I’m really looking forward to the Bird Fair – I always do. This year looks as though it will be busier than ever for me as I am giving a talk and doing lots of book signings at various stands across the three days. But I know that the time will also be spent chatting…
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
But seriously
On Monday I suggested that twitching should be one of the competitive sports which gets its two hours a week in English primary schools, but today I’ll try to be a bit more serious about the subject. I tend to steer clear of education as a topic as there is a tendency for all of…
Wuthering Moors 26
Ban The Burn campaigners launched a national campaign on Sunday evening, August 12th, in Hebden Bridge. The Ban the Burn! campaign aims are: a ban on burning and draining blanket bog an end to loopholes in the Heather & Grass Burning Code and other regulations Environmental scientist Dr Aidan Foley had an upbeat message for the…
Going for gold – twitching to become part of the national curriculum
As a nation bids a fond farewell to the Olympic Games we turn our minds to legacy. Rather than pretend that suddenly it has become the birthright of all Britons to excel at coxless fours, dressage and wiff waff the coalition government (including the Liberal Democrats who have won golds for irrelevance for many months…
Guest Blogs
I’m always interested in offers of Guest Blogs for this site. If you have a burning issue that you would like to get off your chest, and you can write in an interesting way, then get in touch, please. And thank you to all those who have already contributed – you have stimulated some very…
Wuthering Moors 25
An amazing local reaction – I wish I could be there PRESS RELEASE On Sunday August 12th, flood-hit residents of Hebden Bridge and campaigners from across the country will set out from the town centre on a BAN THE BURN protest walk to the Walshaw Moor grouse-shooting estate. Following the walk, the BAN THE BURN national campaign…
See you at the Bird Fair?
A week today it’s Day One of the Bird Fair. In a ‘summer’ in which many outdoor events have been cancelled because of wet weather it was reassuring to see this post of Facebook by Tim Appleton earlier in the week: Been a few stressful few weeks, what with highest reservoir levels ever, saturated fields,…
How are your holidays?
I’ve been wandering around Scotland recently and had a great time seeing scenery and wildlife. I think I may set you a little brain teaser about it in a while so I won’t give too much away. However, wildlife highlights have included otter, red squirrel, Scotch argus, bottle-nosed dolphin, leaping salmon and the occasional midge….
Tossers
I spent a few minutes looking at a fairly commonplace bird the other day – except no bird is commonplace, particularly if you watch them rather than just see them. This bird was on a beach, as they often are, and it was turning over pebbles as its name, turnstone, would suggest it does. Have…
Rare breeders
The issue of British Birds to which I probably look forward the most is the annual report of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. In the July BB the Panel reports on 2010. It was a year of southern herons and southern warblers. If you read my article on climate change in the August Birdwatch you…