Book review – Raptor by James Macdonald Lockhart

This book was a disappointment. The basic structure is a chapter by chapter account of 15 species of UK raptor, each described in a different place, stretching from Hen Harriers on Orkney in Chapter 1 to Devon Sparrowhawks in Chapter 15. Wrapped into this structure is a tale of the life, and a previous journey,…

Thank you but still looking for more support

Three weeks today I’ll be in Israel for the first time in my life. I’m participating in the Birdwatch-Birdguides Roadrunners team in the Champions of the Flyway event. I’m curious to go to Israel for my first time as it’s definitely not the least controversial country in the world. I’ll write about the impression it…

Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill

Mark writes: I am unlikely ever to vote Conservative since I have got this far in life without feeling the urge, and I am very likely to vote for ‘Remain’ in the EU referendum in June. According to this analysis, the Conservative Party MPs are more or less equally split between Remain and Leave supporters…

Also in BB this month

As well as the good news for me in the March British Birds, there is a more substantial piece of news (as well as lots of other good stuff): a report by Prof Ian Newton FRS on the lead ammunition debate. At the beginning of his concluding remarks Ian writes ‘My own view is that…

Very pleased to be second

I’ve got a lovely certificate to hang on the office wall: Inglorious was the second choice in the BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year for 2015.  Woohoo! I notice that the judges say ‘Not all will agree with the conclusion…’, although my thought is ‘give it time and they will!’, but I was, of…