By October they are gone. Small populations of wintering Northern harrier hawks, Merlin hawks and Short-eared owls also hunt over the open moorlands that are now being protected. Northern harrier hawks, also called Hen harriers, are grassland raptors found in wet meadows. These slim hawks are not considered to be globally threatened, although their numbers are in decline. In the UK their numbers have recently increased, and they have spread from the Orkney Islands off the Scottish coast into other areas.
Merlins are the smallest European birds of prey.
Not considered endangered, they range across the northern hemisphere, and in the UK they are found in Scotland, South Wales and Northern England. Environment Minister Michael Meacher. Short-eared owls are not endangered, owing to their vast distribution globally. But human activities, particularly habitat destruction by landowners, are causing concern. All Rights Reserved.