Not a newspaper article but it was an article in an email I got today from Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The article was about waders that you might see in Cheshire during the autumn migration. The first bird listed with a bold headline was a Grand Sandpiper! Having
been a birder for over 60 years I cannot recall having seen a Grand Sandpiper anywhere. The trouble is it looks exactly like a Green Sandpiper so the ID of this new world species will be difficult to get on anybody's list! An oops moment for the CWT.
David Hughes said
Sun Aug 28 9:13 AM, 2022
Nice to see james walsh get a write up in birdwatch magazine page 72.well done.
There was another brilliant example of the media attempting to report a story, about which they knew nothing of the subject matter, in the Metro on Monday. The tragic end of a mega-migrant at the hands of a window in Weymouth had the sting taken from it as they described the bird as a 'Russian white thrush'!! As Bob Geldof once sang 'Don't believe what you read'.
Peter Nolan Woolley said
Wed Sep 1 5:01 PM, 2021
An article from the Men, regarding Peregrine at Media City. Featuring a few familiar names.
The Perfect Ten Birds of Greater Manchester Survey Now Online
Note that the "Perfect Ten Birds of Greater Manchester" Survey is open until Tuesday 22nd June - it would be great if as many birders, especially local patchers, as possible could complete the survey... results announced via @MancNature on Sunday 27th June
Thank you David, for drawing my attention to this poem Armistice .
Wonderful poetry and very very appropriate
at this time.
Craig Higson said
Fri Oct 5 4:25 PM, 2018
dave broome wrote:
The Guardian have reported today that GP surgeries in Shetland have been authorised to direct patients to birding and other wildlife watching, to compliment conventional prescribed drugs. Something I once said should be done (in Manchester City Centre sightings thread I think)
Ass Ming its taken up in England, what chance I can get my GP to prescribe me a week long session on Fair Isle in Sept on a prescription?
dave broome said
Fri Oct 5 1:34 PM, 2018
The Guardian have reported today that GP surgeries in Shetland have been authorised to direct patients to birding and other wildlife watching, to compliment conventional prescribed drugs. Something I once said should be done (in Manchester City Centre sightings thread I think)
David Walsh said
Thu Oct 4 10:32 PM, 2018
Not a bird article, but a fantastic simile on Skylarks, in Sir Andrew Motion's poem "Armistice"
"Lark music, like a distillation of daylight itself" - Brilliant.
The start of the Grouse shooting season is on Monday the 13th of August this year(illegal to shoot game birds on Sunday)
Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association says '' Half of the grouse shoots across England and Wales have cancelled their entire
2018 shooting programmes with the remainder running at a much reduced schedule''
The Scottish borders too, are having to abandon planned events to allow (grouse) stocks to recover.
Young birds are suffering the most and down by 33% compared to 2017
The harsh winter and the hot summer (lack of insects and reduced heather growth), and growing numbers of parasites in Scotland are contributing factors.
This is the Moorland Association's press release. In private it will all be blamed on birds of prey with no doubt devastating consequences for them. Also more than a suggestion of them trying to keep a lower profile with strength of feeling growing against these anachronistic relics of the class system.
Andy B
The article in the Telegraph was written by Coran Elliot and is not a press release, Andy. The article contains other quotes from Dr Adam Smith, Scotland Director of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust,
Debbie Collins a spokesman for BASC, and James Chapel a spokesman for William Powell Sporting. There is no mention of Birds of Prey.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Aug 10 8:45 PM, 2018
Keith Mills wrote:
In todays Daily Telegraph page 9:
''Inglorious 12th as lack of grouse hits shoots''
The start of the Grouse shooting season is on Monday the 13th of August this year(illegal to shoot game birds on Sunday)
Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association says '' Half of the grouse shoots across England and Wales have cancelled their entire
2018 shooting programmes with the remainder running at a much reduced schedule''
The Scottish borders too, are having to abandon planned events to allow (grouse) stocks to recover.
