Nice to see james walsh get a write up in birdwatch magazine page 72.well done.

A selection of local media articles

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

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'. 

James Walsh wrote:

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https://www.tamesidecorrespondent.co.uk/2021/06/05/the-perfect-ten-birds-of-greater-manchester-survey-now-online/

The Perfect Ten Birds of Greater Manchester Survey Now Online

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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

A positive article on urban Gulls

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210615-why-sea-gulls-are-making-their-homes-in-our-cities

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 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

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

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

Thank you David, for drawing my attention to this poem Armistice .

Wonderful poetry and very very appropriate 

at this time.

 

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)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/07/tiny-bird-comes-top-battle-against-bird-prey/

Andy Bissitt wrote:

---

Keith Mills wrote:

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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

---

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.

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.

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&amp_gsa=1#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornwalllive.com%2Fnews%2Fcornwall-news%2Fhow-deal-seagulls-but-just-1828485

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/

Thanks Roger,  predictive text change; Harford Bridge it is!

-- Edited by Keith Mills on Monday 9th of July 2018 01:42:34 PM

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

A few days old, and on the Guardian website (not sure if it was in the print version)- an article about the origins of some bird names:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/28/bird-names-origins-blackbird-yellowhammer

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/

New postage stamp for 2018; forget pigeon post it's Osprey 1rst class.
Photo from today's i-newspaper.

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

Wasn't sure where to post this but Defra's latest bird population trends were published today.

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.

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.