Latest news with #Harrier
Glasgow Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Conservationists ‘overjoyed' at successful breeding by rare Montagu's harriers
The Montagu's harrier has not successfully bred in the UK since 2019, but this year a pair of the migratory birds of prey have managed to raise four healthy youngsters to fledging. Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often setting up home in agricultural fields – particularly winter sown cereals in the UK – and can return to the same location each year. The Montagu's harrier is the UK's rarest breeding bird (RSPB/PA) Their previous strongholds in Spain and France are struggling because of more intensive agriculture, earlier harvesting dates and wetter summers, while in the UK they have declined from a high of nine successful nests in 2011, with the species placed on the 'red list' of birds most at risk in 2021, the RSPB said. The pair were first seen at the now secret location in May, and the RSPB has worked closely with the farmer on whose land the birds were to protect the nesting attempt. A nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the wildlife charity. The RSPB set up a small protective fence around the nest once the chicks had hatched, to protect them from predators such as foxes. The pair have raised four chicks to fledging, in a first since 2019 (RSPB/PA) The chicks were ringed in mid-July and last week made their first flights, the RSPB said. Both the adult birds were themselves previously ringed, with the male identified as a chick from a nest in the UK in 2015, and the female from a nest in France in 2023. Mark Thomas, Montagu's harrier species lead at RSPB, said: 'We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters. 'What's even more remarkable is that we have been able to work out that the male was colour-ringed by the RSPB as a chick in a UK nest in 2015 and that his partner is wearing a ring indicating she is from France. The Montagu's Harrier female is from a nest in France ( RSPB/PA) 'This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.' The farmer, who cannot be named to protect the location of the nest, said: 'It's fantastic to have these amazing birds on the farm and a just reward for the extensive conservation work we have been undertaking for decades.' The RSPB said it hoped the birds will migrate safely to Africa, and the adults will return next year to breed again.
South Wales Argus
11 hours ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Conservationists ‘overjoyed' at successful breeding by rare Montagu's harriers
The Montagu's harrier has not successfully bred in the UK since 2019, but this year a pair of the migratory birds of prey have managed to raise four healthy youngsters to fledging. Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often setting up home in agricultural fields – particularly winter sown cereals in the UK – and can return to the same location each year. The Montagu's harrier is the UK's rarest breeding bird (RSPB/PA) Their previous strongholds in Spain and France are struggling because of more intensive agriculture, earlier harvesting dates and wetter summers, while in the UK they have declined from a high of nine successful nests in 2011, with the species placed on the 'red list' of birds most at risk in 2021, the RSPB said. The pair were first seen at the now secret location in May, and the RSPB has worked closely with the farmer on whose land the birds were to protect the nesting attempt. A nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the wildlife charity. The RSPB set up a small protective fence around the nest once the chicks had hatched, to protect them from predators such as foxes. The pair have raised four chicks to fledging, in a first since 2019 (RSPB/PA) The chicks were ringed in mid-July and last week made their first flights, the RSPB said. Both the adult birds were themselves previously ringed, with the male identified as a chick from a nest in the UK in 2015, and the female from a nest in France in 2023. Mark Thomas, Montagu's harrier species lead at RSPB, said: 'We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters. 'What's even more remarkable is that we have been able to work out that the male was colour-ringed by the RSPB as a chick in a UK nest in 2015 and that his partner is wearing a ring indicating she is from France. The Montagu's Harrier female is from a nest in France ( RSPB/PA) 'This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.' The farmer, who cannot be named to protect the location of the nest, said: 'It's fantastic to have these amazing birds on the farm and a just reward for the extensive conservation work we have been undertaking for decades.' The RSPB said it hoped the birds will migrate safely to Africa, and the adults will return next year to breed again.
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Conservationists ‘overjoyed' at successful breeding by rare Montagu's harriers
Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often setting up home in agricultural fields – particularly winter sown cereals in the UK – and can return to the same location each year. The Montagu's harrier is the UK's rarest breeding bird (RSPB/PA) Their previous strongholds in Spain and France are struggling because of more intensive agriculture, earlier harvesting dates and wetter summers, while in the UK they have declined from a high of nine successful nests in 2011, with the species placed on the 'red list' of birds most at risk in 2021, the RSPB said. The pair were first seen at the now secret location in May, and the RSPB has worked closely with the farmer on whose land the birds were to protect the nesting attempt. A nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the wildlife charity. The RSPB set up a small protective fence around the nest once the chicks had hatched, to protect them from predators such as foxes. The pair have raised four chicks to fledging, in a first since 2019 (RSPB/PA) The chicks were ringed in mid-July and last week made their first flights, the RSPB said. Both the adult birds were themselves previously ringed, with the male identified as a chick from a nest in the UK in 2015, and the female from a nest in France in 2023. Mark Thomas, Montagu's harrier species lead at RSPB, said: 'We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters. 'What's even more remarkable is that we have been able to work out that the male was colour-ringed by the RSPB as a chick in a UK nest in 2015 and that his partner is wearing a ring indicating she is from France. The Montagu's Harrier female is from a nest in France ( RSPB/PA) 'This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.' The farmer, who cannot be named to protect the location of the nest, said: 'It's fantastic to have these amazing birds on the farm and a just reward for the extensive conservation work we have been undertaking for decades.' The RSPB said it hoped the birds will migrate safely to Africa, and the adults will return next year to breed again.
