I’ve heard lots of Cuckoos this year. It seems like a good year for them – what do you think? Last year, around now, I headed off to the USA to research my book on Passenger Pigeons and I had had two records of Cuckoo up until this date (I know, because Birdtrack lets me…
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It’s May
The May is well and truly out in east Northamptonshire. This line of Hawthorn bushes really caught my eye. Isn’t it lovely? Although, in the Lake District on Tuesday I saw plenty of Primroses, and in Lancashire yesterday, and West Yorkshire today, I saw lots of Bluebells. Do enjoy spring, whatever stage it is…
JNCC nonsense
JNCC easily slip under my radar but they aren’t irrelevant. Here is a paper which claims to advance the thinking on protected areas but shows signs that it might take thinking backwards instead. Here is a most unpleasant quote: “It seems that for protected areas to be more effective in the future, becoming a flexible…
Guest Blog – A Poem for Swifts by Steve Halton
SKY-WORDS: A POEM FOR SWIFTS I’m not interested in being the first to see them, Or seeing them on the earliest date; That’s not important… And I’m happy with that… I could go chasing them (I know where they are) But I won’t, I’ll wait Until They judge it’s time To show themselves To me…
The curse of this blog…aaaarrrrghhh!
Have you noticed that this blog can cast its spell quite widely? Cambridge haven’t won the Boat Race since they attracted our attention last year (here, here, here, here, here, here and here, here). This year’s performance was particularly dire, wasn’t it. Whereas as soon as Derby City Council renounced their daft ideas to wreck…
General Licence response
If you wish to respond to the consultation on the General Licence (in England) then you have until the end of next Monday to do it. The General Licence does what it sounds like it does. Instead of having to apply for an individual licence to kill some wildlife, and justify it on a case…
Malta Massacre discussed in Parliament thanks to Sir John Randall
This blog is a fan of Sir John Randall, Conservative MP for Uxbridge. John is a birder and understands the environment better than most. He’s also a really nice guy. Last week, whilst I was away trying, without much success, to see some Hen Harriers, John organised a Westminster Hall debate on the terrible state…
Catfield Fen – again
I have previously blogged about Catfield Fen on 30 May 2012, 22 August 2012, 10 September 2012, 30 September 2012 and 6 August 2013. These things do drag on don’t they? Many readers of this blog emailed the EA on this subject last year – for which I thank you, and for which I have…
Oscar Dewhurst – Red-legged Partridge
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Oscar writes: This was taken during the spring at RSPB Minsmere. I spotted a group of Red-legged Partridges in the long grasses. Taking my camera off its tripod, I lay down, and started to crawl towards them. I never really got into a position from which I had a completely clear view, but this was…
A Message from Martha
In two months’ time, A Message from Martha: the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon and its relevance today will be published in the UK. Chris Packham is one of only about half a dozen people who has read it so far and he says: ‘This hugely thought provoking and important book is the kick up…