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…
BLOG POSTS
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…
Letter to my MP
This is my latest letter to my MP – in line with my suggestion to readers of my Birdwatch column – ‘the political birder’. Why don’t you drop your MP an email along similar lines? Dear Andy First may I thank you for coming round and doing the Big Garden Birdwatch with me. You seemed…
Two passings
I spent much of yesterday sitting at a computer and listening to the music of the late Pete Seeger on Spotify. As I travelled through the USA last summer I listened to his voice quite often and I found it inspiring. Many of us, of a certain age, will have heard songs such as Where…