Call for fresh approach as Scotland’s beaver killing season begins The future of Scotland’s fragile population of wild beavers is at risk as this year’s beaver killing season begins, says the Scottish Rewilding Alliance, a coalition of 24 leading environmental charities, countryside access organisations, businesses and community groups. Scotland’s baby beavers are officially seen as no…
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Press release – Beaver Trust
Diverse group call for long-term plan for England’s beavers Government asked to allow wild beaver populations to remain and expand naturally in England Beavers should be recognised as native and given appropriate legal status Robust national management framework with funding and local support is required Licensed releases including from enclosures should be planned on suitable…
Paul Leyland – Myathropa florea
Myathropa florea is often known as the Batman Hoverfly, which is self explanatory if you look at the pattern on its thorax. Some are more marked than others, this is a particularly bright one. Size can vary, with a wing length between 7mm and 12mm. It’s quite a common hoverfly which occurs throughout the UK…
Sunday book review – The Common Buzzard by Sean Walls and Robert Kenward
I grew up in Somerset where Buzzards were reasonably common but are now much more numerous, but I’ve spent most of the last 40 years living in the East Midlands and seen Buzzards becoming commoner and commoner sights in the skies here. Buzzards are fairly common across most of lowland Britain nowadays but holes still…
Tim Melling – Long-eared Owl
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Tim writes: this is a Long-eared Owl carrying a Short-tailed Vole back to its hungry brood that were calling constantly from nearby trees. The male provisions the female while she incubates and when the young are small. But when the young are old enough to “branch” (leave the nest and clamber about in the branches),…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Looking back on the last week…
This week of the year has become a busy one in my life in recent years. The run up to Hen Harrier Day, the day itself, the Inglorious 12th and the aftermath of that day create a fair amount of activity. So, how have things gone? Not much grouse shooting this year? There are lots…
Good response to our e-action from Tim Farron MP
There aren’t many LibDems in the House of Commons these days but this response from Tim Farron suggests that we’d be better off if there were a few more. Not only is it a clearly personal response but it also demonstrates real understanding of the issues and has committed to getting in touch with DEFRA…
Hen Harrier Day silent auction closes at 5pm today
There are four art works on which I have bid, and I have been outbid for each of them. But I may well be trying a bit harder in the run-up to 5pm today. There is artwork to suit most tastes but feel free not to bid on the items that are to my taste!…
Questions and answers in Scottish parliament
Here is an exchange in the Scottish Paliament yesterday – quite useful. Thank you to John Mason MSP (GLasgow Shetleston, SNP) for asking and to Mairi Gougeon for an encouraging answer. John Mason: To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the persecution of raptors. The Minister for Rural Affairs and…