I’m lucky – although, actually, luck didn’t have that much to do with it; I live in the countryside. This means that I can drive for 20 minutes, as I did on Saturday evening, and stand in an ancient woodland at dusk and listen to Nightingales singing. I do this every year – and it…
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Letter in a battle – Spring Migrant Massacre on Malta
This letter was sent to the EU Environment Commissioner on 24 April about the role of the European Commission in sorting out the Spring massacre of migrants in Malta. Here is a quote from it: “In view of the abundant evidence presented to the European Commission about the systemic failures in the application of the…
Nearer to home
It’s not just in Malta that birds of prey are killed illegally, of course. My nearest station is at Wellingborough, and because I am always early I get to do a few minutes birding from the station platform every now and then. Waxwing, a flock of them, is my ‘best’ bird from the station but…
Malta and the Spring Massacre
Chris Packham and team have done a great job in publicising events on Malta over the last 10 days. This was a self-funded project done for the love of birds. And what a great example it has been of the use of celebrity to promote a cause. If you haven’t seen the videos from Malta…
Oscar Dewhurst – White-bellied Parrot
Comments Off on Oscar Dewhurst – White-bellied Parrot
Oscar writes: Since 19 February I’ve been in Peru, staying at Los Amigos Biological Research Station. One of my favourite places here is the canopy tower which stretches 60m up into the air. One evening a group of White-bellied Parrots landed in a brazil nut tree before heading off to roost. Nikon D300s, Nikon 600mm…
Sunday book review – The Birds at the Bottom of the Garden by Carl Mynott
This is a small book for small people of around pre-school age. I’m a bit older than that, and so are my kids, but I bet they would have loved this book 20 years ago. The words, which are mostly in rhyming verse, and pictures, which are diagrammatic, are both by the author. It’s a…
The week in birding by Jonnie Fisk
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Mark writes: wouldn’t it be interesting to know what is in our politicians’ minds? There are some politicians who don’t seem to be able to open their mouths without putting their feet in them. After they have perpetrated too many foot-in-mouths they seem to disappear from the scene. Is there a cupboard in Whitehall which…
I’m no saint…
…although that was my Mum’s maiden name, so it was closer than you might think. Today is St Mark’s Day. This is the day when you might see some St Mark’s Flies. They are big hairy things that are a bit annoying. But there are no flies on me.
Guest Blog – It’s a marathon not a sprint by Alastair Driver
Alastair Driver has the honour of inclusion in Who’s Who for “distinction and influence” in the field of environmental conservation and is one of the most experienced river and wetland conservationists in the UK, with a growing international reputation in the field of catchment management. He became the first ever Conservation Officer for the Thames…