August 19th Cyan comes home

Just a quick update to let you know that Cyan (the young male harrier tagged at Langholm this July) has returned from Northumberland and spent the last few days back on Langholm Moor. Tagging at Langholm and elsewhere has shown us that young harriers can be very variable in their movements after fledging. Hattie and Grainne our 'resident' female harriers appear to be the exception so we are not expecting Cyan to hang around long.

The moor feels very quiet harrier-wise at the moment. This time last year vole numbers were very high so there was plenty of food about for the 47 fledged harriers and sightings were frequent throughout August and September. This year, however, both vole numbers and sightings of harriers  are right down. With food availability limited - it is likely most harriers have moved elsewhere. 

We'll keep an eye on Cyan and let you know where he goes next.

August 12th 2015

The Glorious or Inglorious 12th?

 Well the Grouse season has certainly started with a  bang this year and  I'm back from a couple of weeks of annual leave to hear the the awful news that a post-mortem has confirmed that Annie who went missing in March had been shot.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/405283-rspb-scotland-appeal-after-rare-raptor-shot-dead-in-southwest

Police Scotland have asked anyone with information to contact Police Scotland on 101.  Alternatively CRIMESTOPPERS can be contacted on 0800 555 111.

http://www.scotland.police.uk/whats-happening/news/2015/august/bird-of-prey-found-dead-clydesdale-south-lanarkshire



Annie 2014 - 2015

Concerns about Annie arose in mid March, her last transmission was received around the 19th of March. At that stage, as protocol dictates, the matter was handed over to the relevant authorities. 
Frustratingly even this post mortem evidence does not allow us to identify the person who shot her and bring them to justice. Will Annie be just another dead harrier?...

Sadly I don't have any more information, only anger and frustration that anyone would want to end the life of such a beautiful bird.

No doubt in death 'Langholm Annie' as I have heard her called in the last day or two will join 'Bowland Betty' in helping to raise awareness about her species.

 While this storm rages, life goes on for Hattie, Grainne and Cyan (the new boy, Hattie's son). Hattie and Grainne are still safely settled here at Langholm, but Cyan has begun his journey, leaving Langholm moor and heading north towards Hawick before moving east into Northumberland. There is growing awareness and admiration for this beautiful species but still some who can not bear to share their world with a harrier...