Teesmouth Bird Club

I tried asking RSPB Saltholme but never got a response so just wondered if anyone knows?

I don't know if the Hartlepool & District Wildfowlers Association's website is up-to-date, but it claims "We still hold wildfowling rights on Cowpen Marsh, albeit with reduced acreage and time limits."

So perhaps there still is shooting.

Eric

Thanks Eric. I guess they are there to stay...

Yes there is still a shooting licence on here, I am trying to get more info and will get back to you when I have it.
Dave Nelson

Cowpen Marsh Wildfowling

Hi, I said I would get back to you, this is the current situation.

There are currently two shooting licences, North of Holme Fleet is Hartlepool & District Wildfowlers who are allowed 9 guns and South of Holme Fleet is Saltholme Shooting, Fieldsports and Conservation Club who are allowed 3 guns.
Shooting can take place between 1st September and 31st January on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays either side of sunrise or sunset, not exceeding a total of 2 hours duration at either.
This has the consent of Natural England and licences are issued annually.

Dave Nelson

Thanks for the detailed info. Seems a bit strange to be shooting birds on a bird reserve but i guess thats upto Natural England....

Its good, that we can take pleasure from seeing widgeon and teal whistling in, on a fogy early morning.withhout  feeling the need to blast them out of the air, forgive them for they know not what they do.poor selfless sods.

The rspb create the ideal habitat for these birds, and when they come in....BANG!. Still, people have to have their fun.

It puts it into context slightly when an over-eager birder/photographer (quite rightly) gets lambasted if he strays off the path and causes unnecessary stress to a bird yet these guys can come along and just shoot them and there doesn't seem to be anything we can do about it - the disturbance to the birds and stress caused must be immense. Is there any control as to which species they can kill (and is there any monitoring or control?). The chances of any flighty rarities hanging around once shooting starts must be virtually nil!

Also, the fact they use the word 'Conservation' in the name of a shooting club is just taking the proverbial.

Lists of species that can be hunted are given on the BASC website http://basc.org.uk/game-and-gamekeeping/quarry-species-shooting-seasons/

The site also lists the close seasons when hunting is forbidden.

Eric

I remember visiting the taxidermist that used to reside in greathham village he was skinning one of four golden plover.that had been locally, and apparently legitimately Shot? I wrote a letter, to the r s p b asking why they  were still on the list.they have  been since the days of mrs beatons cook book, r s p b said they are a legitimate target.i am sure its time to have them removed! Not quite as bad as Malta. Chris packam could do something a bit closer to home.

Hi. In answer to a comment on the post by AndyW about monitoring, I would think, as with anything else, the clubs monitor themselves, it is in their interest to stick to the terms of the licence or it could be revoked. Another thing to remember is that like anywhere else Teesmouth is prone to poaching and this is not under any licence and these people do not abide by any rules.
If anyone see's anything outside the times and dates listed in my last post, above, contact the police or let me know. We will need information to do anything, just a bloke and a dog won't do. Number of people and brief description, do they have guns or dogs, a description of the dogs can go a long way, a short haired lurcher with black legs is often easier to find than a young bloke with a green jacket, jeans and a black hat. Any vehicle seen, type, colour and reg will help.
I will pass on this info but I will need your name and contact details.
I can be contacted on davenelson.tbc@gmail.com

Dave Nelson

Just an update. I was talking to Dave Braithwaite at RSPB yesterday and he has received an anonymous letter from a concerned birdwatcher who says the wildfowlers were last year using grain to entice the birds for shooting on Cowpen Marsh and that this year cartridges have been found indicating the use of lead shot which is illegal around wetlands (non-lead based shot must be used).

Dave will be talking to the wildfowler groups about this  but said that it would help enormously if people with information about the conduct of wildfowlers would (in confidence) identify themselves so that Dave can make contact to be sure of all of the facts before presenting these to the wildfowler groups.