Young birds are suffering the most and down by 33% compared to 2017
The harsh winter and the hot summer (lack of insects and reduced heather growth), and growing numbers of parasites in Scotland are contributing factors.
This is the Moorland Association's press release. In private it will all be blamed on birds of prey with no doubt devastating consequences for them. Also more than a suggestion of them trying to keep a lower profile with strength of feeling growing against these anachronistic relics of the class system.
Andy B
Keith Mills said
Fri Aug 10 7:04 PM, 2018
In todays Daily Telegraph page 9:
''Inglorious 12th as lack of grouse hits shoots''
The start of the Grouse shooting season is on Monday the 13th of August this year(illegal to shoot game birds on Sunday)
Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association says '' Half of the grouse shoots across England and Wales have cancelled their entire
2018 shooting programmes with the remainder running at a much reduced schedule''
The Scottish borders too, are having to abandon planned events to allow (grouse) stocks to recover.
Young birds are suffering the most and down by 33% compared to 2017
The harsh winter and the hot summer (lack of insects and reduced heather growth), and growing numbers of parasites in Scotland are contributing factors.
David Walsh said
Sun Aug 5 2:48 PM, 2018
Again, not a newspaper, but another interesting update from NW Norfolk, and the Dersingham Bog Stonechats, for anyone interested in this species.
The Flemish wildlife agency has blocked an application for a second nudists beach, to protect the Crested Larks in the nearby dunes.
Near Ostend Belgium.
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Monday 23rd of July 2018 01:02:01 PM
Keith Mills said
Mon Jul 9 1:38 PM, 2018
Thanks Roger, predictive text change; Harford Bridge it is!
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Monday 9th of July 2018 01:42:34 PM
Roger Baker 3 said
Sun Jul 8 7:21 PM, 2018
Keith Mills wrote:
The Eastern Daily Press reports, today, the story of Swallows
nests that have been destroyed at Tescos Hartford Bridge branch at Norwich.
The police are investigating the matter and are appealing for witnesses.
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Sunday 8th of July 2018 01:56:19 PM
............................................................. It is Harford Bridge near Norwich ...... Hartford Bridge being part of the Northwich bypass.
Roger.
Keith Mills said
Sun Jul 8 1:52 PM, 2018
The Eastern Daily Press reports, today, the story of Swallows
nests that have been destroyed at Tescos Hartford Bridge branch at Norwich.
The police are investigating the matter and are appealing for witnesses.
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Sunday 8th of July 2018 01:56:19 PM
David Walsh said
Thu Jun 14 12:16 PM, 2018
I couldn't find a thread devoted to either Stonechats, or Bird articles in the wider media, so I've plumped for this one.
This is a very interesting read, from North west Norfolk, for anyone involved in monitoring breeding Stonechat, and mirrors exactly my experiences in Stalybridge so far in 2018.
''Scottish gamekeeper is banned after crime against rare bird of prey''
A head keeper (Tillypronie Estate, in Royal Deeside) was filmed using a baited trap near a Goshawk nest.
He is barred by Scottish Natural Heritage(SNH) from carrying out any wild bird control in Scotland for 3 years.
SNH used a civil burden of proof. The gamekeepers name is withheld on data protection grounds, but he no longer works at Tillypronie, and the sanction heavily restricts
the ability to work as a gamekeeper.
Peter Nolan Woolley said
Sun Jan 14 11:12 AM, 2018
An interesting online article about raptors in Australia purposely using fire to flush prey.
Page 27 of today's i-newspaper contains an interview with Sergeant Kev Kelly, who last month was awarded ''Wildlife Law Enforcer of the Year'' 101 arrests, by his team of 21 wildlife crime officers in North Yorkshire, in one year. Let's hope some of his zeal rubs off on Peak District, Bowland, Grampian and Norfolk Wildlife Crime Officers.
