Not wishing to embarrass Peter, well OK a little bit, but this man deserves a medal for the direct conservation work he does with Owls and Kestrels in the GM area. He has so many boxes in place for these birds in far flung places that need checking every year, carrying ladders across all types of terrrain that I just thought his efforts and his good wifes needed pointing out. More power to your elbow Peter and UP THE BLUES!!!
Cheers Ian

Must be a good vole year if the owls are doing well too?

Thats very good to hear, I visited a couple of Derbyshire sites this year (just outside GM) but hope to do a lot more next year they haven't been monitored for a while so it will be interesting to see any changes

I have 5 pairs of Kestrel in nest boxes this year producing 26 young, which is an average of 5.2 per pair. Turned out to be a very successful season.

Steve Christmas (a ringer) accompanied me this year and rung 21 of the 26 young.