Hen Harriers are among England's rarest bird of prey

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) announced on Thursday that the hen harriers are nesting at a nature reserve in the North Pennines.

The birds are incubating eggs at a site on the RSPB's Geltsdale nature reserve, which covers a large uplands area in Cumbria and Northumberland.

Hen harriers last nested in there in 2003, when a pair raised four young.

RSPB Geltsdale reserve manager Dave O'Hara said: "It is great news that these magnificent birds are nesting in the North Pennines.

Illegal killing

"The English hen harrier population is perilously low, so every nest is precious.

"To safeguard the nesting birds from disturbance, we have organised a round-the-clock protection operation and we are grateful to everyone who is putting in such long hours in all weathers to help watch over the nest."

The charity says illegal killing is the main reason why hen harriers are absent from almost all areas of suitable moorland habitat in the north of England.

Last year, only 10 pairs successfully nested in England, and those were in Lancashire.

Mr O'Hara urged people not to try to see the birds to avoid the risk of disturbing them.

Hen harriers are fully protected by law and anyone caught disturbing, injuring or taking birds, nests or eggs can face a fine or prison.

They normally lay four to six eggs, which are incubated for about 30 days.