Following her return to nest on Forestry Commission land in North Tynedale last month, the female harrier has wasted no time in laying a clutch of eggs.

The pair is one of only a handful known to be nesting in England this year, and more than 30 enthusiastic volunteers are helping watch over the precious eggs.

Members of the nest watch team are on stand-by day and night alongside RSPB officers and Forestry Commission rangers.

Recent wet weather has been a cause of concern for the watch team, but the female harrier has continued to sit tight despite thunderstorms and torrential rain.

The male harrier takes no role in the incubation, but provides food to the female either by dropping into the nest or passing it to her in a spectacular mid-air hand over.

Last year a pair of hen harriers successfully raised five chicks at a nest in Tynedale, thanks to a 24-hour watch that safeguarded the rare birds from any disturbances.

The RSPB and Forestry Commission believe the same birds have returned to the area this spring.

The RSPB and Forestry Commission fear that without intensive protection the harriers would be at risk of being shot or their nest and eggs destroyed.

Research has shown that the uplands of England could support up to 200 pairs of nesting harriers, but last year there were only 15 successful nests in England – with the majority in one area of Lancashire.

Illegal killing or deliberate disturbance is the main reason that hen harriers are absent from almost all areas of suitable moorland in northern England.

The Northumberland Harrier Nest Watch is a partnership between the RSPB, and Forestry Commission with support from the Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club, BBC Wildlife Fund, SITA Trust, Egger UK and Tynedale Council.

The RSPB has launched a new campaign calling for an end to the illegal killing of birds of prey and asking members of the public to support their work to protect birds of prey.

For more information click on www.rspb.org.uk/birdsofprey