Endangered bee gets a foothold in Somerset Lytes Cary designated as one of only two exemplary sites for the Shrill carder bee in England Bee is a priority species due to the huge losses of flower rich habitats since the 1950s National Trust volunteers, staff and farm tenants have worked together to make a safe…
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NEWS: Andy Clements to step down as BTO CEO at end of 2020
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Andy Clements has announced that he is stepping down at the end of 2020. He says that it was his intention to step down in October, probably on St Crispin’s day I guess, but coronavirus has pushed that date back a bit. Andy has been and for a few months will continue to be, a…
Bird song (41) – Mistle Thrush
I haven’t recorded Mistle Trush from my garden since April 2014 and it is now a bird, another declining species, that I see rather rarely. Most of my sightings, and hearings, are in upland areas on my travels. And so when I hear a Mistle Trush sing, I have to listen to be sure that…
From World Land Trust
‘World Land Trust and partners would like to say a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who continues to help us save threatened habitats and species around the world. Stay safe.’
Yet another week on…
In each of the previous two weeks there were an extra 36,000 reported cases of coronavirus in the UK – this week there were 33,000 new cases. That is the extent to which the spread of the virus is slowing down – not much! The global reported deaths have recently passed 200,000 at the same…
Primates 1
Last night saw the first of this three-part series on primates, narrated by Chris Packham. The images were stunningly good showing the habitats occupied, whether a flooded Amazon rainforest, Madagascar or the temples of Kathmandu. But my favourite sequences were of Drills (similar to, but different from, Mandrills) from the tropical island of Bioko (formerly…
Lockdown Nature-writing Challenge – closes midnight Thursday
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Entries are coming in – but you still have plenty of time to compose and send in yours – by Thursday midnight. Across the world, people are experiencing a shared concern for themselves and their loved ones and many are enduring a period of social distancing and being cut off from wildlife. But, also, many…
Paul Leyland – The Footballer
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Social Distancing Week 6. The Footballer. The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus) is a colourful hoverfly that has started appearing in my garden over the last few days. It’s a chunky fly which rests with its wings open. The striped thorax is what makes it stand out from most other flies, so it’s quite recognisable. It’s a…
Market lessons
We are re-emerging after decades of hibernation as a campaigner for global free trade. And frankly it is not a moment too soon because the argument for this fundamental liberty is now not being made. The reason we do not seek membership or part membership of the customs union or alignment of any kind, is…
Tim Melling – Steppe Eagle
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Tim writes: Steppe Eagles (Aquila nipalensis) are a bit smaller than Golden Eagles and breed across the desert steppes of Central Asia but migrate south to winter in sub-Saharan Africa, India and Southeast Asia. Huge numbers pass through certain places on migration, such as the Middle East and Nepal, and its name (nipalensis) refers to…