Vicarious liability for raptor persecutio​n in England

In Scotland, when a gamekeeper, or similar, is caught poisoning, snaring, or otherwise killing birds of prey it is not only the individual who is prosecuted. His or her employer is also prosecuted - known as "offence of vicarious liability". I understand that there have already been successful prosecutions. This will hopefully make the landowners think twice before actively encouraging the offences or turning a blind eye.

An epetition on the Governments epetition website has been started, to encourage a similar law in England. Please use the following link to add your name - it only takes a couple of minutes - and it might just save a few of these beautiful - and legally protected - birds.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089



Hen Harrier

I was lucky enough to see a Hen Harrier over Stockdale Moor, Westerdale, on the North York Moors, a few months ago. It is shocking to think that only four of these glorious birds managed to fledge in the whole of England in 2011. Why.......?

The above picture came from the Raptor Politics website - thanks.

More Snow

The sky dropped another four inches of snow (to add to the three inches or so still on the ground) on Thursday afternoon and evening, over Wykeham Forest. About half of that landed on the dogs and me during our evening walk.

Wykeham Forest - Elven Wood (SE948864)

Both the dogs love the snow and its great to see them running and jumping about in it, scrabbling and digging, and pouncing on imaginary creatures underneath the blanket of white. When out in the dark, Rafe leaps five foot to catch snowflakes in the torch beam.


Wykeham Forest - Rafe and Hal
at the north end of Bee Dale Top (SE943870)

Hal

Here are a few photo's taken over the last couple of days.



Wykeham Forest - Elven Wood
(SE945862)



Wykeham Forest - Rise Dikes from SE943868)

Wykeham Forest - The Big Flat Gorse Bush !!



Wykeham Forest - Rafe looks down into Bee Dale
(SE948867)

Wykeham Forest - Looking south into Bee Dale (SE948867)

Wykeham Forest
Wykeham Estate boundary stone
Bee Dale Top



Wykeham Forest - Wykeham Estate boundary stone, Bee Dale Top,
the west side of the stone, demarking the Forestry Commission land
Rafe and Hal



Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale, looking north from SE952866

Today the snow has that glassy look, as if its ready to slump back into its liquid form without too much of a fight. Its definitely milder today, but there's still quite a lot of snow about, so it'll take a while to disappear.


Wykeham Forest - The Vale of Pickering, south from Bluebell Wood (SE950863).
The Yorkshire Wolds in the misty distance

Snow

Yes - thinking of spring was seriouly premature.......



Wykeham Forest
Hal, as the snow really starts to fall
04/02/2012



Wykeham Forest
Rafe, as the snow really starts to fall
04/02/2012



The Big Gorse Bush - Wykeham Forest - 04/02/2012

North Moor, Wykeham Forest
Just before dawn, 05/02/2012 (SE949862)

Wykeham Forest - Elven Wood (SE945862)

Wykeham Forest - Rafe and Hal at Rise Dikes (SE943868)

Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale from SE944869

Wykeham Forest - Rafe and Hal, Bee Dale Top (SE943869)

Swaledales on East Moor (SE944862)

Wykeham Forest - Hal and Rafe
Bee Dale Top

Wykeham Forest
Bee Dale Top (SE943870)

Wykeham Forest - Middle Track (SE945866)



Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale Top (SE949867)



Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale from SE951866



Wykeham Forest
Rafe and Hal in Bluebell Wood (give it three months !)
SE951864

Views south from Bluebell Wood (SE951863)

Hutton Buscel across Bee Dale from SE961844