Keith Mills said
Tue Nov 7 2:32 PM, 2017
In today's 'i' newspaper: Two pages on ''the Secret life of owls''. Written by John Lewis-Stempel. Taken, I think, from his book out now, ''The Secret Life of the Owl''. £7.99 Doubleday.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 7th of November 2017 02:33:18 PM
Keith Mills said
Wed Jul 26 10:53 AM, 2017
Call for action to protect Scotland's endangered capercaillie birds
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/26/call-for-action-to-protect-scotlands-endangered-capercaillie-birds? See attached file.
James Richardson said
Thu May 18 3:22 PM, 2017
Wasn't sure where to post this but Defra's latest bird population trends were published today.
Some good news since '09 for nightingales and clearly for Cetti's warbler, blackcap and others. Bad news for a lot of other species, although the cold winters of 09-11 seem to have affected water birds to an extent in the short term.
Keith Mills said
Tue Apr 4 8:30 PM, 2017
The article refers to the EU Habitats Directive and the EU Bird Directive. Gove is pressing the case for the developers, as there is a 400m Buffer zone round the heath and any development within 5km must Provide " a suitable alternative green space" The article is, I think, worth a read.....
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 5th of April 2017 10:53:36 AM
Craig Higson said
Tue Apr 4 7:31 PM, 2017
Mr Gove (for me one of the top 10 most offensive tories) can be as keen as he wants, but if these areas are SSSI's they are protected under our own legislation and 'shouldnt' be affected by any amendments to the Habitats and species/birds directives. Of course the Government quite happily runs rough shod over its own laws and rules most of the time anyway so really it probably doesn't matter what level of protection they have.
Keith Mills said
Tue Apr 4 2:40 PM, 2017
Two page article in the ipaper today: "WILDLIFE LAWS IN THE LINE OF FIRE" by Jeremy Robson. Concerned about the possible effects of Brexit on wildlife protection. In particular the Thames basin heaths. Mr Gove the MP for Surrey Heath is " very keen to have more homes built there" Dartford Warblers, Nightjar and Woodlarks use these habitats.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 4th of April 2017 02:45:12 PM
Not a newspaper article but it was an article in an email I got today from Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The article was about waders that you might see in Cheshire during the autumn migration. The first bird listed with a bold headline was a Grand Sandpiper! Having
been a birder for over 60 years I cannot recall having seen a Grand Sandpiper anywhere. The trouble is it looks exactly like a Green Sandpiper so the ID of this new world species will be difficult to get on anybody's list! An oops moment for the CWT.
https://www.shawandroytoncorrespondent.co.uk/have-you-seen-the-perfect-10/
Have You Seen The Perfect Ten ?
https://www.shawandroytoncorrespondent.co.uk/royton-ecologist-to-take-part-in-national-local-big-year-competition/
Royton ecologist to take part in national Local Big Year competition
https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/rare-sighting-sends-rochdale-birdwatchers-on-wild-goose-chase/
Rare sighting sends Rochdale birdwatchers on wild goose chase
https://www.shawandroytoncorrespondent.co.uk/autumn-is-a-great-time-for-birding/
Autumn is a great time for birding
https://www.shawandroytoncorrespondent.co.uk/rare-encounters-north-american-wood-duck-spotted-in-alexandra-park/
Rare Encounters
https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/18005832.making-oldham-great/
Making Oldham "Great" Again
An article in yesterday's M. E. N
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gentle-giant-who-guardian-greater-23786318.amp
There was another brilliant example of the media attempting to report a story, about which they knew nothing of the subject matter, in the Metro on Monday. The tragic end of a mega-migrant at the hands of a window in Weymouth had the sting taken from it as they described the bird as a 'Russian white thrush'!! As Bob Geldof once sang 'Don't believe what you read'.
