Tim writes: the scientific name Apus apus comes from the Greek “a pous” meaning without foot. Swift legs are so small that it was once believed that they did not have any feet. I remember the old Reader’s Digest book of birds illustrated Swift feet showing all four toes pointing forwards. But in fact the…
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Fake news (7) by Diogenes
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Waiting for the train home – inconsequential thoughts
I was waiting at St Pancras Station one morning this week for the train home. I was early. I’m almost always early. St Pancras station, though it is large, feels more like an open air station than most London stations. Now I know there has to be some sort of hole to let the trains…
Remarkable Birds
Remarkable Birds is now published in five languages.
I’m not driving through there…
That flood, mentioned earlier this week, went away and then came back again. Only a fool would try to drive through there – even with all your handy tips.
BPOTY deadline – end of November
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If you are going to enter the Bird Photographer of the Year competition then you have just over two weeks to get your entry sorted out. I’m looking forward to judging the new Conservation Documentary category (with Mark Carwardine and others). Here’s an explanation of what’s needed from Paul Sterry. And here’s the weblink –…
Craig Bennett for Wildlife Trusts
It was announced today that Craig Bennett from FoE will take over from Steph Hilborne at the Wildlife Trust’s Head Office in Newark. Congratulations to him! But it’s a challenging role. It’s not as though you are in any way ‘in charge’ of all the individual county and country Wildlife Trusts (47 of them, is…
Election watch (1)
There are four weeks to go – and then we vote. I was very pleased two years ago when the grouse-shooting-supporting MP for High Peak, Andrew Bingham, lost his seat to Ruth George. I’m rather hoping she can hang on to it this time around. Ms George has a majority of just over 2000 and…
Yummy vegetarian food
Yesterday evening I was at an event in London with the wonderful World Land Trust. The food was vegetarian and delicious. I’m not vegetarian, but I eat meat or fish only a couple of days a week. I started being more vegetarian, but not vegetarian, about 12 years ago when I made a New Year…
There’s an election on – shhhhhh!!!!!!
Although a general election is probably the most important event determining the future of wildlife conservation for the following years (a big claim but one I will stick with) you won’t hear much from wildlife conservation charities during this period. It may well take you from now until the general election to get your head…