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

Sunday book review – Landskipping by Anna Pavord

Mark 8 Comments

  Reviewed by Ian Carter Landskipping is a very individual and reflective account of the British countryside and how it, and our appreciation of it, has evolved over time. It is loosely divided into three parts, covering the history of landscape painting and landscape tourism, the all-pervasive influence of farming, and the importance of a…

Tim Melling – Great Northern Diver

Mark 1 Comment

Tim writes: In Britain we call this bird Great Northern Diver, whereas in America the standard name is Common Loon.  In Britain we prefer the name Diver, because Loon has another meaning (fool) and we would not want to lumber a bird as majestic as this with such an insulting name.  But Loon was used…

Moorland Imbalance (6)

Mark 12 Comments

I’ve enjoyed the response of the GWCT to my criticisms of their little booklet: The Moorland Balance, Moorland Imbalance (1), Moorland Imbalance (2), Moorland Imbalance (3), Moorland Imbalance (4) and Moorland Imbalance (5). Their little booklet would be better entitled the Bluffer’s Guide to Moorland Imbalance.  And I’m sure we will hear some of the…