An article from the Men, regarding Peregrine at Media City. Featuring a few familiar names.
https://a.msn.com/r/2/AANRlZV?m=en-gb&referrerID=InAppShare
-- Edited by Peter Nolan Woolley on Wednesday 1st of September 2021 05:02:48 PM
Note that the "Perfect Ten Birds of Greater Manchester" Survey is open until Tuesday 22nd June - it would be great if as many birders, especially local patchers, as possible could complete the survey... results announced via @MancNature on Sunday 27th June
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GMPerfect_10
The Perfect Ten Birds of Greater Manchester Survey Now Online
A positive article on urban Gulls
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210615-why-sea-gulls-are-making-their-homes-in-our-cities
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/each-borough-greater-manchester-could-20473795
MEN, "Idea That Could Really Take Off", 28th April 2021
An article on Chat Moss.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/crime-placing-one-greater-manchesters-20389886
-- Edited by Peter Nolan Woolley on Sunday 18th of April 2021 09:43:33 AM
A nice find.
https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/25/black-browed-babbler-found-in-borneo-180-years-after-last-sighting
A nice article with regards to the sleeping habits of migratory birds and how their condition can effect how they sleep.
https://phys.org/news/2019-08-migratory-birds-good-nap.html
-- Edited by Peter Nolan Woolley on Monday 19th of August 2019 09:59:42 PM
For goodness sake !! after nets over trees etc its:
Spikes on trees in Oxford to 'stop bird poo' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-47961595
Actually today on BBC News app.:
'Duck-eating' fish removed from Lakeside shopping centre lake https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-47759215
Wisdom the Albatross possibly 68 years old, to be a mum again.
https://news-sky-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/wisdom-the-albatross-worlds-oldest-known-bird-lays-another-egg-11576483?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.sky.com%2Fstory%2Fwisdom-the-albatross-worlds-oldest-known-bird-lays-another-egg-11576483
Edit, I can Keith had already posted this
-- Edited by Peter Nolan Woolley on Tuesday 11th of December 2018 06:10:19 PM
Guardian today:EU environment grants (Life and Best Grants)
ending!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/08/eu-wildlife-grants-brexit?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Guardian today: Motherhood again for the worlds oldest known bird.
https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/07/worlds-oldest-bird-lays-egg-wisdom-albatross
Thank you David, for drawing my attention to this poem Armistice .
Wonderful poetry and very very appropriate
at this time.
"Lark music, like a distillation of daylight itself" - Brilliant.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/04/andrew-motion-poet-laureate-publishes-new-war-poem
Rook at this mess from todays Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/rook-at-this-mess-french-park-trains-crows-to-pick-up-litter?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
The article in the Telegraph was written by Coran Elliot and is not a press release, Andy. The article contains other quotes from Dr Adam Smith, Scotland Director of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust,
Debbie Collins a spokesman for BASC, and James Chapel a spokesman for William Powell Sporting. There is no mention of Birds of Prey.
This is the Moorland Association's press release. In private it will all be blamed on birds of prey with no doubt devastating consequences for them. Also more than a suggestion of them trying to keep a lower profile with strength of feeling growing against these anachronistic relics of the class system.
Andy B
In todays Daily Telegraph page 9:
''Inglorious 12th as lack of grouse hits shoots''
The start of the Grouse shooting season is on Monday the 13th of August this year(illegal to shoot game birds on Sunday)
Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association says '' Half of the grouse shoots across England and Wales have cancelled their entire
2018 shooting programmes with the remainder running at a much reduced schedule''
The Scottish borders too, are having to abandon planned events to allow (grouse) stocks to recover.
