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

A welcome move north of the border

Mark 2 Comments

I’m very pleased to hear that preparations are well under way to start a petition aimed at the Scottish parliament to ban driven grouse shooting.  This would be very welcome and just as Scotland has strongly supported my/our e-petition aimed at the Westminster parliament then I will certainly promote a similar vehicle in Scotland. Watch…

Minister dozing on lead

Mark 9 Comments

We are fast approaching the anniversary of the submission of the Lead Ammunition Group’s report to ministers.  We have seen no visible sign of activity from the minister with responsibility for this issue – Rory Stewart. He appears to have dozed off. The recently published LAG minutes from a teleconference held in late April are…

Bank Holiday Monday book review – The Keartons by John Bevis

Mark 3 Comments

I haven’t taken a photograph of a bird for c35 years so nature photography isn’t my passion. This may be because my father was a keen, amateur landscape photographer and sons tend either fully to absorb or shun their father’s interests. But I do remember, perhaps before reaching teenage years, going with Dad to an…

Oscar Dewhurst – Marsh Tit

Mark Comments Off on Oscar Dewhurst – Marsh Tit

Oscar writes: This is a bird I’ve never photographed before, so on my last morning in Suffolk I spent a few hours just wandering through the woodland trying to find them. It took a while, and trying to manoeuvre 800mm of lens onto something so small took some doing, but by the time I drove…