Available: Foxing Permission

[25 Sharps]

To me that is a perfectly justifiable reason for shooting them and obviously not for sport. I do the same as we are an all wild bird place. We too have Grey's, although foxes are not the main problem.

Not on ours either but up until recently we’ve been able to legally deal with the other issue, which is why I suspect they’ve bounced back.

Although the ravens are now on the increase as well and obviously can’t touch them!

 

[thistledeyke]

Not everyone is fortunate to have permission for any type of shooting FOC, probably hard earnt over years and gaining the trust of farmers/land owners takes time, money can bypass this, and quite possibly is the only way individuals can retain their FAC. I've heard of people joining stalking syndicates with no intension of going just to justify their FAC. I'm fortunate and dont pay for my shooting unless I venture North.

 

[Ratel]

Not on ours either but up until recently we’ve been able to legally deal with the other issue, which is why I suspect they’ve bounced back.

Although the ravens are now on the increase as well and obviously can’t touch them!

Nothing to see ,12-16 kites in the sky and there isn't enough carrion to feed them. Ravens are on the increase and now follow us stalking. Buzzards and Sparrowhawk's in view almost continually and a dearth of songbirds. Up until three years ago I could count 50+ Yellowhammers on my rounds, lucky to see one now. A large population of Sky larks decreasing rapidly. Very depressing.
Goldfinches down in numbers and not many pairs of greys about, mainly single cock birds.
I am hard on Magpies, Carrion's, Jays and stoats but they are not the main culprits. Kites seem to have crossed with Ospreys as I have seen them take ducklings off the water as well as week old Grey's. Not a good future for any small bird or Grey partridge with so many avian predators. We also have 18 occupied badger setts.

 

[25 Sharps]

Nothing to see ,12-16 kites in the sky and there isn't enough carrion to feed them. Ravens are on the increase and now follow us stalking. Buzzards and Sparrowhawk's in view almost continually and a dearth of songbirds. Up until three years ago I could count 50+ Yellowhammers on my rounds, lucky to see one now. A large population of Sky larks decreasing rapidly. Very depressing.
Goldfinches down in numbers and not many pairs of greys about, mainly single cock birds.
I am hard on Magpies, Carrion's, Jays and stoats but they are not the main culprits. Kites seem to have crossed with Ospreys as I have seen them take ducklings off the water as well as week old Grey's. Not a good future for any small bird or Grey partridge with so many avian predators. We also have 18 occupied badger setts.

We have a few kites and you can guarantee that when you fire a shot one will be overhead in a couple of minutes, but nothing like I saw when shooting with a buddy in Hertfordshire when we had exactly as you described, with over a dozen overhead.