mediocre minds” and you are one of the Great Spirits!
Well done, keep up the good work. Some interesting stats there as well when I compare them against my own. My target for year 3 is 40,000. I hope in the future I can get the same coverage.
Yes, I would like to echo the sentiments expressed above, so best wishes, RPS.
Before you get to all the back slapping, more than half your readers will be keepers. We all like to keep an eye on your latest venomous accusations and your swivel eyed followers.