Simply shocking!!

Tuesday 11th July 2023.

Hi guys. I know quite a few people are reading my blog, not just here in the UK but also all over the world (honestly!). I contribute to Birdguides who provide me with up-to-date coverage on what is being seen in the UK and also a good monthly magazine which I in turn, give to me elderly father to read. I also read the email sent to me on topics covered and it disturbs me that in a so-called civilised society, the persecution of raptors is still going on at an alarming rate.

As a Naturalist, Birder or simply lover of all things Nature; I for one enjoy watching and marvelling at any type of raptor when out Birding, but when you hear of the shocking discoveries by members of the public, RSPB and other organisatons, it beggars belief on some of the mindset and mentality of a few individuals on destroying something so beautiful. On top of that, it angers me immensely the penalties dished out by Judges and the inadequate Judicial System to these criminals. OK, probably in their eyes, the individual never hurt a human, therefore, just therefore give a pathetic bit of Community Service and a petty fine and I am sure  they will have learnt their lesson and will not do it again. Will we ever seriously get real justice for these crimes? Sorry to be pessimistic, probably not in my lifetime.

Yes, the jails are well overcrowded and it costs the taxpayer a lot of money to put criminals behind bars. Well, if we cannot jail the criminals, make them pay an enormous fine and confiscate all they have then name and shame them to the media. However, we live in this horrible ‘woke’ society and goodness knows what the pathetic few would think of this. I am so glad that everyone is getting on the back of the Water Companies and exposing the disgusting working behavior they have caused. I only wish the public would jump on the bandwagon in exposing what is happening on these Grouse Moors. 

These are just some of the horrific crimes that have been reported by Birdguides recently: 

Barn Owl killing.

Following an investigation by North Yorkshire Police, Leslie Shooter was charged with using an animal trap in circumstances for which it is not approved, causing a trap to be set to cause injury to a wild bird and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. After pleading guilty at Scarborough Magistrates Court on 29 June 2023, Shooter was sentenced to a community order with 100 hours unpaid work requirement, as well as £199 of costs and surcharges. A worthy comment made by one reader of this incident ‘As ever. The sentence is pathetically inadequate. Is the problem with sentencing the guidelines or the fact that magistrates / judges come from a stratum of society that retains a feudal mindset and sees wildlife as disposable vermin to be killed at will?

Northern Goshawks killing.

A Gamekeeper has been given a 12-week suspended prison term after pleading guilty to 19 offenses in relation to the death of five Northern Goshawks in Suffolk. Francie Addison. 72, of Weeting, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, SUSPENDED for 12 months, after pleading guilty to the offenses, including numerous breaches of firearms license conditions, at Norfolk Magistrates Court on Thursday 29 June.

Chief Magistrate, Mary Wyndham, said the offences were dealt with in their ‘totality’ and that they were so ‘serious’ this  justified a custodial sentence. However due to Addison’s age and health, this was suspended!!!!! She said that the license condition breaches posed serious potential harm to others and members of the public. He was ordered to pay a paltry £1,080 compensation costs of the examinations of the Goshawks, court costs of £105 and a surcharge of £154. His firearms, ammunition and traps are aslos to be forfeited. WHAT A JOKE!!!!   

Red Kite killing.

A Red Kite was found near raptor persecution hot-spot in County Durham and has been confirmed as having been both shot and poisoned. The bird was discovered hanging in a tree near Stanhope Burn by a member of the public in October 2022. Its body was x-rayed and found to contain pieces of shot and when it was sent for official toxicology examination, the body was found to contain the highly toxic pesticides carbofuran and bendiocarb, which was confirmed by testing to the cause of death. Yet, I am sure the Police know exactly who the culprits are, but yet again, NOTHING WILL BE DONE!

I know it's not what I normally write about on my blog, but as written earlier, a lot of people read my blog and not only birders either. I got some nasty emails once because I was set totally against Wildfowlers and the Government's Badger Cull; but those Gutless Wonders would not meet me face to face to have their argument.

On a lighter note, dear readers, our celebrity Little Egret was by Canoe Lake this morning, totally oblivious of passers by, in search of prey by the edge of the Lake. It has become a hit on Social Media now. I just only hope it is given some respect by all that visit that part of Southsea.