Police investigate alleged shooting of protected species near Milton Keynes nature reserve

The men were spotted by members of the public close to Linford Lakes Nature Reserve and, when questioned, said they had a licence to shoot pigeons from the start of the shooting season on September 1

But it is alleged they were carrying a dead black headed gull, a bird that is protected under the Migratory bird treaty.

Complaints and photographs were passed to the Citizen and we forwarded them to the Parks Trust, which runs the reserve.

A Park Trust spokesman said: "We are also aware of this incident and have reported it to the police. With incidents of the nature we report to the police and work with them were appropriate."

This week a spokesman for Thames Valley Police confirmed an investigation was taking place.

Linford Lakes Nature Reserve is at Great Linford and is widely regarded as the most biodiverse site in Milton Keynes.

It was established as a wildfowl research centre in 1970 following decades of mineral extraction in the area. The 37 hectare site consists of a large lake, reedbeds, wet woodland and several small meadows interlaced with a number of smaller lakes and ponds.

The lakes attract a variety of wildfowl, passage wading birds and breeding birds including barn owls, cuckoos and common tern. Rare visitors include bitterns, great white egrets and short-eared owls.