And finally........good weather.

An early post due to other work in hand later!  Yes, the wind has dropped ;  no more whining and moaning, tiles rattling and the house being buffeted.  At one point in late morning the sun could be felt to actually have warmth in it......yippee!

Coverage of the local patch and a seawatch. Whilst there was nothing eventful, it was just good to be out! I now know how cows feel when released into the fields in spring.  The sea carried a large swell and onshore waves were crashing on the coastline and filling bays with white spume.  A sight that never ceases to fascinate!  Very little was on the move, although quite bright conditions and salt spray didn't help!  A single Gannet moved south as did a single Razorbill.  Fulmars rode the troughs with effortless ease, but most Shags appeared to have opted for inshore waters. At least three Great Northern Divers fed close inshore, an indication of perhaps how many there are  "out there".

Three Song Thrush and a Blackbird fed out on open pasture, grateful I imagine for being less constrained in their choice of feeding areas than in recent times.  I spent some time pinning down feeding flocks of Barnacle Geese and found birds in areas where I've never noticed a presence before. Some were simply taking time

out to rest and bathe around a lens of floodwater, and no doubt enjoying the sun and absence of strong winds. Click on the picture to see them in close up and at their best!

 A straightforward day, simply enjoying birds!

E-petition update.

A couple of weeks ago, following my having contacted almost two hundred bird groups and natural history societies, I undertook to update people on how the E-petition on licencing upland grouse moors and gamekeepers  was going,  see automatic link here, Licencing upland grouse moors and gamekeepers.

There has been a magnificent response, with a real "step up" in signatures since the above exercise, with the current total being 8553!  Whilst 10,000 signatures are needed in order to get an official Government response, there is still three weeks to run within which time we can achieve that total.  Let's do it!!

 
                                              Courtesy of Isle of Man Govt. via Alan Tilmouth.

In recent days two other events have occurred which tie in closely with the above. The Scottish Raptor Study Group and the Scottish Ornithologists Club have both advocated that grouse moor shooting should be regulated and have been in contact with the appropriate Minister within the Scottish Government, Paul Wheelhouse. An idea whose time has come one might say!!  Both are actions that draw further attention to the general issue, keep the issue alive and add a further head of steam in a collective sense!!

If you haven't yet signed the petition and wish to do so, then use the link above. Alternatively, if you have already taken action, please promote the details as widely as you can, for which many thanks.  

Hills not yet alive with the sound or sight of birds!

Readers of this Blog will recollect that, occasionally, I deliberately cover the local grass moor and adjacent just to be aware of what is around locally and to keep in touch with any environmental changes. This morning, whilst it was windy and the odd shower swept through, the weather was sufficiently fine to have a bit of an exploration.  I say this because the weather of the past two months has been wet, in fact, very wet. The ground underfoot was saturated virtually everywhere and I spent as much time undertaking detours as I did making progress.

The most notable impression was the absence of passerines. The only small birds I encountered  were either in or around the garden ( Blackbirds and Dunnock ), with nothing on the open ground. The nearby conifer plantations were equally devoid of life, although my route only took in the edge of a couple of the larger blocks.  So, what was around?

Well, I suppose you could group them generally under scavengers!  Raven  (3) , Hooded Crow (4),  Greater Black-backed Gull (2), Buzzard (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Hen Harrier (1 ).   There was also a couple of Choughs exploring one of their favourite feeding areas.   Noticeable by their absence was any sign of Pheasants, of which one or two are usually encountered. Given I've not noticed any of the official shoots taking place over the winter then it's seems unlikely numbers have been reduced. Perhaps they've "retired" into the confines of the plantations where drier conditions are available?

I suppose you might question why so many "scavengers" were present , but I guess the prospect of  food availability attracts most of them, particularly dead sheep, Red Deer/Roe Deer, Rabbits or Brown Hare of which , at this stage of the winter, there's bound to be some. The Sparrowhawk was heading towards the house/garden , doubtless drawn by the occasional activity of feeding birds. The male Hen Harrier was moving purposefully northwards up the valley needing, I suspect, to cover a large amount of ground in search of prey!

Certainly a few days of drying winds would be welcome and less frequent rain, but I suspect most of Britain is wishing for the same !!

 

Another day of geese galore! 29.1.2014

A routine day completing a goose count along with colleagues covering other sectors. Repeatedly seeing large groups of geese is always awe inspiring and I never lose the thrill of witnessing the lifting of a huge cloud of birds, the cacophony, the sheer control of individual groups of birds as they rise and manage to avoid one another, and the eventual symmetry as they depart in more organized skeins.  That happened with Barnacle Geese several times as they appeared very "skittish" and unsettled.

