BASC joins forces with police to get youngsters on the moors. Yet another example of close working between police and BASC. Planned activities are expected to include: identification of live birds – oh, another Red Grouse identification of dead birds – here’s a raptor! and here’s a Ring Ousel in a fenn trap arson –…
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
Last day to support this thunderclap
Birder, ringer, blogger and campaigner Findlay Wilde set up this thunderclap which will spread its message tomorrow. A thunderclap is a social media tool that spreads messages. If you are on Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr and you sign up to Findlay’s thunderclap then at 11am on 21 March all your social media contacts will be…
A curious strategy indeed
In a week’s time there will be a Westminster Hall debate on badger culling – it’s not the first debate and it probably won’t be the last. I would hope that MPs participating in the debate might read this essay by Anna Dale which I found very clear, very thorough and really quite shocking. It…
That’s what we need – NGOs with campaigning zeal!
‘The state-sanctioned snaring of Scotland’s mountain hares appears to be over after a wildlife quango suggested there will be a clampdown on permits to kill the iconic species.‘ says The Sunday Times today. The charity OneKind has been at the forefront of this campaign and they deserve a lot of credit for this decision being…
Sunday book review – Kingfishers by David Chandler
Comments Off on Sunday book review – Kingfishers by David Chandler
This book, published on Thursday, is a celebration of one of our favourite birds; everyone loves a Kingfisher. If you are out with other birdwatchers and one of you spots a Kingfisher then there is always a note of excitement as the bird is mentioned – ‘Kingfisher!!’. Nobody ever announces a Kingfisher with a…
Tim Melling – heron/otter face-off
Comments Off on Tim Melling – heron/otter face-off
This Giant River Otter had caught a fish and was busily eating it when a Cocoi Heron flew in and landed on an adjacent branch. The Heron edged his way down the branch and boldly stared the feeding otter right in the eye, poised for the snatch. One second later the Heron lunged at the…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Mark writes; Three haddock fisheries down-graded and no longer on Marine Conservation Society ‘Green to Eat’ list (see here and here).
Cheltenham review
It will come as no surprise to many readers of this blog that I have been at a meeting, on a course, this week. I spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes and afternoons at Cheltenham racecourse (and this afternoon was sitting in front of the TV watching the racing). I go racing for several reasons,…
A piece I wrote for The New European
This week’s New European includes this article by me on the potential consequences of Brexit for wildlife.
Last few hours to contribute
Comments Off on Last few hours to contribute
The BAWC crowdfunder closes today – and has done really well. Thank you very much to all who have contributed and helped it reach two big targets (£10k initially and now over £19k). It’s impressive how BAWC has reached out to birders and conservationists and got this important study going. Over 700 of us…