There has been a male Hen Harrier seen regularly at my local patch of Stanwick Lakes since well before Christmas. Quite a lot of people have seen it, quite a lot of us have not, and I’d really like to see it. I’d like to see it because it is always good to see a…
Category: VERY BIRDY: birdwatching and birding nattering
English Winter Bird Survey
I’ve done a couple of visits to my regular BBS squares in order to collect information on wintering farmland birds for a survey funded by Natural England and Defra. Here are some of the highs and lows so far. Doing a bird survey is a good way to start the new year and that’s what…
My little monthly project – and a challenge
Last year I kept an eye open for Red Kites – and saw them very often through the year – over 200 days in 2018. I enjoyed keeping that eye open and wondered what to do this year. So, I’ve decided that I will keep a monthly list of species I see from my home…
Red Kites in my 2018
This year, the departing 2018, I’ve kept a note of whether I see Red Kites each day. The December tally was 20 days out of 31. January: 22 days out of 31. February: 24 days out of 28. March: 26 days out of 31. April: 20 days out of 30. May: 7 days out of…
Congratulations Ruth Tingay!
Ruth Tingay looking for a bacon sandwich Congratulations to Ruth Tingay – the highly deserving Birdwatch Birders’ Choice Conservation Hero of 2018. Ruth won by a mile – and that was richly deserved. The Raptor Persecution UK blog is a great example of how a niche interest (no offence – but it is a niche…
Birdwatch Birders’ Choice awards – you chose well!
Comments Off on Birdwatch Birders’ Choice awards – you chose well!
My copy of the January Birdwatch came through the letter box yesterday and I turned straight to the Birders’ Choice awards results. You chose well – I’ll come back to this in a few days time. Birdwatch is available in all good newsagents.
Stand by for more Pallid Harriers
There’s a paper in this month’s British Birds which shows that Pallid Harriers are being recorded in bigger numbers in most west European countres in recent years – including in the UK. The changing status of the Pallid Harrier in western Europe by Mike Henry. The data given are convincing and this upsurge is rather…
Kites everywhere
As you may remember I am keeping a note of which days I see Red Kites this year. I’ve not seen one today, yet, even though it’s a sunny day. But the weekend before last I had to go to Corby to do some shopping – a distance of 16 miles. That short journey delivered…
Red Kites in November
I’m keeping a note of whether I see Red Kites on each day through the year – the November tally was 18 days out of 30. January: 22 days out of 31. February: 24 days out of 28. March: 26 days out of 31. April: 20 days out of 30. May: 7 days out of…
Birdwatch – a change of face
The December issue of Birdwatch is as demanding of attention as all of its predecessors but this issue is the first under the editorship of long-term staff member, Rebecca Armstrong. Good start Rebecca! I’ve been sending Rebecca my copy every month for well over seven years now, and I’ve been on a couple of trips…