The annual Birdwatch Birders’ Choice shortlists are available online for you to choose in a wide variety of categories. Here are my thoughts on some of the categories: Conservation Hero shortlist: me, Ruth Tingay, Katrin Jacobsdottir, Tim Mackrill, Boyan Slat. It’s not that I’m not competitive, but I’d ask you to vote for someone other…
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
Tim Melling – Small Blue
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Tim writes: this is Britain’s smallest butterfly, the Small Blue, which is about the size of the nail on my little finger. In Britain their only larval foodplant is Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) but they only feed on the flowerheads. The female carefully selects a flower head of kidney vetch, tasting with her feet and…
Coffey says no!
A grouse shooter’s moll and Defra minister. Photo: Natural England In a closely argued, fact-packed and loquacious answer to a short question from Rachael Maskell MP (Central York, Labour) we learn much about the workings of Therese Coffey’s mind. Surely, rather than ‘no’, the grouse shooters’ moll meant ‘no comment, no comment, no comment‘? Michael…
No comment 3 from Mr Carbo
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No comment 2 from Mr Carbo
No comment 1 from Mr Carbo
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Responding to the new standard letter #peoplesmanifestoforwildlife
Thank you to everyone who has written to their MP about the People’s Manifesto for Wildlife. If you haven’t got around to writing to your MP yet then do please give it a go – here is some information and advice. If you have already received a reply then your MP is quick off the…
Gogglebooks
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Which should survive, hen harriers or grouse moors? Avery gives fair hearings to both sides and comes down against grouse moors
Responsive MPs (2)
Thank you if you have already written to your MP about the Manifesto for Wildlife. If you haven’t got around to it yet then do please give it a go – here is some information and advice. Here are MPs from whom you have told me that you have had substantive replies (I’m sure there…
Mall Galleries, SWLA, gossip etc
Leopard and Carmine Bee-eaters – Greg Poole Yesterday I spent large amounts of time from lunchtime to dinner time in the Mall Galleries, in The Mall, at various events including the opening of the SWLA exhibition and a BTO evening reception involving people getting awards. And a pretty good time was had by most I…