Sunday, 1 November 2009

Hen Harrier on the Edge

The Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) appears to be on the edge of extinction in England with only six breeding pairs being recorded in the last season (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/earth-environment/article6898173.ece). This seems to be partially down to a tough winter for these hunting birds, a relative scarcity of prey and direct (but illegal) persecution of the raptor by keepers of grouse moors. It seems rather sad that there is not room for this bird in our wild places. I have no picture of this bird, so a vulture with something dead is the best I can do.

No comments:

Birder's Bonus 241

Noted a Curlew ( Numenius arquata ) on the Loughor estuary at Bynea.