Hen Harriers have recorded another encouraging breeding season in the Forest of Bowland, continuing a recovery that has gradually strengthened over the past decade.

The upland landscape remains one of the species’ most important breeding areas in England. After Hen Harriers disappeared as a breeding species from Bowland in 2016 and 2017, numbers began to recover.

Over the past six years, the population has averaged around 13 breeding females annually, usually ranging between 10 and 16.

This improvement is significant because Hen Harriers remain among England’s rarest birds of prey and continue to face pressure from illegal killing, disturbance and habitat change. Natural England still describes their national recovery as fragile despite increases in breeding numbers.

Another Productive Season

Breeding numbers in Bowland were lower in 2026 than during the record-breaking 2025 season, but nesting success was stronger.

Nine nests were monitored on the United Utilities Bowland Estate. Eight successfully produced 30 fledged young, while one failed after the female received too little food from a male that was supporting more than one mate.

The female eventually had to leave the nest to hunt for herself, leaving the eggs unprotected. A gull was later seen visiting the site, although it was not possible to determine exactly what happened to the clutch.

Two further nests were recorded on private estates elsewhere in the Bowland Fells. Both were successful and produced another six chicks.

That brought the total for the area to 11 nests and 36 fledged young during the 2026 season.

A Decade of Recovery

The progress is particularly striking when compared with the complete absence of breeding pairs less than a decade ago.

Around 84% of recent nests have been located on the United Utilities estate, where conservation work includes monitoring breeding birds and protecting nesting areas.

Current numbers are now similar to levels recorded in Bowland during the 2000s, before the local population declined sharply.

The recovery also demonstrates how long-term conservation can depend on cooperation between landowners, tenants, researchers and volunteers rather than a single intervention.

A Remarkable Female Is Missing

The season also brought one notable loss.

A female nicknamed “Scottish Fury”, which had bred in Bowland since 2018, did not return this year and is thought to have died during winter.

She originally fledged at Langholm Moor in 2017 and became an exceptionally productive bird. Across eight breeding seasons, she successfully raised 35 chicks, some of whose descendants have since returned to breed in Bowland.

Her contribution shows how the survival of individual birds can influence a small recovering population over many years.

Recovery Is Still Fragile

Bowland’s success does not mean the species is secure across England.

Natural England continues to identify illegal persecution and disturbance as major threats, while changing land use and habitat loss can further restrict suitable nesting areas. Satellite tracking is still used to monitor individual birds and understand losses after they leave breeding grounds.

The 2026 season therefore represents genuine progress, but also a reminder that recovery depends on surviving long enough to return, breed and raise successive generations.

Bowland has shown that Hen Harriers can rebuild their numbers when habitat, monitoring and protection come together. The challenge now is making that success less exceptional across the rest of England.