Western Telegraph
12 hours ago
- General
- Western Telegraph
Conservationists ‘overjoyed' at successful breeding by rare Montagu's harriers
The Montagu's harrier has not successfully bred in the UK since 2019, but this year a pair of the migratory birds of prey have managed to raise four healthy youngsters to fledging. Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often setting up home in agricultural fields – particularly winter sown cereals in the UK – and can return to the same location each year. The Montagu's harrier is the UK's rarest breeding bird (RSPB/PA) Their previous strongholds in Spain and France are struggling because of more intensive agriculture, earlier harvesting dates and wetter summers, while in the UK they have declined from a high of nine successful nests in 2011, with the species placed on the 'red list' of birds most at risk in 2021, the RSPB said. The pair were first seen at the now secret location in May, and the RSPB has worked closely with the farmer on whose land the birds were to protect the nesting attempt. A nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the wildlife charity. The RSPB set up a small protective fence around the nest once the chicks had hatched, to protect them from predators such as foxes. The pair have raised four chicks to fledging, in a first since 2019 (RSPB/PA) The chicks were ringed in mid-July and last week made their first flights, the RSPB said. Both the adult birds were themselves previously ringed, with the male identified as a chick from a nest in the UK in 2015, and the female from a nest in France in 2023. Mark Thomas, Montagu's harrier species lead at RSPB, said: 'We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB, have managed to raise four youngsters. 'What's even more remarkable is that we have been able to work out that the male was colour-ringed by the RSPB as a chick in a UK nest in 2015 and that his partner is wearing a ring indicating she is from France. The Montagu's Harrier female is from a nest in France ( RSPB/PA) 'This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.' The farmer, who cannot be named to protect the location of the nest, said: 'It's fantastic to have these amazing birds on the farm and a just reward for the extensive conservation work we have been undertaking for decades.' The RSPB said it hoped the birds will migrate safely to Africa, and the adults will return next year to breed again.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Indian automobile industry may grow by 6-7% in FY26 amid damp consumer demand: Report
The Indian automobile sector is expected to grow by 6-7 per cent in the fiscal year (FY26) amid damp consumer demand across most vehicle categories, according to a report by Motilal Oswal. As per the report, volumes in the two-wheeler category fell the highest compared to passenger vehicles (PV) and commercial vehicles (CVs) in the first quarter of FY26 (Q1FY26). The two-wheeler segment remained under pressure due to muted demand. In the April-June quarter of FY26, motorcycle sales fell by 9 per cent year-on-year, ICE scooter sales declined 5 per cent year-on-year, and moped volumes also slid by 11 per cent year-on-year. By contrast, the PV category posted a 1.4 per cent decline in volumes, with the small car segment being impacted significantly due to the volumes of key models such as Maruti Alto, Spresso, and Celerio witnessing sharp year-on-year declines in Q1FY26. The commercial vehicle (CV) segment, meanwhile, saw a marginal decline in volumes. While MHCV goods registered a 4.5 per cent dip, LCV goods fell by 0.5 per cent. However, bus sales remained a bright spot, with MHCV buses growing 7.6 per cent and LCV buses up 8.8 per cent. In terms of OEMs' performance, Tata Motors underperformed across all four CV sub-segments, while VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) managed to outperform in most, according to Motilal Oswal. 'Our focus would be to deliver industry-beating growth (in FY26) because one, this year is possibly the strongest product cycle for us, and the freshest portfolio. We have a low base for FY25. On the SUV side also, we will be coming with a multipowertrain on Harrier and Safari, including the petrol version,' said Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors & Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, earlier at the Q4FY25 post-earnings conference call in May. Chandra had said that there would be re-varianting and repositioning of certain products in the portfolio. 'We have the full year for Nexon CNG and also, we will launch Sierra. So, even SUVs are going to be strong…it's going to be a very strong year for us,' he said. The top Tata Motors executive had said that the company will strengthen its value proposition of its existing EV products, in terms of value-price equation. 'It's going to be a strong year for us on the EV side also,' Chandra said. Its homegrown rival, Mahindra & Mahindra, too, is confident of growth this year. Nalinikant Gollagunta, CEO (automotive division) at Mahindra & Mahindra, said the company remains confident of mid-to-high teens growth in the SUV segment, along with strong double-digit export growth. He also reaffirmed guidance for high single-digit growth in LCVs for the full fiscal, according to a report by news agency ANI . The brokerage said that the industry may remain in a cautious phase in the near term, with a rebound largely dependent on rural demand recovery, fuel price stability, and broader economic conditions.
