The Lincolnshire Bird Club

3 Marsh Harriers,no hen harriers,a little egret seen a fair distance off looked bigger than it should on the extreme northern end of the flats complex seen fron whitton top,proceeded to get close when a guy in camaflage jacket with gun and dog headed out that way in front of me,needless to say when i reached the said marsh the bird had dissappeared,but did look bigger,but probably little egret.
What annoyed me thou was that this gunman ignored the gate which had a clear sign on it-no unathorised acces,he ignored and went up to the tidal breach and commenced to shooting birds,does anyone know if he /shooters alike have permission to shoot in this area??which obviously goes against the efforts there to turn it into a important nature conservation site.
wouldnt surprise me if he has permission to shoot there while it would be frowned apon for a birder to cross over the no acces sign!!.
Regards,
Roger.

Hi Rog,

I had a similar experience at Frampton Marsh a good few years ago, Whilst searching through the Brent's a wildfowler made his way out across the marsh, set up his stall and proceeded to shoot as much as his bag would hold, when I questioned him regarding his actions he informed me that he was allowed to shoot wildfowl over the tideline ! I contacted the RSPB regarding this and was given a similar answer, which beggars belief in my opinion as the protected area of the marsh holds very few birds at all , but hundreds of thousands at the tideline and beyond , without wanting to get into the politics of it all surely if a reserve is classed as of national importance then it should include the entire area from entrance gate to a considerable distance out to sea ?
I would be very interested to get clarification on this subject as its bewildered me for years.

Regards

Trev

it is a bewildering subject but as far as I can tell anyone can shoot wildfowl below the high water mark just about anywhere; the key point of course is how they get there and whose land they walk on to get to their chosen below the high water mark spot and lets be absolutely honest most of them DO not stand below the HWM but on the foreshore as they know no-one will take any action against them; the shooting lobby carries an aweful lot of weight and political clout in this country, just look at the criminal and abundant murder of Hen Harriers which could easily be stamped out IF there was not so much corruption within the political powers that be controlling the police forces and public prosecutors offices;
must go to bed getting too agitated.

and I hadn't even seen the Hen Harrier story from Sandringham when I wrote the above---truly amazing indeed if anyone has not seen the news they really should check it out

_________________
Regards
Dean Eades



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Hi gpc,re hen Harriers shot,
What gets me with this story is what i heard on the news earlier,the files will be sent to the director of public prosecutions for consideration,what is their to consider?-they have blatently broken the law!!!-my fear is because its the royal family,it will be dissmissed,as for the princes,well they were there but did not actually see it or have anything to do with it -all i can say is quoting judge judy"baloaney!!"-they were diliberatly shot,anyhow im same as gpc-agitated and offt to bed.
excellent link by Dean Eades-everyone should click on it-well done Dean Eades!!
Rog.

Although I've been retired 10 years I can assure you that current Police Wildlife Crime Officers and probably RSPB Investigators will be working their proverbials off to present sufficient evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service to justify proceedings in this well publicised case. People such as Nige Lound are dedicated to enforce all laws concerning wildlife crime. However shooting quarry species is currently legal provided the people responsible have permission on private land, are not trespassing, obey current firearms and game laws etc. Only lobbying MP's to amend the law can change that.