Malta is a member of the EU but seems to think that it can break and bend the rules of the club by allowing spring hunting of migrant birds that pass across this Mediterranean island on their way north. Birds of all sorts are killed at this time of year. The other evening a party…
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Peaceful protest against Hen Harrier persecution
There will be a peaceful protest against Hen Harrier persecution somewhere in the north of England on or around (probably before) the ‘Glorious’ 12th August this year. Let me know if you would be interested in taking part and wish to be kept informed by emailing mark@markavery.info The number of people expressing an interest is…
Oscar Dewhurst – Red Fox
Oscar writes: This was taken one afternoon during late October 2012. I love the light on its fur, and its expression. I spent most of the winter photographing the foxes here. Oscar’s website – and follow him on Twitter @oscardewhurst. Nikon D300s, Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR A ‘real countryman’ writes: what a wonderful image, Oscar….
Sunday book review – Top Gun of the Sky by Martin Bradley
This is a beautifully illustrated book. It is illustrated and written by Martin Bradley who works at the Exxon Mobil Fawley Refinery in Hampshire (where Peregrines nest). The illustrations are bold and just a little bit different – have a look and you will see what I mean (and see above). The book is aimed…
The week in birding by Jonnie Fisk (@jonniefisk)
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Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill (@cartoonralph)
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Mark writes: I’ve never seen a wild boar in the UK – my sightings have all been in France and Spain. I was once told, in France, and in French but I think i got the right end of the stick, that the modern equivalent of pig-sticking (hunting boars with lances on horseback) involved…
Happy Easter!
I had a look at the Pasque Flowers at Barnack last week – they were wonderful but should be much more numerous now. Happy Easter!
Nonsense (2)
Yesterday’s blog was about the media coverage of the GWCT’s farmland bird survey. I was struck by the quotes, in The Times, of Jim Egan saying that the survey had been set up ‘partly to counter claims by green groups that farmers were doing little to protect birds‘. Ben Webster’s piece also said that Jim…
Cut!
The ‘lawn’ has been cut for the first time since the autumn. You can see that this end of the garden is a bit rough and ready. I think I might have preferred it uncut! I’ve left a strip of unmown grass on one side to participate in…
Nonsense
I did, kind of, tell you so… In The Times, once a dull but reliable newspaper, a few days ago there was a headline thus ‘Farmers praised as Skylarks soar again’ (click here but you need a subscription). The piece by Ben Webster was a write-up of the GWCT ‘survey’ of farmland birds by farmers…