An Unreliable History of Birdwatching (34) by Paul Thomas
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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 Defra response only scores 3 out of 10
Defra responded yesterday to Gavin Gamble’s e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting. Congratulations to Gavin for having moved things on a bit – it’s always interesting to get a glimpse of what is going on in the government mind. Here is the government response: Defra is working with key interested parties to ensure the sustainable…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Wild food (15) – Pollock and Coalfish by Ian Carter
I’ll admit to being more than a little surprised the first time one of these two species emerged from the sea when I was Mackerel fishing. Both are members of the cod family and they are often confused with each other. As with many apparently tricky species pairs, as soon as a direct, side by…
Dr Coffey’s reading list (24) – in praise of gamekeepers
Dr Therese Coffey is the junior minister at Defra. Now that Gavin Gamble’s e-petition in favour of banning driven grouse shooting has passed 10,000 signatures Dr Coffey will need to sign off a government response. Gavin Gamble’s petition passed 12,000 signatures yesterday and is only just short of 12,500 now. It’s had a boost in…
An evening in Ipswich
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On Wednesday I had the privilege of giving the first Derek Moore Memorial Lecture to a crowd of c130 people in Ipswich. Derek was a mate of mine and a character, and achiever, in the nature conservation world. We miss him, and in particular the Bird Fair is a diminished place each year without catching …
12,000 signatures
Gavin Gamble’s e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting is still waiting for a response from Defra 20 days after passing 10,000 signatures. Today it has just passed 12,000 signatures. Well done Gavin – slow but steady progress. You seem to have the minister stumped for a reply… Here are the leading constituencies so far –…
Dr Coffey’s reading list (23) – please help the Peak District
Dr Therese Coffey is the junior minister at Defra. Now that Gavin Gamble’s e-petition in favour of banning driven grouse shooting has passed 10,000 signatures Dr Coffey will need to sign off a government response. And it looks as though Gavin Gamble’s petition will reach 12,000 signatures today. In order that she does not make…
Guest blog – Just how red are Reds? by Ian Parsons
Ian Parsons spent twenty years working as a Ranger with the Forestry Commission, where he not only worked with birds of prey and dormice, but where he developed his passion for trees. Now a freelance writer, Ian runs his own specialist bird tour company leading tours to Extremadura. For more details see www.griffonholidays.com This is…
Wild food (16) – Hairy Bittercress by Ian Carter
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For a small, low growing and rather unassuming plant, Hairy Bittercress has quite a bit going for it. It has the welcome habit of bringing wild food right to your back door as it often grows as a garden weed, springing up in flower pots, the gaps between paving slabs or around the edges of…