Do have a look at the comments on the online poll on the best future name for the RSPB. Voting will close later this week so don’t delay to have your say. And even if you have voted – do have a look at the comments. I’m waiting for the next round of reviews for…
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
Woodcock
It’s not just the BTO who are doing exciting things with tagged birds. The GWCT are tracking woodcock which were wintering in the UK. Now I would have thought that these birds would come from Scandinavia , eastern Europe and the near parts of Russia – and on the whole I’d be right. But look…
Cuckoos
I’m doing a bit of travelling myself over the next few days so blogging may be difficult. I’m not going far, but you never know where the next bit of wifi might come from in the UK. So why not have a look at where the BTO cuckoos have reached on their travels. I find…
Montreal
25 years ago, that’s all, the Montreal Protocol was signed. The ozone hole is healing. International agreements can be agreements and can make a difference. Let’s have some more please.
For all that’s sacred…
I had a brief and pleasant walk at Stanwick Lakes one lunchtime this week. The sun shone and there were lots of birds around. A common sandpiper meant that it was either autumn or spring. An adult yellow-legged gull made it more likely that it was late summer as that is when I see most…
Wuthering Moors 27 – Secrecy and power
The revelations over the 23-year old events at Hillsborough have been shocking – deeply shocking. But I wonder how many of us felt a little personal guilt for moments when we thought ‘It’s a long time ago’ or ‘Let it go’? This week the obstinacy and determination, and passion (there was lots of passion), from…
For heaven on Earth’s sake
An interesting poll was reported yesterday. Young people are more likely to cite ‘caring for the environment’ as their top moral issue than ‘having a religious faith’. Admittedly there wasn’t much in it, and both of those answers were way below ‘looking after your family’ which headed the list. There is a strong moral element…
Maybe that’s why
I didn’t see many eagles on my holiday in Scotland. I did travel down the A82 through Bridge of Orchy, and very pretty it was too. Last week a farm manager from Bridge of Orchy was convicted of possessing Carbofuran, an illegal poison whose use has been banned since 2001. A dead golden eagle had…
Mmmmm! Yummy!
I tell the story in Fighting for Birds of staying at the house of a grouse moor manager and being given grouse to eat for dinner. I quite like grouse but I prefer pheasant on my plate. There was a bit of an expectant hush as my host and some other guests waited to see…
Catfield
I have sent the following to PSC-WaterResources@environment-agency.gov.uk referring to applications Mr A W Alston NPS/WR/007223 & NPS/WR/007224. You could too and the closing date for receipt of such views is Wednesday. Catfield Fen is drying out, and has been for several years. There doesn’t seem to be any doubt about that. Catfield Fen is…