RaptorPersecutionUK

Two Hen Harriers vanish from RSPB’s Geltsdale Reserve, suspected illegally killed on surrounding grouse moors

Press release from RSPB (20 May 2025)

Vanishing Hen Harriers Point To Yet More Illegal Killing

Two male Hen Harriers have suddenly disappeared from the RSPB Geltsdale Nature Reserve in Cumbria. It is strongly suspected these birds have been killed illegally.
RSPB says it is ‘sickened by the losses’, as both birds were in attendance at their nests until vanishing.
Fears over losses prompt renewed calls for tougher regulation of grouse shooting industry.

Two rare male Hen Harriers have suddenly disappeared from their nest sites at Geltsdale in Northern England within a few days of each other. This comes on the back of another Geltsdale male Hen Harrier being found shot dead on neighbouring land in spring 2023.

Hen Harriers are a rare, protected species, known for their acrobatic ‘skydancing’ courtship display over the uplands. The Hen Harrier is categorised as a red-listed species in the UK, due to its low breeding population levels, following historic declines.

Despite being legally protected, multiple studies and reports confirm that illegal killing is the main factor limiting the recovery of Hen Harrier in the UK, causing a reduction in nesting success, annual productivity, and survival of breeding females. A recent study which investigated the illegal killing of Hen Harriers in association with gamebird management (Ewing, et al., 2023) has shown that the survival rates of Hen Harriers in the UK is “unusually low” with birds surviving for just 121 days after fledging, and bird persecution accounting for 27-41% of deaths of Hen Harriers aged under one year and 75% of deaths in birds aged between one and two years. It also highlighted a strong overlap between Hen Harrier mortality and the extent of grouse moors.

Although this pattern of male birds disappearing from breeding sites has been seen before, the RSPB is particularly concerned and upset by these males going missing within a matter of days of each other. Observations show that the males haven’t returned to their nests since going missing and the RSPB local team is now providing food to the female at one of the nests in a desperate attempt to save the chicks. Male Hen Harriers hunt for prey several miles away from their nest sites and it is this activity which causes conflict with those who might wish to kill them in order to protect their grouse stocks used for commercial shooting.

RSPB Geltsdale is surrounded by grouse moors and male birds from Geltsdale have gone missing time and time again, most recently when a male was found shot dead on a neighbouring grouse moor in 2023 when the Police unable to prove who had killed it [Ed: Hen Harrier ‘Dagda’ found shot on the Knarsdale Estate, here. Other Geltsdale HHs that have ‘disappeared’ in recent years whilst away from the reserve hunting include males in 2020, 2021 and 2023, here].

Beccy Speight, RSPB Chief Executive, said – “Although sadly we are used to crimes against Hen Harriers, it is truly sickening to lose these particular birds from Geltsdale in such a short space of time and with them our hopes of a successful breeding season. The last five years have seen a high count of crimes against Hen Harriers with 102 suspected or confirmed incidents, the majority happening on or close to grouse moors. If these magnificent birds are ever going to have a sustainable population in England, this killing has to stop. We need the immediate introduction of a licencing system for grouse shooting, so estates proven by the Police and Natural England to be linked to raptor persecution would simply lose their licence to operate.”

The disappearances have been reported to the Police. The RSPB is currently campaigning for England to follow Scotland’s lead and licence grouse shooting. The wildlife charity says that any grouse shoot which breaks wildlife protection laws to the satisfaction of the Police and Natural England should risk closure for a defined period to provide a meaningful deterrent to such activities. With such a system, responsible shoots would have nothing to fear, while those who commit crimes can be held to account.

This week RSPB is asking the public to contact their MP and ask for action to be taken to protect our precious uplands, and to make crime against birds of prey a thing of the past.

Find out more here: Email your MP – Call time on moor crime | RSPB

If you notice a dead or injured bird of prey in suspicious circumstances, call the police on 101 and fill in the RSPB’s online reporting form: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wild-bird-crime-report-form/

If you have information about anyone killing birds of prey which you wish to report anonymously, call the RSPB’s confidential Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.

ENDS

Police appeal for info about suspected shooting of buzzard in North York Moors National Park

Appeal for information from North Yorkshire Police on Facebook (12 May 2025):

Did you see anything suspicious?

Our Rural Task Force is appealing for information following the suspected shooting of a buzzard in the North York Moors National Park.

