In this week’s Country Life magazine (p32-33) there is one of those For/Against features. This one is on burning and the RSPB’s Dr Pat Thompson wins hands down over the Moorland Association’s Amanda Anderson. I’m not sure how Country Life would feel about that as they start the ‘debate’ with a complete non sequitur: ‘…heather…
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Oscar Dewhurst – Barn Owl
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Oscar writes: the Eels Foot Inn is the pub in Eastbridge, about a mile from Minsmere. Other than its perfect location, another great thing about it is that the field behind it is frequented by hunting Barn Owls! Every evening at about 7pm this bird would hunt over the field, seemingly unconcerned by the group…
Sunday book review – Skydancer by Martin Bradley
This is the latest book by Martin Bradley (see here and here) aimed primarily at children – and this time he tackles the controversial Hen Harrier. There is a lot to like in this book although I think there are a few snags in it too. Personally I like the illustrations, most of them, very…
Hen Harrier Eve, 8 August
Three weeks today there is an evening celebration of the Hen Harrier in the Palace Hotel, Buxton, featuring Chris Packham, Mark Cocker, Jeremy Deller, Henry the Hen Harrier and myself. Most of the tickets are sold or reserved, but some are still available, £10 each. Hen Harrier Eve – 8 August 2015 1830 Doors…
Join the Hen Harrier Day thunderclap – update 3
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“We’re missing our Hen Harriers – and we want them back!” That’s the message that will be sent through social media at 10am on Hen Harrier Day, 9 August to a ‘social reach’ which currently stands at over 1.8 million people. Last year, by Hen Harrier Day, the social reach was well over 2 million…
You can still win a signed copy of Behind the Binoculars
There have been very few entries for this fiendishly difficult quiz which could win you a copy of Behind the Binoculars (see review by Rare Bird Alert here) – but someone must win, so why not have a go! Entries close tomorrow (Sunday) at 1800. Behind the Binoculars is a series of interviews with birdy…
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
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Henry – so nonchalant
Henry looking very nonchalant – leaning on a Perthshire grouse butt. Henry is looking forward to Hen Harrier Eve – 200 tickets sold already (fewer than 100 left). Henry has joined the Hen Harrier Day thunderclap Henry is looking forward to being in the Goyt Valley on Hen Harrier Day to hear Chris Packham…
Andy, Yvette, Jeremy and Liz
The Labour Party is having a leadership election. As a party member I get to vote in it. It’s a very difficult choice – they are all so dull! I cannot detect a smidgeon of wildlife interest in the lot of them – but maybe I am misjudging Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and…
Henry ponders Langholm 2
Henry is here rather wistfully eyeing up the ringtail babes on this helpful sign about the second Langholm Project – Langholm 2. Langholm 2 has been going for ages and is looking at how with better management, restoration of heather cover and techniques like diversionary feeding, Hen Harriers and driven grouse shooting might co-exist together….