Tim writes: The Yellow-browed Warbler is an enigma. It breeds in Siberia east of the Urals and winters in Malaysia and Thailand. Yet it occurs with great regularity in Britain, usually in autumn. To arrive in Britain would involve a journey of at least 4000 km, but flying in totally the wrong direction to…
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Near Kendal In Yellowstone National Park
Tim Melling – Bewick’s Swan
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Tim writes: Bewick’s Swans (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) were named in honour of the bird engraver Thomas Bewick, though we don’t even know if he ever clapped eyes on one. In Bewick’s day (1753-1828) the two yellow billed swans were classed as one single species; the Wild Swan, as distinct from the Tame Swan (or Mute…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Seemed slightly odd but…
Seen by a reader of this blog in Kendal Library… 179 under the Dewey Library system is ‘Other ethical norms’ – an interesting classification of my book. Still, it’s good to see it in any library.
Paul Leyland – Giant Peacock moth
With a wingspan of 150-200 mm this is the largest European moth. I was fortunate to see one a few weeks ago in Arles in southern France, it was attracted to a ground light in the gardens of the hotel where I was staying. At first sight I didn’t believe my eyes, I thought it…
Raven support
The crowdfunder for a legal challenge of SNH’s licensing of a Raven cull has made great progress – over 16,000 pounds and counting. I donated to this crowdfunder on its first day and I’d really like it to meet its target of 25k. So I’ve gone back and given it a top-up from me. Can you help…
Tim Melling – Sparrowhawk
Tim writes: I was driving in South Yorkshire back in February when I spotted this female Sparrowhawk dispatching a Woodpigeon. I pulled in the car just beyond and leaned out of the window to photograph the encounter. Believe it or not a Woodpigeon weighs about 450g whereas a female Sparrowhawk weighs just 260g (and…
An FoI response from NE – ( inc in part Bowland Gull Cull 11)
A while ago I let NE know what I thought of them and asked a few questions of them. Fair dos, they have come up with a decent-ish response. We learn that the long-running and long overrunning NE Hen Harrier research project will get an airing in Vancouver in August, that the southern reintroduction project…
Guest blog – UK Swift Awareness Week 16th-23rd June by Dick Newell
Lifetime bird watcher and over 60 years an RSPB member, Dick Newell, retired from the software industry, now devotes time to devising ways to help Swifts, which led recently to the BTO giving a Marsh Award for Innovative Ornithology to Action for Swifts. actionforswifts.blogspot.com documents a large number of case studies, designs and ideas. Dick…