I hope by now that blog readers are aware of Defra’s Call for Evidence on gamebird rearing, releasing and shooting. The Call for Evidence was launched in September 2026, and closes on 1st Nov…

A new court date has been set for Raeshaw Estate’s judicial review of its latest General Licence restriction. In February this year, NatureScot imposed a three-year General Licence restrictio…

Derbyshire Constabulary has issued an appeal for information (27 September 2026) following the discovery of a shot Red Kite in the Peak District National Park on or before 7th July 2026. RURAL CRIM…

Further to reports of this year’s Hen Harrier breeding success on RSPB-managed moorland in Bowland, Lancashire (here) and on Geltsdale, Cumbria (here), there’s now confirmation of furth…

Following North Yorkshire Police’s appeal for information about the recent discovery of a Marsh Harrier with gunshot injuries found in the Westerdale area of the North York Moors National Par…

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 12260171320

Press release from North Yorkshire Police (21 September 2026): Marsh Harrier found shot in North York Moors On 28 August 2026 a juvenile Marsh Harrier was found in the Westerdale area suffering fro…

Earlier this month, researcher, writer and campaigner Guy Shrubsole blogged about his latest examination of reported Pheasants numbers in England. Pheasant (photo by Ronnie Gilbert) As he’s d…

Press release from RSPB, 18 September 2026: CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM AS RECORD YEAR FOR HEN HARRIER CHICKS AT RSPB GELTSDALE Thirteen Hen Harrier chicks have successfully fledged at RSPB Geltsdale in Cumb…

Appeal for information issued by Police Scotland, 15 September 2026: APPEAL AFTER RED KITE CAUGHT IN ILLEGAL TRAP – STRATHDON, ABERDEENSHIRE Officers are appealing for information after a bir…

Press release from Wildlife Poisoning Research UK (WPRUK), 7 September 2026: THE KILLING MUST STOP! SENEDD ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ASKED TO RESTRICT EAGLE-KILLING POISONS Following on from the public…

Last month the RSPB announced the successful fledging of six red-listed Montagu’s Harrier chicks from two nests at a secret location in England (see here). The UK’s rarest breeding bird…

Last month, NatureScot imposed a three-year General Licence restriction on part of Invermark Estate in the Angus Glens, in relation to the discovery of a shot Peregrine that was found on 3 Septembe…

Former Tayside Police Wildlife Crime Officer Alan Stewart’s book, co-authored by Lindsey Hamilton, has now been published. Prelude to Murder: Revenge Killing on a Highland Estate focuses on t…

Further to yesterday’s blog, Defra’s Call for Evidence on all aspects of gamebird rearing, releasing and shooting is now open, and will close at 23.59hrs on 1st November 2026. The Call …

Good news! Further to Wednesday’s blog about an imminent call for evidence by Defra about the welfare aspects of gamebird breeding, and confusion about whether this would also include gamebir…

Campaigners say pheasants and partridges reared ‘on industrial scale’ do not have same protections as chickens The government is considering a crackdown on pheasant shooting in England as part of a consultation on strict new animal welfare laws that would affect shoot organisers. Ministers are already considering plans for the issuing of licences for those who run game bird shoots. The proposals mean anybody associated with wildlife crime, such as the poisoning or shooting of birds of prey, would be banned from hosting shooting events. Continue reading...

The UK Government is poised to open a public consultation on the welfare implications of the mass breeding of gamebirds, according to an article published by The Guardian this afternoon (see here).…

Today is the official opening day of the Red-legged Partridge (RLP) shooting season in England, Scotland and Wales. An estimated 10 million RLPs are released into the countryside every year, for sh…

Press release from Police Scotland (31 August 2026) APPEAL AFTER BIRD OF PREY POISONED IN ABERDEENSHIRE Officers are appealing for information after a bird of prey was poisoned in Aberdeenshire. On…

NatureScot is currently running one of its periodic public consultations reviewing the use of General Licences for wildlife management. As discussed earlier this week, RSPB Scotland considers the c…

El Servicio de Protección de la Naturaleza (SEPRONA) de la Guardia Civil y los Agentes Medioambientales de Castilla-La Mancha realizaron una investigación conjunta tras localizarse los restos del anim...

Earlier this month, NatureScot announced it was imposing a three-year General Licence restriction on Invermark Estate in the Angus Glens, relating to the discovery of a Peregrine with shotgun injur…

NatureScot is currently running one of its periodic public consultations on the use of General Licences for wildlife management. In response, RSPB Scotland has today issued the following statement:…

The Guardian ran an article at the weekend about Defra’s previously stated commitment to consider gamebird shoot licensing in England (for Red Grouse, Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges), fo…

Press release from RSPB (24 August 2026) THE UK’S RAREST BREEDING BIRD RAISES CHICKS AT SECRET LOCATION FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING The UK’s rarest breeding bird of prey, the Montagu&#8…