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…
BLOG POSTS
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…
A Waitrose near you – if you live in Malmesbury
I’ve been doing a few bits of work for a consultancy which, in turn, is advising the John Lewis Partnership (which includes my local Waitrose), on how to make their business, and particularly their supermarket sites, better for wildlife. My role is to be an external challenge to the thinking – and that’s one I’m…
Likes and dislikes, adverts etc
I added ‘like’ and ‘dislike’ buttons to this site a few months ago. They appear on every page, every blog post and every comment. I added them to the site because a few people asked for them, and they are often found on websites like mine. It’s entirely up to you if you use them…
Exeter birding
A stroll around the floodplain at Exeter on Sunday morning produced two incidents which made me smile and a few additions to the year list. Any spot of birdwatching in January may add a few birds to the growing year list (not a massive priority for me but fun to see the list growing). As…
A few things
Big Garden Birdwatch is this weekend. It’s more fun, probably, if you remember to fill your bird feeders than if you don’t! John Armitage’s e-petition on licensing of grouse moors and gamekeepers is gathering a little pace – and has passed 7,800 signatures. There are four weeks to go. If you keep meaning to sign…