Author: Mark

Born Bristol, UK Educated: Cleeve House School Bristol, Bristol Grammar School and Downing College Cambridge Ph.D. University of Aberdeen, Winter activity of pipistrelle bats. NERC post-doctoral Research Fellow, Edward Grey Institute, Oxford University Former Conservation Director of the RSPB, 1989-2011

Spectator blurred vision (2)

Mark 20 Comments

The not-so-talented Viscount Ridley, writing in the Spectator, reproduced the tall tale of breeding wader numbers that was also used by Ian Botham in his stumbling discussion with Chris Packham on the Today programme. We also know that the BTO quickly distanced itself from any approval of these quite fantastic claimed numbers of breeding waders….

What you thought of the standard SNP response – Firm Briefing 10

Mark 3 Comments

Here are just four quotes from what you thought about the standard response to your letters about driven grouse shooting from your SNP MPs in the Westminster parliament:   ‘I too thought it a total cop out response.’ ‘…all bullsh*t I’m afraid‘ ‘…there is the stain of almost incessant illegal persecution, not something that plays…

Spectator has blurred vision (1)

Mark 3 Comments

  You may remember (or you may not, which is why I am reminding you) that I contrasted the view of Hen Harrier biology of Charles Moore, Spectator columnist and grouse shooter, with that of published science by the RSPB (Compare and contrast, 23 August)(see the data above and Mr Moore’s comment at foot of…

The SNP standard response – Firm Briefing 9

Mark 24 Comments

Before tackling the tricky issue of SNP MPs in the Westminster parliament, let me just say that support for our e-petition has been very strong in Scotland: it has received c12,000 signatures from Scotland out of a UK total so far of 118,000 – that’s c10% of all signature compared with Scotland representing c8.4% of…