Yesterday afternoon I was privileged to join site manager, James How, monitoring one of the hen harrier nests on the reserve this year. On return to the office to double check this years numbers, he confirmed that there are four nest sites on the Loch Gruinart reserve which this year have produced an impressive 15 chicks!
Hen harriers are among several species which have a nationwide declining U.K. population, particularly in this case due to illegal persecution. Here's hoping that the success rate of the birds here at Loch Gruinart will continue as RSPB reserves hold 10% of Scotland's hen harrier population.
Below pictured is the female hen harrier, who has begun to moult as you can see a couple of wing feathers are missing.