Young birds are suffering the most and down by 33% compared to 2017
The harsh winter and the hot summer (lack of insects and reduced heather growth), and growing numbers of parasites in Scotland are contributing factors.
https://northwestnorfolkstonechats.wordpress.com/2018/08/04/round-two-2/
A nice article with a lot of common sense to boot.
https://www-cornwalllive-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/how-deal-seagulls-but-just-1828485.amp?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornwalllive.com%2Fnews%2Fcornwall-news%2Fhow-deal-seagulls-but-just-1828485
Some disturbing news with regards to licenced culling of red listed species in Scotland.
https://stv-tv.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/stv.tv/amp/1424779-licences-being-granted-to-cull-scotland-s-threatened-birds/?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fstv.tv%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F1424779-licences-being-granted-to-cull-scotland-s-threatened-birds%2F
North Yorkshire police appeal re. the Red Kite found shot in Yorkshire Dales:https://northyorkshire.police.uk/news/appeal-for-information-after-red-kite-found-dead-in-the-yorkshire-dales/
Amusing article on :https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/23/belgian-naturist-beach-plan-blocked-over-subsidiary-activities?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
The Flemish wildlife agency has blocked an application for a second nudists beach, to protect the Crested Larks in the nearby dunes.
Near Ostend Belgium.
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Monday 23rd of July 2018 01:02:01 PM
Thanks Roger, predictive text change; Harford Bridge it is!
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Monday 9th of July 2018 01:42:34 PM
.............................................................
It is Harford Bridge near Norwich ...... Hartford Bridge being part of the Northwich bypass.
Roger.
The Eastern Daily Press reports, today, the story of Swallows
nests that have been destroyed at Tescos Hartford Bridge branch at Norwich.
The police are investigating the matter and are appealing for witnesses.
-- Edited by Keith Mills on Sunday 8th of July 2018 01:56:19 PM
This is a very interesting read, from North west Norfolk, for anyone involved in monitoring breeding Stonechat, and mirrors exactly my experiences in Stalybridge so far in 2018.
https://northwestnorfolkstonechats.wordpress.com/2018/06/13/off-the-starting-blocks/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/28/bird-names-origins-blackbird-yellowhammer
Yesterday's Guardian, page 15, headed:
''Scottish gamekeeper is banned after crime against rare bird of prey''
A head keeper (Tillypronie Estate, in Royal Deeside) was filmed using a baited trap near a Goshawk nest.
He is barred by Scottish Natural Heritage(SNH) from carrying out any wild bird control in Scotland for 3 years.
SNH used a civil burden of proof. The gamekeepers name is withheld on data protection grounds, but he no longer works at Tillypronie, and the sanction heavily restricts
the ability to work as a gamekeeper.
An interesting online article about raptors in Australia purposely using fire to flush prey.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/wattsupwiththat.com/2018/01/13/claim-birds-of-prey-deliberately-setting-wildfires/amp/#ampshare=https://wattsupwiththat.com/2018/01/13/claim-birds-of-prey-deliberately-setting-wildfires/
There was an article in last Friday's Manchester evening news about Oystercatchers and makes mention to birding legend Dave Steel.
Photo from today's i-newspaper.
101 arrests, by his team of 21 wildlife crime officers in North Yorkshire, in one year. Let's hope some of his zeal rubs off on Peak District, Bowland, Grampian and Norfolk
Wildlife Crime Officers.
£7.99 Doubleday.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 7th of November 2017 02:33:18 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/26/call-for-action-to-protect-scotlands-endangered-capercaillie-birds?
See attached file.
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/614737/UK_Wild_birds_1970_2015_2.pdf
Some good news since '09 for nightingales and clearly for Cetti's warbler, blackcap and others. Bad news for a lot of other species, although the cold winters of 09-11 seem to have affected water birds to an extent in the short term.
Gove is pressing the case for the developers, as there is a 400m
Buffer zone round the heath and any development within 5km must
Provide " a suitable alternative green space"
The article is, I think, worth a read.....
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 5th of April 2017 10:53:36 AM
"WILDLIFE LAWS IN THE LINE OF FIRE"
by Jeremy Robson.
Concerned about the possible effects of Brexit on wildlife protection.
In particular the Thames basin heaths. Mr Gove the MP for Surrey Heath is " very keen to have more homes built there"
Dartford Warblers, Nightjar and Woodlarks use these habitats.
-- Edited by keith mills on Tuesday 4th of April 2017 02:45:12 PM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/rise-hipster-bird-watcher/