A pair of Britain's rarest breeding birds have successfully raised four youngsters at a secret location in England, the RSPB has revealed. The Montagu's Harrier hasn't successfully nested in the UK since 2019.

After a high of nine successful nests in 2011, its population has dwindled - with it being officially placed on the red list of threatened species in 2021. But this year a pair arrived in the UK and have delighted conservationists by raising four healthy youngsters.

Mark Thomas, Montagu's Harrier species lead at RSPB, said: "We are overjoyed that a pair have returned, they managed to find each other and through the close protection of a dedicated farmer and the RSPB have managed to raise four youngsters.

"What's even more remarkable is that we have been able to work out that the male was colour-ringed by the RSPB as a chick in a UK nest in 2015 and that his partner is wearing a ring indicating she is from France. This Anglo-French alliance could just be the springboard needed to save this species in Britain."

Montagu's Harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, often in agricultural fields, in particular winter sown cereals in the UK, and can return to the same nesting areas each year.

Their previous strongholds in Spain and France are diminishing because of intensification of agriculture and earlier harvest dates, as well as wetter summers.

Many nests across Europe are protected from predators by the installation of small metal fences by conservationists, volunteers and farmers.

The farmer, whose land the birds are nesting on and who cannot be named in order to protect the location, said: "It's fantastic to have these amazing birds on the farm and a just reward for the extensive conservation work we have been undertaking for decades."

The birds were first seen at the now secret location in May, raising hopes they would breed.

Their nest was located in June by the licensed use of a drone and then closely monitored by a volunteer birdwatcher and the RSPB.