Ringtail Hen Harrier - 2024 ~ IRISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Описание: It was a crisp, golden morning in County Wicklow, the kind where every breath hangs briefly in the air and the world feels suspended in stillness. From my position hidden among the tall grasses, camera at the ready, the reedbeds stretched out before me like a sea of gold and green. Then, cutting silently through the low light, she appeared, a ringtail Hen Harrier, gliding low and purposeful over the reeds. Her flight was liquid and unhurried, every tilt of her wings a quiet display of control and grace. The sunlight caught the soft, pale bands of her worn tail and the subtle earth tones of her plumage, making her seem almost ethereal against the shimmering morning backdrop.

It was a deeply moving sight, made all the more powerful by the knowledge of what this magnificent bird endures. Across Ireland and the UK, Hen Harriers continue to face relentless persecution, shot illegally, their nests destroyed, their young left to perish. Much of this stems from their perceived conflict with upland game interests, and despite legal protection, their numbers remain heartbreakingly low. To witness one alive, wild, and hunting with such precision over Wicklow’s reedbeds was a moment of rare and fragile beauty.

When BirdWatch Ireland used my image as the face of their Hen Harrier Appeal, I was truly honoured. Knowing that a fleeting moment I captured could now help raise awareness and inspire action felt deeply rewarding. My photograph now features on their website, standing for the protection and future of this hauntingly beautiful raptor. You can view it and support the appeal at www.birdwatchireland.ie