2026 was another successful breeding season for Hen Harriers on the United Utilities Bowland Estate where the RSPB works in partnership with the water company United Utilities and its tenants to monitor and protect these iconic birds.
Nine Hen Harrier nests on the United Utilities Estate were monitored this year, eight of which were successful and fledged 30 young.
This follows a record year in 2025, where RSPB staff and volunteers recorded 14 Hen Harrier nests on the United Utilities Estate, of which 12 were successful and fledged 40 young. This represented the highest number of fledglings recorded in over 40 years.
But don’t be fooled into thinking that just because Hen Harriers are doing well on United Utilities land they’re doing well right across Bowland, because they’re not. We haven’t yet seen this year’s overall Hen Harrier breeding figures across England but last year there was only one successful Hen Harrier nest on privately-owned grouse moors in Bowland. Two blogs from Mark Avery are relevant (one from 2019 and one from 2026).
Here is the statement from the RSPB on this year’s Hen Harrier breeding success on United Utilities-owned moorland in Bowland:
SUSTAINED SUCCESS FOR HEN HARRIERS IN THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Over the last decade, Hen Harrier numbers have steadily recovered in Bowland following their complete absence as a breeding species in 2016 and 2017. For the past six years, the population has stabilised at an average of 13 breeding females, fluctuating between 10 and 16 annually, with 84% nesting on the United Utilities Estate. This is comparable to the number of breeding females recorded in Bowland in the 2000s, before the population collapsed alongside the wider decline of the species in England.
Steady recovery in Bowland
2026 was another successful breeding season for Hen Harriers in Bowland; breeding numbers were lower compared to the record-breaking season in 2025 but breeding success was higher, likely owing to increased prey abundance. RSPB staff and volunteers monitored nine Hen Harrier nests on the United Utilities Estate, eight of which were successful and fledged 30 young. One nest failed as the female received insufficient food from her polygamous male and was forced to hunt herself, leaving her clutch unattended. A Lesser Black-Backed Gull was later observed visiting the nest, but it remains unclear if it scavenged the eggs after the female deserted or if it took advantage of her absence to predate the clutch. Two additional nests were recorded by Natural England on private estates, which were both successful and fledged a further six chicks, resulting in a total of 11 nests in the Bowland Fells.
Recovery reflects success of partnership
A melancholic note in an otherwise successful season – our oldest and most productive breeding female did not return to nest on the United Utilities Estate this year and has most likely perished over the winter. Fledged on Langholm Moor in 2017 and aptly nick-named ‘Scottish Fury’ for her aggressive behaviour, she first nested on the Estate in 2018. Over the following eight breeding seasons she fledged an extraordinary 35 chicks, making a remarkable contribution to the breeding population and leaving a lasting legacy, with some of her descendants also nesting in Bowland.
The sustained recovery of Hen Harriers in Bowland reflects the success of partnership working and the commitment of landowners and tenants. However, despite this local success, the species’ recovery across England continues to face significant challenges, including illegal persecution, changes in land use and habitat loss.
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
That is more young than in my day there although fewer breeding females. !5 nests on United Utilities in 1991 reared only 10 young. However there were eight known nests on the private estates also reared 10 young, these were spread over what was then 5 estates with young only reared from 4 nests on two estates with the others all failing, certainly two on one estate bore all the hallmarks of human interference with 4 chicks killed in one nest and adults at the other disappearing. Lets be blunt here without RSPB and United Utilities working together on the UU estate there would be no harriers nesting in Bowland, although 40 years ago there were only two of the private estates that excluded RSPB access. It should also be born in mind that UU land comprises less than 50% of the suitable nesting habitat in Bowland for harriers so this is clearly showing what happens on most private estates with just two successful nests on those private estates in 2026, in some places nothing changes despite the law. Nearly 50 years ago when RSPB were first involved there were nearly 40 breeding females there and frankly without persecution in a good year there still should be.
I can’t wait to see the messages of congratulation from the Moorland Association, the BASC, the Countryside Alliance, the NGO and the GWCT!
I think you may be waiting fruitlessly.