Sad day - No signal from Sid

Sid was the name given to a young male Hen Harrier that was tagged on the 3rd July 2014 and fledged his nest on Langholm moor a few days later.

 

 

Sid's last journey

 

 

After the last blog post, when Sid's tag showed his journey south to near Hawes, North Yorkshire, a comment was left on our facebook page about fear for the safety of the harriers once they left the boundaries of the Langholm Moor. A fear I shared, if only they could stay within the confines of the moor where so many pairs of eyes are watching over them. Hattie and Grainne, two female harriers that fledged (and were tagged) in 2013, who both stayed all last winter and bred here at Langholm this year, are the exception.

 

 The journeys the young harriers take is an exciting aspect of their lives for us to follow but also the most dangerous for them. The natural risks faced by the young harriers, in their first winter particularly, are high, not to mention the added risks created by humans.

 

The last map I shared on this blog of Sid's movements was his last. Sid's tag has ceased to signal. The police have been informed and the area of the last known signal has been searched. The area of the last signal is mainly white-moor (Molinia grass), there are areas managed for grouse to the North and East. The area has been searched but no signs of Sid or his tag were found. There were signs of foxes in the area (sighting of foxes, scats etc) so there is potential that Sid was predated as he roosted but no direct evidence for that. Sadly I don't have a great deal more information to share, if  I do I'll post it here.

 

 Annie, Hattie and Grainne are all transmitting as normal.



Hattie, Grainne, Annie 2nd October