And so we say farewell to Doñana after 12 days of research for a book. ‘We’? That’s me and Ruth Miller. The book? Watch this space but it may take a while!
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
Bad Defra; bad grouse moors.
There is dancing in the streets of El Rocio this morning as news spreads of the reprimand given to the UK government (esp Defra) by the EU over the poor job done by the UK to protect blanket bogs from burning. Blanket bogs don’t prosper under a scorched earth strategy and all this crap about…
It’s not all beer and skittles, you know!
No skittles at all. Researching a book requires great application and diligence. And birds can pop up anywhere. This Grey Heron caught me by surprise. Note it is the Garza Real (Royal Heron) in Spanish. The Purple Heron is the Garza Imperial. Is that because only emperors can wear purple or simply because it is…
Male Pallid Harrier sets up home in Bowland
Many thanks to Tim Sarney for these images. What a turn-up eh?
Tim Melling – Gelada fight
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This was one of the most exciting wildlife moments I have ever witnessed. It was just like a schoolyard fight while the gang cheered on their champion. Alpha male Geladas have a harem of up to eight females, which leaves a large number of bachelor males that hang around in gangs. They go around testing…
Tim Melling – Linnet
I couldn’t resist this as I know it is Mark’s least favourite British bird, but this shows the lovely crimson breast and crown, and the gleaming white wing flash. They were nest building in the gorse when I took this photograph. I say “they”, but she was doing all the works while he sat around…
An Unreliable History of Birdwatching (5) – by Paul Thomas
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Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Hoddlesden Moss wind farm proposal withdrawn
A proposal for a wind farm at Hoddlesden Moss has been withdrawn. I guess this is because the recommendation of council staff was to refuse it. And I don’t have to guess that that was partly because of the biological interest of the West Pennine Moors SSSI. And we know that pressure from locals over…
Donana Bird Fair 2017
I was at the Donana Bird Fair two years ago and, rather by chance, I was back there on Sunday. This is Year 4 and the event is clearly developing. There is still sun and fun, and good birds to be seen on site (including that duck with a blue beak), but there are…