Monthly Archives: September 2009

Conservation issues in the UK, culling, Invasive species in Britain

Four new bird species added to pest list

Leave a comment

The government body Natural England have added four non-native species to the list of birds that can be shot without having to apply for an individual license: Ring-tailed parakeet, Monk parakeet, Canada goose and Egyptian goose.

The Ring-tailed parakeet, a conspicuous resident in the south of London, is often a scourge for farmers in its native terrain (ranging from Africa to the Himalayas), as large flocks wreak mass destruction on crops.  So far only a few isolated incidents of crop-damage have been reported in England, so its inclusion in the list would seem to be a precautionary move. There is also concern about the impact of this rapidly expanding species on native wildlife, particularly other tree hole-nesting birds, such as woodpeckers.

Any species on the general license list can only be culled with legitimate justification.

More in Independent and RSPB

Invasive species in Britain

How to catch and cook signal crayfish

Leave a comment

George Monbiot has put together this step-by-step guide with photos about how to catch and cook the dreaded red-clawed signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), a large, aggressive American species that has wiped out almost 95% of the native white-clawed species (Austropotamobius pallipes) since it was introduced to the country in the late 1970s. Read in the Guardian

Birds of Britain, Birds of prey of Britain

Great year for white-tailed eagles

Leave a comment

With more than 200 individual sea or white-tailed eagles in Scotland, experts believe there are now more white-tailed eagles in Scotland than at any time in the past 150 years. The country’s breeding population of sea eagles has attained two key records this year – with the highest number of breeding pairs and more young successfully fledged that at any time in the reintroduction programme’s history.

Figures from the 2009 survey show there are now 46 territorial breeding pairs, an increase of two pairs since 2008 – with one new pair setting up a territory on Lewis and one in Lochaber. It has also been the most successful year in terms of chicks produced, with 24 successful broods fledging a total of 36 chicks.

RSPB

Nature and landscape photography of Britain

Lundy photos

Leave a comment

Lundy Island: The Devil's Slide, a natural plane in the granite

There’s a rather nice slideshow of the Lundy over at the Guardian here. The island, which is sometimes called ‘Britain’s Galapagos’, lies 10 miles off the coast of north Devon. Every spring and autumn, the island provides sanctuary for thousands of migrating birds. Beneath the sea, and the reefs are home to cup corals and pink sea fans, with grey seals very common and basking sharks visiting in the summer

Nature holidays in Wales, Nature tourism in the UK, Uncategorized

Wildlife boat trips in Wales

Leave a comment

Sealife Adventure, associated with Sea Trust (part of the Wales Wildlife Trust), run trips off the Pembrokeshire coast to the islands of Grassholm, and its impressive gannet colony, Skomer, with its puffins and guillemots, and Skokholm, famous for its population of Manx shearwater. There are large numbers of Grey seals in the area, and the chance of watching dolphins as they race the boat.  More information

Country accommodation in the UK, Country accommodation in Wales

Peaceful cottage in the Gower

Leave a comment

The famous beauty of the Gower attracts a lot of visitors, but the secluded Burrows Cottage is a peaceful retreat even in high season. This white, single-storey forester’s cottage is hidden away in pine woods near the hamlet of Cwm Ivy and the village of Llanmadoc in one of the quieter parts of the Gower. It comes highly recommended for birdwatchers, the beach nearby being part of the Whiteford Burrows nature reserve. The following species can be seen from the bird-hide at Berges island:

Brent Geese, Curlew, Dunlin, Godwits, Grebe, Kestrel, Lapwing, Meadow Pipits, Merlin, Oystercatchers, Plover, Redshank, Sanderling, Snipe, Teal, and Wigeon.

The cottage is also suitable for those in search of tranquillity, beautiful landscapes and good walking.   Information at the National Trust

Gardens of Britain, Nature in art and literature, nature writing about Britain, Radio and television nature programmes, Wildlife in gardens in Britain

The house and garden of Roger Deakin

Leave a comment

Anyone who has enjoyed reading Roger Deakin’s books, especially Waterlog and Notes from Walnut Tree Farm, will love listening to these radio programmes that he recorded for the BBC.  Produced by Sara Blunt, the 25 minute-long programmes capture Deakin’s unusual home and garden, and the man who lived there.  The producer deliberately chose not to use an interviewer, instead allowing Deakin to draw you into his world with his own words. Continue reading The house and garden of Roger Deakin →

spiders of Britain

Mothercare spiders

Leave a comment

The Mothercare spider (Theridion sisyphium), common in the UK and continental Europe, has earned its name by the way the females look after their young.

Very small and strikingly marked, Mothercare spiders often pitch their webs in thistles and gorse, whose spines offer a defence against predators, as well as being useful for anchoring the web. The contrasting brown/black and white patterns on the abdomen turn out to be an effective camouflage, as they break up the shape of the spider.

