I got back from Iceland late last night and I’ll be writing more about Iceland and its whaling today and over the next few days. But one species of bird for which I kept an eye open was, of course, the Gyr Falcon – I didn’t see any. However, I have been sent the image…
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
Hearing date confirmed
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Our case (and RSPB’s too) against the decision of Natural England to license brood meddling of Hen Harriers will be heard in the Royal Court of Justice on 5-6 December 2018. You can come and watch! See you there.
Bird Fair petition goes to Iceland
If you signed the petition at the Bird Fair asking the Icelandic Prime Minister, Katrín Jacobsdóttir, to do her best to end whaling in her country (see here and here) then your signature is now in her hands. I was lucky enough to be granted a 15-minute meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon. I…
Meet me, don’t eat me
I met some Minke Whales in Iceland yesterday. Some were swimming around off Reykjavik being watched by boatloads of happy whale-watchers (above) but others were for sale in a local supermarket.
Where am I?
I’m in Iceland.
Watch this video by Lizzie Daly
Silent Slaughter: the shooting of Scotland’s seals. Disturbing.
Paul Leyland – Common Green Shield-bug
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Paul writes: Shield-bugs develop in a series of flightless nymphs, or instars, each one different and slightly bigger than the previous one. This is a 5th instar, which is the final stage before adulthood. It’s about 10mm long and blends beautifully into its surroundings. The adult Common Green Shield-bug (Palomena prasina) grows up to 12mm…
No Sunday book review this week
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But this is the book I am reading at the moment…
Tim Melling – Slavonian Grebe
Tim writes: I managed to capture the moment that this Slavonian Grebe opened its bill. It didn’t seem to be for any particular reason as it didn’t make a sound. I presumed that she was incubating eggs but her partner approached calling and she lowered he head inviting him to mate, and he did just…
Five year old prince taken grouse shooting
The Royal Family do some strange things. The appearance in the news (see here, here, here, here) that 5-year-old Prince George had been taken to experience his first grouse shoot could not have been an accident. In 2008, it was revealed that Prince George’s great-grandmother donated money to Songbird Survival. Earlier this year the Queen…