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The loathsome Linnet

Mark 21 Comments

I have previously  sketched out the reasons why the Linnet is generally regarded as Britain’s least-loved bird. It’s a little bird – its size signifies its insignificance. It isn’t much of a finch, let alone much of a bird. Size isn’t everything, but the Linnet is in every sense a little bird. It doesn’t measure…

Henry oop north again.

Mark 2 Comments

Welcome to Richmondshire? Then why is the sign pepperesd with shotgun pellet wounds?   You be careful Henry. It’s a wildlife crime scene.   #HaveYouSeenHenry?  

Mulling eagles

Mark 12 Comments

Yesterday I was on Mull looking for eagles like many other tourists, and today I was reading about tourists going to Mull to look for eagles in the Guardian. Yesterday we passed two Germans who gave us a big grin and a thumbs up as they looked at a Buzzard. I looked around for an…

What’s a gin trap?

Mark 2 Comments

‘What’s a gin trap?’asks Henry? ‘Is it a place where you people drink gin?’ Not exactly Henry. I’d steer clear of them, if I were you! But this is a nice Norfolk pub. #HaveYouseenHenry?    

Northern Bald Ibis

Mark 22 Comments

This morning’s discussion about the Northern Bald Ibis on the Today programme was a bit pathetic and maybe exemplifies the BBC’s inability to deal accurately and seriously with wildlife stories. Jim Naughtie couldn’t pronounce ‘ibis’ properly and neither he nor the reporter could manage to say ‘ornithologist’. Hardly the worst crime in the world, even…

Beefy loses his line and length

Mark 19 Comments

Last week the You Forgot the Birds campaign disclosed that their ‘campaign’ was funded by the British grouse industry. Today, in the Mail on Sunday (prop P Dacre, grouse moor owner) YFtB is described as a grassroots campaign of farmers and conservationists. 59-year old Ian Botham has been brought back into the bowling attack. He attempts…