Within the web, the female spider builds a dense silk retreat among leaves and leftovers of eaten insects. Here the spiderlings will hatch from a blue-green egg-sac. In their first days they are fed by their mother, who regurgitates digested food into their mouths, behaviour we associate with birds. Continue reading Mothercare spiders →

Weather and climate

Effect of dust storms on Britain

Leave a comment

With dust storms turning Australia’s skies orange, the Guardian has published an article about their effects on health and climate.  As well as loose soil, the storms carry bacteria and viruses, spreading disease around the world. On the positive side, they can mitigate the effect of climate change. Their effect on Britain:

Britain and northern Europe are not immune from dust storms. Dust blown from the Sahara is commonly found in Spain, Italy and Greece and the WMO says that storms deposit Saharan dust north of the Alps about once a month. Last year Britain’s Meteorological Office reported it in south Wales.

Some scientists sought to attribute the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak to a giant storm in north Africa that carried dust and possibly spores of the animal disease as far as northern Britain only a week before the first reported cases.

Read rest of article

Walking in Britain

Bananas not so biodegradable

Leave a comment

Apparantly it is best not to throw away bananas on hikes as they can take up to two years to biodegrade. The John Muir Trust, which protects many of Scotland’s wild places, estimates that there are now 1,000 banana skins strewn across Ben Nevis alone. But at least they aren’t as bad as chewing gum.

Biodegradable times:

  • Paper bag – 1 month
  • Apple core – 8 weeks
  • Orange peel and banana skins – 2 years
  • Cigarette end – 18 months to 500 years
  • Plastic bag – 10 to 20 years
  • A plastic bottle – 450 years
  • Chewing gum – 1 million years

More here

Nature and landscape photography of Britain

The 2009 British wildlife photography awards

Leave a comment

BWP Awards 2009: British Wildlife Photography Awards

The British wildlife photography awards have announced the 2009 winners. The aim of the award is to celebrate and recognise the talents of photographers while highlighting the wealth and diversity of Britain’s natural history. The above photo by David Slater called Blackbirds fighting won the Wildlife behaviour category.

Here is a selection of the winning images

Conservation issues in the UK, Farming

Vanishing hedgerows

Leave a comment

Until about 20 years ago, farmers could obtain government grants to remove hedgerows from their land. In these more enlightened times, grants are now given to maintain them. Yet despite this, a survey has found that 16,000 miles of managed hedgerows disappeared between 1998 and 2007.

The English Hedgerow Trust on the importance of hedgerows:

Hedges are complex ecosystems, and are essential habitats for a wide range of flora and fauna; 21 out of 28 lowland mammal, 69 out of 91 bird and 23 out of 54 butterfly species breed in hedges. In countryside with little or no woodland they are essential for the survival of many bird species. They provide valuable sheltered routes along which wildlife can move more freely across the country between fragmented woodlands, function as screens against bad weather, provide cover for game, contain and shelter stock and crops, act as windbreaks and help control soil erosion.

The English Hedgerow Trust is dedicated to planting and regenerating hedgerows, and need donations and volunteers for their local conservation groups. The photograph shows a newly laid hedge in Home Farm, Bentworth, Hampshire

Birds of Britain, Birds of prey of Britain, Conservation issues in the UK, extinct birds

Sea eagles in Suffolk

Leave a comment

Sea eagles in Britain are associated with the wild sea cliffs of Scotland, where they are being successfully re-introduced. What about the lowland wetlands of Suffolk? The vast wingspan of this magnificent bird of prey was also part of this landscape until the raptors were hunted to extinction in the 19th century. Conservationists are now laying plans to re-introduce the Sea eagle to East Anglia, but with great caution. British Nature and the RSPB are carefully gauging public opinion. The presence of Sea eagles, or White-tailed eagles as they are also known, would be a boost for tourism, but farming and shooting interests will need a lot of persuasion.  RSPB Photograph by Niall Benvie

Country accommodation in Wales

Cottages on Pembrokeshire coast

Leave a comment

The Strumble Head peninsula is part of the dramatic north Pembrokeshire coast. Two miles inland across fields are the Stones Cottages, converted barns on a small organic farm. They offer restful, luminous accommodation, and the chance to watch memorable sunsets (and milk goats). This part of the coast is particularly good for observing porpoises and grey seals, and a wartime look-out post has been converted to provide shelter for wildlife watchers.  More information

Bats of Britain, Mammals of Britain

Protecting bats

Leave a comment

The general decline in British bat populations is worrying, but the legal protection they are afforded can be a source of good news. Stringent fines (of up to £5,000 per bat killed with additional penalisation for any roost damage ) oblige property owners and developers to adapt to their presence.  Here are some cases where priorities were got right. Continue reading Protecting bats →