An account on Twitter (@PaulThomas992) has kept me smiling with its wry look at the Somerset Levels in recent days. Yes, it’s all very serious and I don’t have a flooded house… SOMERSET BIRD NEWS. Early signs that waterlogged Blue Tits and Hedge Sparrows are evolving Dipper-style preen glands SOMERSET LEVELS, latest sightings: Dead Harbour…
BLOG POSTS
Do, please, remember to…
1. Complete the readers’ survey for this blog. Over 700 responses so far. 2. Sign this e-petition asking for grouse moors to be licensed which passed 8,600 signatures today.
Them and us, and what you want
There has been a lot of nonsense talked about the non-reappointment of Baroness Morgan to Ofsted. Once a political party is in power then it is likely, and well-advised, to appoint like-thinking people to positions of power and influence. They need to be hard-working and able people, and people with other qualities than simply ‘one…
Oscar Dewhurst – Ring-necked Parakeet
Oscar writes: this was taken in May 2011, during my GCSEs. I spend most of the Spring revising so barely had any time for photography, but whenever the weather was good I would do my work outside at our garden table, with my camera beside me in case anything turned up. One evening I…
Readers’ survey
I’d be very grateful if you would take this readers’ survey – which is partly a repeat of a previous survey just over a year ago. Your answers will be anonymous – I won’t know (and frankly, I’m not interested in knowing) what named individuals answered. Last year I asked 12 questions, this year 11…
The week in birding by Jonnie Fisk
It’s been a bit quiet – and a bit wet – and a bit January.
Saturday cartoon by Ralph Underhill
January – rain stopped play
I am suffering from bird deprivation! I’ve seen under 90 species of bird so far this year. My visit to the Exe Estuary and a boat trip was rained off. My visit to the north Norfolk coast was rained off. My visit to the Nene Washes was curtailed by the rain. I was so desperate…
The raptor haters? – Lord Tebbit.
The ‘raptor haters?’ is an occasional series of posts about those who slag off raptors. Lord Tebbit was a pilot and therefore could be expected to have empathy with those with mastery of the air. He also has sound environmental transport credentials having recommended that people get on their bikes. How sad then, to discover…
Grouse moor licensing
Four weeks today we will know how many signatures have been attached to John Armitage’s e-petition on licensing of grouse moors (a policy supported by the RSPB). In the last 10 days the e-petition has really picked up speed – it’s amazing what a deadline does, isn’t it? It now stands at over 8350 signatures…