When the ecological Pope Francis released some white doves as a sign of peace they were attacked by a corvid and a larid see here, here, here. How metaphorical can you get? My reactions were varied: 1. The nerdy birder: it’s not a ‘seagull’ – it looks like Larus michahellis to me with those yellow…
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Petitions, petitions, petitions.
Tomorrow, wildlife cameraman and natural history presenter Gordon Buchanan will appear at the Holyrood Petitions Committee to ask the Scottish Parliament to support a RSPB campaign formally to adopt the Golden Eagle as Scotland’s national bird. The campaign calls for the adoption of the Golden Eagle as a new national symbol, alongside the lion rampant,…
Actions speak louder than words
Have you seen the RSPB’s latest Birdcrime publication which came out in December? It’s beautifully produced and has a lot of sense in it. Here are some quotes from Martin Harper’s introduction. ‘Persecution is so common and widespread that it is the most important factor limiting populations of some treasured and iconic species,including hen harriers,…
Oscar Dewhurst – Stonechat
Oscar writes: One October morning, just after dawn, while I was out photographing the deer rut, I came across a pair of Stonechats in a patch of bracken. This provided too much of a distraction, and I didn’t get another deer photograph that morning! I love the frost on the bracken, and the colours…
BGBW with my MP
I did the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch with my MP, Andy Sawford, yesterday morning. I was grateful to Andy for popping in for an hour on his way to do some knocking on doors nearby. He seemed to bring some luck with him because the bird total was the best I recall for several…
The week in birding by Jonnie Fisk
Our Red-necked Phalaropes go to the Pacific and their loons come to Northern Ireland. Do you remember when getting BW Stilt for your year list just meant a walk down to the sea at Titchwell any day of the year? Kumlien’s Gull? Click here. Welsh for LB Dowitcher? Giach Gylfin-hir of course!
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
Give John Armitage a birthday present
It’s John Armitage’s birthday today – Happy Birthday John! I know that some of you have been meaning to get around to adding your signatures to John’s e-petition on licensing grouse moors, so why not do it today and make it a birthday present!? The e-petition has picked up a bit of pace recently and…
Silver for Hoy, Gold goes to Packham – Sanctuary again
Derby City Council received over 700 objections to its ill-judged plans to wreck the Sanctuary Local Nature reserve (and c630 in favour). Cyclists are accustomed to sprinting for the line and know that losing can be a matter of fractions of an inch and a second. But second is second. Despite enlisting the help of…
Those dark eyes
I looked into her dark eyes in a way I never had before – they were so beautiful. Why hadn’t I noticed? Her rounded breast swelled and…she burst into song, because she (or maybe he, but I prefer to think she) was a Robin. It was near the end of one of my regular walks…