As I've said before, goose counting leaves little opportunity for "other birding en route" , but inevitably odd sightings crop up. Rather few, it must be said, as far as yesterday was concerned!   A covey of  17-20 Red-legged Partridge ( released birds ) were nonetheless a nice surprise, a close-by Sparrowhawk in  horizontal flight were the highlights, afraid so.  Redwings and Fieldfares appear to have cleared out, but numbers of Blackbirds in excess of our breeding numbers are around. Evidence of finch flocks is also somewhat minimal and centred  largely around stock yards.  One encouraging aspect was to see numbers of Reed Buntings amongst these.

Throughout the day my thoughts repeatedly turned to a past colleague, Jonathan Osborne, whose death was reported yesterday. Certainly the clouds of geese would have met with his approval!!!  His tenure at the RSPB,  his passion for the Isle of May and his visits to Cyprus, besides his cooking, particularly curries, will be remembered by many!!

Better late than never, RSPB !

Last week I received my copy of the RSPB's  BIRDCRIME report which sets out offences against wildbird legislation in 2012 and offers thoughts for further improvements in the future.

As is always the case the report presents a wide range of activities which affect  birdlife , both at home and abroad, in a very professional way, all of which is enhanced by an impactive selection of illustrations. The contents are also a sad  litany of activities which, in my direct experience, have been occurring over the past thirty years and continue still to affect, in particular, our raptor populations .  However, we need to remind ourselves that certain things HAVE changed and , in no little way, as a consequence of  RSPB's actions over the years.  Previous to the Wildlife and Countryside Act,1981 (as amended ) the pressure on certain raptors ( Peregrine, Goshawk and Merlin ) was immense due to an illegal demand for birds or their eggs for incubation, which were then often retained in captivity or used in falconry. In some cases birds were obtained for foreign interests. Active petitioning for change ( remember that phrase, folks ) by RSPB and others, coupled with investigative actions by the Society, including the Dept of Environment, confronted these practices and improvements gradually occurred.

On another front, egg collecting in the 1980's was far more endemic than today, with an estimated 500 collectors being active. Such activities are much reduced nowadays, although with occasional high profile cases appearing there is clearly no room for complacency.  In many senses the RSPB Investigations Section, both for years before and throughout that period, was operating alone, but petitioning for change ( remember that phrase, folks )  eventually brought other agencies on board and into being. The track record and consistent application of effort by the Investigations Section has been exemplary throughout a long period and involving many different staff through the years.  That effort is still apparent to this day.

Whereas, in days past, the RSPB ploughed a lone furrow in many senses and was seen to be the only "operator" within this particular field, things have now changed.. Nowadays, with the inauguration of the Partnership for Wildlife Crime (PAW ), there are many agencies involved ( the Police, HMRC, UK Border Agency and many smaller distinct groups ) and the sphere of influence has extended significantly with a wide range of involvements. Some of these activities are still supported or advised upon by the RSPB's  investigations staff.  No little amount of credit must accrue to the RSPB for advocating and campaigning for such involvements.

Now I'm not going to review the report in the usual way. It contains a wealth of information and demands to be read thoroughly. It can be accessed on-line or copies can be obtained from RSPB's HQ.  and I would recommend it to everyone.

As previously there is a section assessing what beneficial changes have occurred to legislation, or where there has been no progress against suggested proposals.  Clearly great stock was placed by the RSPB on the outcome of the recent Law Commission review of wildlife legislation., much of which has proved to be misplaced in my view. The final provisions have not yet been released by the Commission and one hopes that continuing efforts will be made to gain some improvements to what has initially been proposed. The RSPB's position on various matters does appear to oscillate somewhat in terms of the effort it is prepared to exercise at different times to secure the adoption of proposals it appears to support.  The Vicarious Liability scenario is a case in point.  RSPB openly advocated its adoption in Scotland, an effort that was successful. And then , an E-petition, raised by an individual on the self same subject, was acknowledged positively,  but not supported via being promoted to the RSPB membership. Vicarious Liability was no doubt actively promoted  by the RSPB within the internal consultancy process accompanying the Law Commission review, but failed to get accepted in a robust form, about which the Society is clearly disappointed.  One wonders if the petition had attracted a high number of signatures whether the outcome might have been different?  An opportunity lost to demonstrate the feelings of people "out there" who carry a concern for birds, whom the Society claims to represent via its membership process.  But why the imprecise positioning and the confusion  it generates?

