Why in the god damned world? Just why? I hope they find who did it and they get a jail sentence. Appalling abuse.

Sickening behaviour. I hope they are found out

A tiny but non-trivial proportion of people persist in killing OUR birds despite a prohibition introduced in 1954. The idea that this is a hangover from before the ban is nonsense.This is prejudice passed down through 3 generations of gamekeepers. It’s time they were held to account.

Buzzard dies after being tied to a tree root in Powys – RSPCA appeals for information The RSPCA is appealing for information after the discovery of a dead Buzzard that had been tied, when alive, to the root of a tree. A member of the public found the dead Buzzard on the afternoon of…

Buzzard dies after being tied to a tree root in Powys, Wales - RSPCA appeals for information.

Details ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #birdingwales

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/22/b...

Hunting with hounds: Government consultation on strengthening hunting laws and a rally in London Many of you will be aware of the Westminster Government’s recently published Animal Welfare Strategy in which it committed, amongst other things, to opening a public consultation on how to ba…

Hunting with hounds: Government consultation on strengthening hunting laws and a rally in London.

Details ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/22/h...

Trial underway for man accused of dumping 50 dead hares & two raptors outside Broughton village shop in Hampshire A trial is underway at Southampton Magistrates’ Court this week for a man who is accused of several offences relating to the dumping of 50 hares and two raptors (a Barn Owl and a Kestrel) out…

Trial underway for man accused of dumping 50 dead hares & two raptors outside Broughton village shop in Hampshire in March 2024.

NB: Comments are turned off as legal proceedings are live ⚖️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/21/t...

“The direction of travel is not just slow – it’s backwards” – commentary on Scottish Government’s land reform policy by REVIVE coalition’s campaign manager The following opinion piece was published in The Herald yesterday, written by Max Wiszniewski, Campaign Manager for REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform. In the public reception hall of the…

"The direction of travel is not just slow - it's backwards".

Op Ed on Scottish land reform in yesterday's Herald, written by Max Wiszniewski, Campaign Manager for @revivecoalition.bsky.social the coalition for grouse moor reform.

New blog ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/20/t...

No prosecution after man crushed Peregrine eggs at St Albans Cathedral No charges are to be brought against the individual seen trampling a clutch of Peregrine eggs on the roof of St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire last year, according to Hertfordshire Police and th…

No prosecution after man crushed Peregrine eggs at St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire last year.

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/19/n...

London Rally with Chris Packham
Saturday 9 May | 3:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Tickets > https://leagueacs.co.uk/0rvlT

As far as I’m aware, an individual was interviewed but not subsequently charged. I don’t have any knowledge of the decision-making process.

£1 Million government funding to explore re-establishment of Golden Eagles in England The UK Government has announced funding of £1 Million to explore the feasibility of re-establishing Golden Eagles in England. Golden Eagle (photo by Pete Walkden) Here is the Government’s pre…

£1 Million Government funding to explore re-establishment of Golden Eagles in England.

Govt press release and my commentary ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #Ornithology #BirdingLinks #BirdingEngland

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/12/1...

Still waiting, 19 months on, for Natural England's review of Hen Harrier Brood Meddling trial.

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #BirdlingLinks #Ornithology

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/09/s...

Disgraceful!

‘Guardians of the countryside’, my arse.

General & hazardous waste, including bags of suspected shot gamebirds, found dumped in a pit on an estate in Scotland Last month I blogged about the discovery of a large pit containing dead Pheasants, Red-legged Partridges, Wood Pigeons, deer parts, and a lot of rubbish, including a burnt mattress, on the Glenbanc…

General & hazardous waste, including bags of suspected shot gamebirds, found dumped in a pit on a sporting estate in Scotland.

Details ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/08/g...

Raeshaw Estate loses appeal against 3-yr General Licence restriction in relation to Golden Eagle Merrick being ‘shot and killed’ Good news! Raeshaw Estate, in the Scottish Borders, has lost its appeal against its latest three-year General Licence restriction. The restriction was imposed by NatureScot on 10 February 2026 in r…

Good news! Raeshaw Estate in the Scottish Borders loses appeal against 3-yr General Licence restriction in relation to Golden Eagle 'Merrick' being shot & killed.

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #Wildlifecrime #BirdingLinks 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/07/r...

The campaign group fighting to save Yorkshire’s birds of prey Campaign group, Friends of the Dales, is fighting to save Yorkshire’s birds of prey from persecution

Thank you to #YorkshireLifeMagazine for a great overview of our campaign and some key points about #BirdsofPrey and how to spot signs of persecution 👊
Please note #RuthTingay talk is now 20 May - book for this at: friendsofthedales.org.uk/events
www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/yo...

