Derbyshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team would like to hear from anyone who recognises this individual, photographed near a peregrine breeding site in the Peak District this week (Tuesday 14 May 2019). The peregrines abandoned their breeding attempt the following day.
From the Derbyshire Rural Crime Team’s Facebook page today:
“We have been monitoring a number of Peregrine Falcon nest sites in Derbyshire Peak District over the past few months. Numerous nests have failed in recent years, some in suspicious circumstances other as a result of nature taking its course. This year having access to a drone with an impressive zoom camera, that allowed us to view the birds without disturbing them, we were able to confirm that one particular pair had 2 eggs, as can be seen in the below picture. The female was seen to act as she should and had been incubating the eggs for the last month or so. Unfortunately on the morning of the 15th of May the female was off the nest and acting oddly, by the afternoon she had left the nest site completely, she did not return. We returned with our drone yesterday afternoon and confirmed the eggs were no longer there as can be seen in the second picture. There are numerous theories and possibilities as to what happened to the eggs, at this moment in time we simply don’t know if human interference played a role.
We would like to speak to the male pictured [above] as he may be able to help us with our enquiries and would urge him or anyone who may know who he is to come forward. If anyone recognises the male please get in touch via this page, 101 or by e-mailing drct@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk. Thanks“.
ENDS
UPDATE 16 June 2020: Peregrine eggs taken from three nest sites in Peak District (here)
UPDATE 17 November 2020: Derbyshire man due in court in February for alleged theft of Peregrine eggs in Peak District (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
Drones equipped with missiles are available. Just saying 😉
On a more sensible note. Derbyshire Police are surely to be congratulated, firstly for using a drone for monitoring and secondly for getting the picture of the person that they wish to speak to into the public domain so promptly.
Let’s hope other police forces follow their example.
I think that what we have here is some very efficient police work in getting the pictures of xxxxx xxxxx ,at the scene of a possible crime, published so quickly.
Maybe someone can help me understand how it is possible to be so quick on the draw in this case and yet when there is poisoned or shot bird found it normally takes months before the public alarm is sounded.
Seriously? “xxxxx xxxxx? There is another photo at 21:08:42, you can see a dog lead over his neck. 21:00:37 you can see his dog just behind him, and one of it’s front feet in the space between his legs.
Fair enough the police would want to speak to him, and yet some people seem to have already made their judgement…
Drones – a great tool to monitor the goings on of gamekeepers and the like on large tracts of moorland.
We don’t know whether this man has anything to do with this nest failure or not, we perhaps never will, he might however be an important witness so lets give him the benefit of doubt. This case plus the two previous ones highlighted here indicate that the war against our predatory protected wildlife is at its height during the breeding season, we all need to be vigilant if in doubt report it !
Excellent work by the police.Am sure someone will know who he is and if he was only ” walking the dog ” he will come foreward.I would also love to know what he has in his left hand jacket pocket, may be his wallet ?
Will he make himself known, is it his wallet and will someone I.D. him ? I doubt it but if am wrong I will donate £20 to Wild Justice.
I note too in the second picture a metal plate has been bolted into the side of the quarry wall (bottom right). A fixed metal plate in the quarry wall. To allow climbing access to the nest ledge.
Not so sure you have got that right (I did notice that plate first time I saw the pic). Bolts for climbing are a bit different.
I was thinking that the bolt is probably quite long and the plate is being used to support part of the rock face that could well be unstable.
Sorry but does anyone know if this person has been ID yet and xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx