Friday was quite a busy day, with news about crimes against birds of prey tumbling out early in the day. This was a bit inconvenient for me as I had other things planned. But it means that we’ve all had the weekend to mull over the news. What was the news?: The RSPB published a…
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Oscar Dewhurst – Red Deer
Every autumn I try and spend a few early mornings in Richmond Park to photograph the deer rut. On this occasion the forecasted clear skies had not materialised, but were instead replaced with thick cloud. I still managed a couple of images, though, such as this stag roaring with grass in his antlers. Nikon D800,…
Catching up – bird flu and Pheasants
I’ve been catching up on Pheasant rearing techniques now that the Pheasant shooting season has ended. There are four Pheasant-rearing facilities which are under Defra special measures in Lancashire at the moment, at three of which H5N8 bird flu has been detected. Defra keep using this phrase ‘There are links between them that pose a…
Tim Melling – Wattled Jacana
I don’t know what it is about Capybaras but many species of bird and animal use them as a perch, and they don’t seem to mind. In fact there is Tumblr page dedicated to animals sitting on Capybaras. This one is a Wattled Jacana, sometimes known as a Lilytrotter but maybe more appropriately Capybaratrotter. There…
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Simon King and the Wildlife Trusts! And well done to all who helped this e-petition get over the 100,000 signature line.
Badger cull e-petition to pass 100,000 signatures today?
I’m delighted that it looks as if the e-petition to end the Badger cull will pass 100,000 signatures this weekend and probably today. Hooray! There are three weeks to go, but at current rate of signing it will be very soon. Well done to Simon King and the Wildlife Trusts (or at least some of…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
RSPB – go ask for the NE data.
One of the quotes from today’s RSPB Birdcrime report is; ‘Natural England holds a wealth of data from hen harriers tagged since 2007. We have recommended that the Government commissions an independent investigation of these data to help determine where and why tagged hen harriers and other tagged birds of prey are disappearing.’ Well, there…
Very likely!! X-ray of Rowan emerges.
At last the X-ray of Rowan’s injuries has been published. This shows his shattered left leg with fragments of shot by the wound. Looks pretty clear. This X-ray has finally emerged on an RSPB blog – good for them! – but it’s a rather strange route considering this was a bird tagged by the Hawk…
Birdcrime and news of another shot Hen Harrier
The RSPB report on crimes against birds in 2015 has just been published online. 2015 seems like a long time ago but the report is a strong reminder of the scale of wildlife crime against birds that still exists in this country in the twenty-first century. Remember Annie? Stody Estate withdrawal of subsidy? Mutch case?…