Help Stop the Criminal Killing of Birds of Prey Despite more than 70 years of full legal protection, raptor persecution remains a serious and persistent wildlife crime. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the UK’s worst-affected areas, with 152 confirmed...

The hen harrier - one of the most persecuted birds of prey in the UK - especially in the #YorkshireDales
The average lifespan of a hen harrier in UK is 121 days - whereas worldwide it is 7 years.
Sign our petition for 3 key law reforms to protect #birdsofprey
actionnetwork.org/petitions/he...

OPERATION EASTER: 29 years of protecting the UK’s rarest birds Press release from the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) Operation EASTER, the UK’s long‑running national effort to protect nesting birds from illegal egg collectors, returns for its 29th year as…

OPERATION EASTER: 29 years of protecting the UK's rarest birds.

Press release from National Wildlife Crime Unit ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/04/05/o...

Good to see an able politician with a record of standing up for #nature & acting as @naturechampions.bsky.social (see greens.scot/news/poisoni...) among candidates in next month’s election.
#politics #Scotland @raptorpersuk.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Welsh Government inches towards gamebird licensing, with another ‘evidence review’ Following the welcome news last week that Defra intends to explore options for the introduction of a licensing scheme for ALL gamebird shooting in England, including Red Grouse, as well as the annu…

Welsh Government inches towards gamebird licensing, with another 'evidence review'.

This is welcome news, but they really just need to get on with it. NRW recommended a licensing scheme 2.5 yrs ago!!

New blog ⬇️

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/30/w...

Government to consider licensing for all gamebird shooting & releases in England Somebody has finally switched the lights on at Defra. It’s been a very long time coming – too long in my opinion – but last week an announcement was made in the new Land Use Frame…

Government to consider licensing for all gamebird shooting & releases in England.

I don't think licensing is the answer but it's a good start. Now, about those 60 million non-native Pheasants & Red-legged Partridges released each year...

#RaptorResearch

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/27/g...

The government has finally opened its public consultation, which should close the loopholes that have let hunting with hounds continue despite being banned.

We’re urging everyone to take part: https://leagueacs.co.uk/2cFyW

Loophole closed in grouse shooting licences via Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026 Some good news! The giant loophole in Scotland’s grouse shooting licences has been closed, via an amendment in the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026. If you recall, grouse moor licensin…

Good news! Amended Scottish legislation provides for licence suspension/revocation where 'relevant offences' (wildlife crime & animal welfare) are committed outside the licensed area, if they're connected to grouse moor management.

#RaptorResearch

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/26/l...

The shooting bodies have decided that "a head in the sand" policy is the best response they can offer. Not good enough! More and more of the public are becoming aware of the abhorrent behaviour of gamekeepers.
@raptorpersuk.bsky.social

Game-shooting industry’s response to the recent conviction of Perthshire gamekeeper Russell Mason Further to last week’s news that Scottish gamekeeper and convicted sex offender Russell Mason had pleaded guilty to battering a trapped Goshawk to death on a shooting estate in Perthshire, in…

Game-shooting industry's response to the recent conviction of Perthshire gamekeeper Russell Mason ⚖️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/23/g...

Convicted Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason – more disturbing details about this case Further to yesterday’s news that Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason, 49, had pleaded guilty to battering a trapped Goshawk to death on a shooting estate in Perthshire (see here), the Daily Rec…

Convicted Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason - more disturbing details about this case.

Crikey! How on earth was he ever considered suitable to hold shotgun/firearms certificates?

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/18/c...

Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason pleads guilty to battering a Goshawk to death on shooting estate in Perthshire A Scottish gamekeeper has pleaded guilty to killing a Goshawk after he battered it to death after it was caught inside a Crow cage trap on a shooting estate in Perthshire. At Perth Sheriff Court th…

Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason pleads guilty to battering a Goshawk to death on a shooting estate in Perthshire ⚖️

Excellent partnership investigation & prosecution by Police Scotland, RSPB, SSPCA, & COPFS 👏

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/17/s...

Good news - High Court rules parts of Dartmoor have been mismanaged!

Overgrazing has been damaging protected sites on Dartmoor.

Read the Press Release about our latest legal challenge: wildjustice.org.uk?p=52680&prev...

Trial due to begin tomorrow for Scottish gamekeeper accused of killing a Goshawk on a Perthshire shooting estate A trial is due to begin tomorrow (Tuesday 17 March 2026) at Perth Sheriff Court for a Scottish gamekeeper accused of killing a Goshawk on a Perthshire shooting estate. The alleged incident took pla…

Trial due to begin tomorrow for a Scottish gamekeeper accused of killing a Goshawk on a Perthshire shooting estate.

NB: Comments turned off as criminal proceedings are live ⚖️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/16/t...