That’s right – 14 Red Kites. This case shows the power of poisons and the vulnerability of raptors that will feed on carrion. You don’t need many people to be putting poisons out in the countryside to make a hole in raptor populations. I saw…
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If song were solid…
It was the snails that got me thinking… On my walks at Stanwick Lakes, at least on those fairly early in the morning, I am sometimes struck by the trails of snails, and the occasional slug, across the gritty tracks. Although almost all the molluscs are departed one can see where they have been on…
But me no buts
I haven’t seen many butterflies yet this year – a few Peacocks, lots of lovely Brimstones and some very welcome Small Tortoiseshells. But I am keeping my fingers crossed for a sunny, warm summer with lots of butterflies on the wing. Last year, do you remember?, consisted of a grotty spring and then a fine…
Spring – time for the British to kill some raptors
As well as those dozen dead Red Kites and four Buzzards in Ross-shire there has been a poisoned Peregrine found in southern Scotland and a Buzzard trapped in the Peak District. What is it with some land managers in this country? It’s spring, time to kill off some wildlife. At least these examples have come…
Malmesbury revisited
The last time I was in Malmesbury there was a Fieldfare looking over the building site; this time there was a Chiffchaff. Whether the Chiffchaff’s song was celebrating the activity on the site of what will be a new Waitrose store is difficult to know, but there was certainly a lot going on with around…
Why isn’t this even bigger news?
The poisoning of 12 Red Kites and four buzzards in Ross-shire is shocking. See here, here, here, here and here. How long do we have to put up with this type of carnage? Red Kites by Don Macauley via wikimedia commons Buzzard by Andreas Trepte via wikimedia commons
That makes a lot of sense
The pilot badger cull was inhumane and ineffective. The NFU says that farmers are ‘bitterly disappointed’ that it won’t be rolled out further.
More bits
isn’t this result on whaling absolutely fantastic (see also here, here, here)? I heard my first Blackcap this spring at Stanwick Lakes on Monday – a March Blackcap IPCC – we’re doomed, but not if we do something (lots, soon) BGBW results I was distracted a few times in a meeting the other day by…
Botany
I’m not very good on flowers – but I know what I like. I like the spring and I have noticed, at least I think I have noticed, that there are lots of yellow flowers around at this time of year. As well as the daffodils and primroses, there are aconites and celandines, and I…
A new month
Since it is a new month I have decided to turn over a new leaf. From now on I will: take up game shooting vote Conservative enjoy Flat racing more than National Hunt racing give up going to Stanwick Lakes take up botany give up birding stop being vegetarian four days a week give up…