In The Times I read that Crispin Odey, self-confessed funder of YFTB has decided that Boris Johnson is the person he wants to lead the Conservative Party, and as soon as possible. It’s only a matter of five months ago that Michael Gove was the chosen one for Mr Odey. Blimey! Boris’s principled and reasonable…
BLOG POSTS
News of a reader
Sometimes I wonder what has happened to erstwhile frequent commenters on this blog who seem to have gone missing. Giles Bradshaw has commented many times on this blog – usually under his own name but I’ve caught him trying to have conversations with himself under aliases too. Giles’s comments go back to August 2011 and…
Durham dales
Three weeks ago (how time flies) I spent two sunny days in the area of Weardale, Upper Teesdale and surroundings. It was a warm couple of days to be up in the hills. I was there at the invitation of Caroline Beck, a journalist who formerly worked for the BBC in the north of England…
Paul Leyland – Wasp Nest Beetle
Paul writes: This is an unusual-looking beetle, the antennae are particularly striking and the elytra are very pointed and leave the end of the wings exposed. When I saw this one it took me quite a while to realise what I was looking at. As its name suggests the Wasp Nest Beetle (Metoecus paradoxus) is…
Otto goes non-toxic
The People’s Manifesto for Wildlife called for: Government to put the UK on the front foot by introducing a ban on the sale, possession and use of all lead ammunition across the UK Food Standards Agency and National Health Service to undertake a public awareness campaign to promote the health risks from consumption of game…
Your choices
The annual Birdwatch Birders’ Choice shortlists are available online for you to choose in a wide variety of categories. Here are my thoughts on some of the categories: Conservation Hero shortlist: me, Ruth Tingay, Katrin Jacobsdottir, Tim Mackrill, Boyan Slat. It’s not that I’m not competitive, but I’d ask you to vote for someone other…
Tim Melling – Small Blue
Comments Off on Tim Melling – Small Blue
Tim writes: this is Britain’s smallest butterfly, the Small Blue, which is about the size of the nail on my little finger. In Britain their only larval foodplant is Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) but they only feed on the flowerheads. The female carefully selects a flower head of kidney vetch, tasting with her feet and…
Coffey says no!
A grouse shooter’s moll and Defra minister. Photo: Natural England In a closely argued, fact-packed and loquacious answer to a short question from Rachael Maskell MP (Central York, Labour) we learn much about the workings of Therese Coffey’s mind. Surely, rather than ‘no’, the grouse shooters’ moll meant ‘no comment, no comment, no comment‘? Michael…
No comment 3 from Mr Carbo
Comments Off on No comment 3 from Mr Carbo