The clue was really in the names. I saw Meadow Pipits (which I could identify but were nice to see), my first Meadow Browns of the year (which I also could identify) but also Meadowsweet (I know that one), Meadow Buttercup (there are an awful lot of buttercups), Meadow Cranesbill (I can do that…
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What a hoot! #owlsforall
This morning I did a little interview on the Today programme (1hr 21 minutes into programme) – about Labour’s new policy of an owl for everyone. What a hoot! Yesterday the Labour Party Press Twitter account was hacked (by the Provisional RSPB or the Provisional Barn Owl Trust or the Provisional Hawk and Owl Trust?)…
Today programme
Listen to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme between 0730-0800 and you may hear me talking about Labour’s new wildlife-friendly owl policy . WHAT A HOOT! But while you are here, please sign my e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting – thank you.
My friends in Greenpeace
The headline caught my eye ‘Greenpeace loses £3m of public donations after currency gaffes‘. ‘Crikey!’, I thought, ‘How awful!’. Then I read the piece, and the similar piece in the Guardian, and relaxed. Greenpeace International (not Greenpeace UK) has cocked up on some currency deals and sacked the person responsible. OK – not clever, but…
Who’d have thought it?
I keep an eye on what rare birds are present in Northants although I rarely do anything about them! Two or three weeks ago, on a Sunday, there was a pair of Black-winged Stilts at the local Summer Leys nature reserve only a few minutes away from my home. I didn’t rush off to look…
Making Hay and a Shared Planet
I enjoyed travelling over to Hay-on-Wye a few weeks ago to be a panellist on the Shared Planet programme that will be broadcast today at 1100 and next Monday (23 June at 9pm). I’d never been to the Hay Festival, and I’d often wondered what it was like. I haven’t been to Hay-on-Wye for about…
Another unsatisfactory response from Defra
I met up with Sir John Randall MP earlier in the week for a chat about a range of issues – mostly about birds as Sir John is a keen birder. Yes, we covered Malta, Hen Harriers, the banning of driven grouse shooting and a range of other topics. We also talked about diclofenac use…
Malta
I recently received this letter from the British High Commission in Malta after emailing them to ask them, what they were doing on my behalf to make my feelings about illegal spring hunting clear to the Maltese government. Dear Dr Avery, Thank you for your email about the hunting of wild birds in Malta….
The right Spot
I did almost the same thing two years ago – almost to the day. It was sunnier in 2012, though. I headed off to Achurch churchyard to look for Spotted Flycatchers. Isn’t it awful that I have to have a special trip to see them in my part of the world? Churchyards seem to be…
Make something happen
I’ve already supported this idea with just a few quid – it won’t take many more people to copy me to get this idea off the ground. See what you think of ‘Go Find It’ – sensory outdoor treasure hunt card game (of all things!) which is allegedly for children but I can imagine some…