Rare breeding bird successfully nests for first time in 6 years

By Lauren Beavis

Footage reveals Britain's rarest breeding bird nesting successfully - for the first time in six years.

A pair of Montagu’s Harriers have raised four youngsters at a secret location in England.

The Montagu’s Harrier is Britain’s rarest breeding bird species and has not successfully nested in the UK since 2019.

After a high of nine successful nests in 2011, its population has sadly dwindled - with it being officially placed on the Red List in 2021.

But this year, a pair arrived in the UK and have gone on to delight conservationists around the country by raising four healthy youngsters.

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.

"This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain.”

The birds were first seen at the now secret location in May, raising hopes they would breed.

Their nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the RSPB.

Photographs indicated that both adult birds were ringed, remarkably the male being a chick from a UK nest in 2015 and the female from a nest in France in 2023.

As soon as their behavior indicated that youngsters had hatched, the RSPB entered the field under license and worked closely with a local farmer to install a small protective fence to safeguard the nest from ground predators.

The chicks were then ringed in mid-July and last week made their first flights.

The farmer, who cannot be named in order to protect the location, 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.”

It is now hoped the birds will all migrate safely, and the adults will return in 2026.