The Buzzard is thought to have been killed near to, Beck Hole Road, Goathland on Friday 2 May, and we are appealing for anyone who may have seen any suspicious people or vehicles in the area to please come forward.

Buzzards and all other birds of prey are legally protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. To intentionally kill or injure one is a criminal offence which could result in an unlimited fine or up to six months in jail.

If you have any information that could help please email Chris.Unsworth@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Chris Unsworth.

If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 via their website.

Please quote NYP reference 12250082575 when passing on information.

ENDS

Goathland is probably best known to many as the filming location of the TV series ‘Heartbeat’. To me it’s known as one of a number of raptor persecution hotspots in the grouse moor-dominated North York Moors National Park.

Goathland is almost surrounded by intensively-managed driven grouse moors and in 2020 video footage emerged purporting to show a gamekeeper killing a Goshawk that had been trapped inside a Jackdaw-baited trap on one of the Queen’s grouse moors, part of the Duchy of Lancaster (see here and here).

Channel 4 News did a very good follow-up piece here.

A couple of years earlier, a group of local residents from Goathland got together and called a series of public meetings to discuss their concerns about the environmental damage caused by driven grouse moor management in their area, and particularly their concerns about ‘disappearing’ wildlife, notably satellite-tagged Hen Harriers. The North York Moors National Park has been identified in an excellent scientific paper based on Hen Harrier satellite tag data as the place with the highest risk of HH death/persecution in any of our National Parks – it’s no coincidence that the NYMNP also holds the largest expanse of grouse moors within its boundary.

Notes from the Goathland community meetings of disgruntled residents can be read here, here and here.

If you look at the map showing the distribution of signatures on Wild Justice’s recent Ban Driven Grouse Shooting petition, it’s worth noting the high number of signatures in this area. I hope they’ll be making their voices heard again if/when the Government’s petitions committee announces the date for a debate in Westminster Hall.

The latest appeal from North Yorkshire Police about the suspected shooting of a buzzard near Goathland is a bit vague. It’s not clear if the appeal is a result of a witness report of someone seen shooting a Buzzard or whether a corpse has been found and is awaiting post mortem.

The police appeal says, ‘The Buzzard is thought to have been killed near to, Beck Hole Road, Goathland on Friday 2 May…‘.

Here is an annotated map from Guy Shrubsole’s brilliant website Who Owns England, showing the extent of the Duchy of Lancaster grouse moors (purple) around Goathland. I’ve added the approximate location (in red) of the Beck Hole Road.

UPDATE 22 May 2025: Incident update – Buzzard found dead near Goathland in North York Moors National Park ‘was shot’ (here).

Wild Justice Forensics Fund supports 68 police investigations into suspected raptor persecution

Conservation campaign group Wild Justice has provided an update on how its Raptor Forensics Fund has helped UK police forces investigate suspected crimes against birds of prey.

The fund was established in 2020 to cover the costs of early-stage investigations where there is a suspicion of a crime but insufficient evidence to meet the criteria required to submit a carcass for tests in a Government-funded lab.

Police officers have immediate access to the fund to prevent any delay in progressing a case and typically it covers costs such as x-rays and post-mortems. If a crime is then confirmed, officers can apply for further funds to cover costs such as DNA work or other specialist work. If a case results in a conviction, an application is made to the court to recover the costs and these are returned to the forensic fund.

The fund is administered by the PAW Forensic Working Group (a sub-group of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime) and is open to any regional or national statutory agency in the UK. For further details please visit the PAW Forensic Working Group website here.

Additional funding support has been provided by The Northern England Raptor Forum, Tayside & Fife Raptor Study Group, Devon Birds, Rare Bird Alert and a number of individuals who wish to remain anonymous.

Since being established in 2020, the fund has supported 68 police investigations and has been used to pay for 43 post mortems, 29 x-rays, one CT scan and two DNA profilings.

Some of those 68 investigations have now ended, either because, for example, there wasn’t any evidence of criminality, or there was some evidence but it was insufficient to meet the criminal threshold, or because no suspects were identified, or because the carcass tested positive for avian influenza which prevented any further analysis. Some investigations are on-going.

Eight investigations have so far resulted in prosecutions and subsequent convictions. Seven of the eight convictions involved gamekeepers on Pheasant shoots. You can read the details here.

87-year-old man pleads not guilty to 11 charges relating to alleged raptor persecution in Lincolnshire – case now goes to trial

Brian Chorlton, aged 87, of Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court yesterday (8 May 2025) to answer 11 charges relating to the unapproved or unlawful storage of the chemical Aldicarb, possession of a poisoners kit, and possession and use of four pole traps.

