Labour’s nature deficit

Whenever I am feeling a bit out of sorts with the Labour party I read the words on the back of my membership card which says ‘by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone’. I believe that stuff. The trouble is, when it comes to environmental issues, I am…

Oscar Dewhurst – Blue Tit

Oscar writes: In Suffolk one morning the reed beds took on a wonderful golden colour due to the low sun and carpet of mist across the tops of the reeds. I desperately wanted to find something to photograph in this gorgeous light, and fortunately I noticed a group of blue tits feeding on the reed…

Malta’s missed opportunity – statement from BirdLife Malta

Although the result is not yet official, it seems certain that the Maltese people have voted 51:49 in favour of spring hunting. Steve Micklewright, Director of BirdLife Malta, one of the organisations leading the campaign to abolish spring hunting said, “This was an incredible opportunity for the people of Malta to stop the senseless killing…

That was close – but no cigar!

The Maltese people have voted by a very small margin, 51:49, to keep spring hunting. That’s very, very close but it’s a result. I wonder what the next step is. Maybe our wildlife NGOs really should think of a campaign to boycott Malta now. The accepted wisdom has been that too hard a campaign from…

Partly uncoiled

I had kept an eye on the weather forecast and rain was heading our way so I was at Stanwick Lakes for a bit of spring-spotting at 0700 this morning.  It was cold again – it felt like the weather had stepped back to early March from mid-April. There was lots of song – Chiffchaffs…

Still coiled

On Wednesday morning it was a lovely warm day and I thought I’d check how Spring was coming along before putting on a suit and heading to London to see my publisher, Bloomsbury, and then go to lunch with Lord Gnome. Stanwick Lakes was full of song: Chiffchaff song, Song Thrush song, Chaffinch song, Wren…

Skydancer film

Henry says ‘Here is a link to the excellent Hen Harrier film made by the Haltwistle Film Project as part of the RSPB Skydancer project.  Look at it and see what all the fuss is about… …and then vote for me, the Hen Harrier in the national bird vote please.‘.