Raptors delight: a bird safari in the Forest of Bowland

The north of England’s most overlooked natural beauty spot is home to wild terrain and some of the UK’s rarest birds, including the spectacular hen harrierA grey male drifts slowly across the moorland. No, not me, but a big, beautiful hen harrier, scouting for love, or breakfast. I’ve only been here 10 minutes, and I’m in a mild state of shock. Aren’t these precious, threatened birds of prey so vanishingly rare that seeing one is hugely improbable?I’m walking