These charges are a result of a police investigation in to reports that birds of prey were being poisoned in the Castle Bytham area.

Mr Chorlton pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges and this case will now proceed to trial, scheduled for October 2025.

NB: Comments are turned off as this case is live.

UPDATE 26 September 2025: Trial of 87-year-old man accused of 11 offences relating to raptor persecution is put on hold as defence applies for Judicial Review of judge’s ruling (here)

Peregrines lay second clutch of eggs at St Albans Cathedral as police continue investigation into destruction of first clutch

Following on from Monday’s news that Hertfordshire Police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit are continuing to investigate what looked to be the deliberate trampling of Peregrine eggs at St Albans Cathedral on 7th April 2025 (see here), the good news is that the Peregrines have re-laid and are now incubating their second clutch of eggs.

Screengrab from the livestream nest camera this morning showing the female Peregrine incubating three eggs

St Albans Cathedral published a statement earlier this week to say the peregrines had re-laid two eggs (egg 1 on 4th May, egg 2 on 7th May) and this morning there are now three eggs.

The statement also confirms that security has been reviewed and updated at the Cathedral with new protective measures in place to prevent a repeat of the incident on 7th April.

The livestream camera has also been reactivated.

The statement and the link to the nest camera can be found here.

“Why should wildlife lose to businesses underpinned by criminal activity?” – Mark Carwardine on driven grouse shooting, BBC Wildlife Magazine

Kudos to zoologist, author, photographer and broadcaster Mark Carwardine for having the courage to take on driven grouse shooting in his latest opinion piece for BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Too few of the ‘big names’ in wildlife/nature conservation are prepared to stand up and speak out on this issue (with a handful of exceptions).

Mark can be forgiven for repeating the myth that ‘the UK has 75% of the world’s heather moorland’ (for a forensic debunking, read this excellent blog by Professor Steve Carver) because it doesn’t detract from the rest of his clear-eyed view on why driven grouse shooting should be banned.

Police Air Support Unit joins in fight against illegal targeting of Peregrines in Northern Ireland

Press release from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), 2nd May 2025:

POLICE AIR SUPPORT UNIT JOINS IN FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL TARGETING OF PEREGRINE FALCONS

‘Operation Raptor – Peregrine Watch’, an initiative by Police Service of Northern Ireland along with our partners in the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Bird of Prey Sub Group, seeks to bring an end to the illegal persecution of birds of prey, will now have ‘eyes in the sky’ as the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Air Support Unit lends its expertise and cutting edge technology to the cause.

A special licence granted by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), and specific permissions obtained with the assistance of the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group (NIRSG), has enabled police to deploy hi-tech drones to carry out checks of various sites around Northern Ireland where Peregrine Falcons are known to nest, breed and live.

Peregrine falcons in Northern Ireland are a protected species under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (NI) Act 2011, which safeguards all birds of prey from persecution and disturbance. The penalties for crimes under the Order include, but are not limited to, a fine of up to £5,000 per offence and up to six months imprisonment.

The police drones will be used to view and assess falcon nesting and breeding areas that may otherwise be inaccessible and will allow the various agencies involved in PAW to keep a close check on nests, particularly in ‘at risk’ areas, in the hope of reducing instances of illegal poisoning, shooting, trapping and taking of peregrine falcons and their eggs.

Operation Raptor was promoted at the recent NI Raptor Study Group conference.
L-R: Dr Marc Ruddock (NI Raptor Study Group), Margaret Mee (White-tailed Eagle Project), Dr Ruth Tingay (Raptor Persecution UK), Chief Inspector Tim Flanigan (PSNI), Emma Meredith (PSNI Wildlife & Animal Welfare Officer)

Speaking about Op Raptor – Peregrine Watch, Police Service lead for Rural and Wildlife Crime Superintendent Johnston McDowell said:

“This initiative between the PAW Bird of Prey Sub Group and our Air Support Unit, working alongside local officers, is a direct result of birds being targeted with very serious and dangerous substances in a number of areas across Northern Ireland.

“Many of the poisons identified in previous cases are deadly not only to our precious wildlife but also to humans, and so the potential impact could go beyond the persecution and destruction of our beautiful native birds of prey.”

The initiative also encourages people to report any suspicions around birds being targeted. Police work closely with our colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive who are responsible for Biocides, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development who are responsible for Rodenticides, to identify poisons being used and take steps to identify and prosecute offenders.

