This book is a visual treat. Photographs of Shetland’s wildlife, mostly birds and mammals, through the seasons. And the photographs are exceptionally fine. As you might expect, there are Otters, Bonxies and Puffins but also a range of unusual and rare birds and sea mammals, many other Shetland seabirds (including the wonderful Storm Petrels…
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Book reprint – Exploring Wales by William Condry, an appreciation
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This is not a wildlife book, although there is wildlife in it, but it is a reprint of a book first published in 1970 and written by a great naturalist, and this book reminds us, a great writer. Also, the introduction is written by Neville Jones, a friend of Bill Condry and an acquaintance of…
Book review – Bird Day by Mark E. Hauber, illustrated by Tony Angell
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This small book is built around the idea of writing about 24 birds from around the world, but one for each hour of the day. What is the species doing at that particular time? It’s an approach that works partly but not, in my opinion, brilliantly. After all, you need to know something about the…
Press release: Lambs not a major food source for breeding White-tailed Eagles in Scotland (RSPB & SOC)
Lambs not a major food source for breeding White-tailed Eagles in Scotland New study finds proportion of nests with evidence of lamb as prey declines over 20-year period A new study assessing the diet of breeding White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) – also known as Sea Eagles – in Scotland between 1998 and 2017 has found…
Press release: Scotland’s oldest wild pine saved by Trees for Life
Remote woodland – home to Scotland’s oldest wild pine – saved as part of rewilding initiative A remote ancient woodland – home to Scotland’s oldest wild Scots pine, which is at least 565-years-old – has been saved from being lost forever and given a chance of regeneration thanks to Trees for Life, as part of…
Cabin Boy chosen for sinking ship
Well, who would have believed it? As Amanda Anderson departs (see here and here), Andrew Gilruth is appointed CEO of the Moorland Association. There is a bit of job title inflation going on here. Amanda succeeded Martin Gillibrand, who had the title of Secretary, whereas I believe Amanda was called Director, but now Andrew is…
My personal response to the HSE lead ammunition consultation
A live public consultation by the Health and Safety Executive on the future of lead ammunition is in play until 23:59 on Sunday 10 December. This should see the end of the use, sale and availability of lead shot and lead bullets for shooting at live quarry – also known as live animals. Such regulation…
Guest blog – Lead ammunition, the way forward by John Swift
Mark writes: John Swift is the former boss of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and from 2010 chaired the Lead Ammunition Group set up by the last Labour government which reported to government in 2015 and which was treated so shabbily by the outgoing Secretary of State for Environment, a certain Liz Truss,…
This blog’s Books of the Year 2023
It seems that I have reviewed 47 books on this blog this year – slightly fewer than in the last couple of years – but a wide-ranging varied selection including many high quality works. If you are looking for a Christmas present for a nature-loving naturalist then this list might give you some ideas and…
Stephen Moss’s 2023 Round-up of Nature Books
Stephen Moss is a naturalist, author and, until recently, a course leader of the MA in Travel & Nature Writing at Bath Spa University. Here is his annual round-up of books about wildlife, nature and the environment which was formerly published by The Guardian but this is the sixth year it has appeared on this…