Superintendent McDowell concluded: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland is committed to working with partner agencies to tackle wildlife crime through prevention and education, as well as enforcement, and will continue to work hard to combat wildlife crime.”

Wildlife crime can be reported to police via 101, or online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or confidentially through crimes stoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

ENDS

‘Investigation still ongoing’ into person seen trampling peregrine eggs at St Albans Cathedral

Almost a month ago (7 April 2025) a person was seen to be deliberately walking over three peregrine eggs in a nest tray on the roof of St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire, crushing the eggs. The incident was caught on the Cathedral’s livestream nest camera and the following day Hertfordshire Police said a man was ‘helping with enquiries’ (see here).

In an article posted online last week (28 April) by the St Albans Times,

‘Herts police are working with partners at St Albans Cathedral and the National Wildlife Crime Unit to look into the incident, and officers from the Rural Operational Support Team spoke to a man to assist with their enquiries, but nobody has been charged at this time.

A spokesperson for Herts Constabulary would only confirm today that the investigation is still ongoing‘.

UPDATE 9th May 2025: Peregrines lay second clutch of eggs at St Albans Cathedral as police continue investigation into destruction of first clutch (here)

News coverage about first court appearance of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall in relation to alleged conspiracy to shoot a hen harrier

Two major news broadcasters covered the first court appearance of 34-year-old gamekeeper Racster Dingwall on Friday, who pleaded not guilty at Skipton Magistrates’ Court to two charges relating to an alleged conspiracy to shoot and kill a hen harrier on a grouse moor last October on the Conistone & Grassington Estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (see here).

Attending court was a team from Channel 4 News, who had first broadcast the RSPB’s covert footage and audio last autumn that is now at the centre of this case.

Channel 4 News filmed the accused as he left the court on Friday with his solicitor, Tim Ryan, and this was shown in a short segment on Channel 4 News at 7pm although the programme is no longer available.

Gamekeeper Racster Dingwall leaving court with his solicitor (Channel 4 News)

A journalist from the BBC also attended court and produced an article that was published on the BBC News website:

The BBC News article set out the two charges to which the defendant has pleaded not guilty: possessing a shotgun for the purpose of killing a Schedule 1 bird, and encouraging and assisting the killing of a Schedule 1 bird.

The article goes on to say: ‘The RSPB said the prosecution is the first involving any bird with Schedule 1 status in England‘.

I don’t think this statement is accurate and is perhaps a misunderstanding on the part of the journalist.

There have certainly been other prosecutions ‘involving a bird with Schedule 1 status in England’ (e.g. Goshawks, Peregrines, Red Kites) but as far as I’m aware these have all been related to offences under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. I think this latest case is the first relating to an alleged offence against a Schedule 1 bird under the Serious Crime Act where it concerns the alleged ‘encouragement or assistance’ of crime.

The case will continue with a pre-trial hearing on 9 September 2025.

NB: Comments are closed until criminal proceedings have concluded.

Police Scotland appeal for information after two Red Kites found poisoned in Castle Douglas

Press release from Police Scotland (2 May 2025)

APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER TWO BIRDS OF PREY POISONED IN CASTLE DOUGLAS, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

Officers are appealing for information after two birds of prey were poisoned in Castle Douglas.

On Thursday, 10, April 2025, a member of the public found a dead red kite and wood pigeon on Castle Douglas Golf Course.

Following enquiries, it was established that the red kite had been poisoned, and the wood pigeon was used as poisoned bait.

On Tuesday, 15 April, a second dead red kite was found nearby. The two birds have ingested the same type of highly toxic poison, resulting in their death.

National Wildlife Crime Coordinator Detective Sergeant David Lynn said: “Red kites are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and it is illegal to kill this protected species.

“Poisoning a bird or animal is not only cruel and callous, but it can harm other wildlife as well as members of the public. The use of this poison in a public area is extremely dangerous and poses a significant risk to anyone who comes into contact with it.

“Our enquiries are ongoing, and we are working with our partner agencies to establish the full circumstances of this incident. We would urge the public not to handle any dead animals they may find in this area of Castle Douglas, and if there are suspicious circumstances, I would ask you to report this to police.

“I would appeal to anyone with any information about the poisoning of these birds to contact us.”

If you saw anything suspicious or have any information about poisoning in the area, please contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 0785 of 10 April.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

ENDS

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