When I registered the E-petition relating to the licencing of grouse moors ( see here  Licencing of upland grouse moors and gamekeepers  )  the RSPB kindly and openly explained that it was intending to put its efforts into an attempt to gain the adoption of the Vicarious Liability offence within the Law Commission review. I accepted that, and still do, as a choice made by the Society, although I personally felt they were wasting their time, and being naive in the process, given the adamant refusal by DeFRA to even consider the subject.  Their best efforts failed despite, I imagine, well researched and presented argument.

Whilst I never had any illusions that the above petition would result automatically in the adoption of licencing regulations I sincerely believed in two things. It would keep the subject of raptor persecution alive and that the signature total could be used further in demonstrating the depth and extent of feeling on the subject.  That expression could then be used repeatedly in raising the matter with Government and others, reminding ourselves that we are in the run up to an election in 15 months and such matters can be raised to test the sympathies of prospective candidates.

So, folks, I was a little surprised to find within the above report the following entry about which I can't find any other recent public statement by the RSPB promoting its position.

    

In fact if you need the full version, here it is!

Now I have no objections to what is being said, just an ever increasing amount of confusion over how the RSPB conducts its affairs.  Increasingly the RSPB appears to be placing the responsibility for improvements to conservation legislation and policy on others, via its comments,  as opposed also to it carrying the standard itself in the front ranks! The old approach of campaigning ( and petitioning for change, remember!! ) appears to have been consigned to yesteryear, only to be replaced by advocation from within the advancing ranks and in a somewhat  muted fashion too.

I actually care when people think badly of the RSPB and I feel guilty at criticising them.  But cracks are beginning to appear!  People see it as being a standard bearer for bird conservation, as being a leader, but its communication and positioning appear to be all too apologetic, as if a major objective is to be respectable and popular.  It would appear it no longer has the ear of Government to the extent it once enjoyed. Hardly surprising given present circumstances in Westminster!

Clearly it doesn't like supporting the efforts of individuals in terms of addressing policy or legislation change. In other words, it needs to be their idea in the first place.  Clearly too, despite it having secured many goals in the past by outright petitioning, it has lost faith in the current system.   Ok, not its fault perhaps, but more a response to the disingenuous arrogance within Government, e.g the Badger Cull E-petition at 300,000 signatures secured.  But those figures live on and can be used and quoted time and again.

So  " yours confused " in terms of which game the RSPB does want to play and how!  I leave a few thoughts. Remember the seminars within which there was  a brain storming session and key words for consideration and action were written up on a board?  Here are a few that might apply,

Focus, leadership, respect, communication, enthusiasm, clarity, ACTION,  conviction, consistency,openness

Feel free to add others via your comments!

 As of 1400 hours today the E-petition relating to the licencing regulation of grouse moors and gamekeepers has reached 8294 signatures, a more than apt representation of peoples' concerns about raptor persecution and what needs to be done to combat it.   Use it as you will,  RSPB,  but consider, you could perhaps make it into a far more telling response that, collectively , we could all use in our efforts to improve current circumstances for our birds of prey.    Actions speak louder than words!

RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch.

Well I have to confess at the start that I haven't a big garden , but that I'm surrounded by a veritable wilderness.  Plumped in the middle of bleak grass moor at around 60m above sea level, with the eastern Atlantic seabord just over a kilometre away, the area comes into its own in Spring , but from late summer onwards is a little devoid of life.

Now I also have to say that the above photograph wasn't taken this morning ( we didn't have snow/frost ) , but it adequately shows how bleak the situation is as dawn breaks.  This morning pre-dawn showers hurled themselves against the bedroom window and the wind was howling , all of which hardly suggested  the garden would be hooching with birds!!

And so it was!  But, in the spirit of Olympics, the objective is to take part, as opposed to get the highest total, ( thanks for that "get out" I have to say ).   This morning I had three Blackbirds and a Dunnock ( THE Robin appears to have disappeared ).   Not a great showing I have to admit, but it underscores quite well how valuable gardens can be in supporting our birdlife in winter. Life in the wider countryside can be pretty unproductive in many ways in winter,and unrelenting too, all of which can be exacerbated if really bad weather arrives. Nearby gardens, and treat this as relative as birds are known to travel extensively to "productive" feeding spots, can be a veritable life saver in such times. Obviously a lot of birds move southwards in winter and many garden visitors will be from distant far flung areas alongside more local , resident species.  Gardens are , therefore, important in a wide context. To offset the low number of birds in my own garden I reminded myself that my three Blackbirds might well be of Continental origin  and I could ,therefore, take pride in providing an "International facility" too!!

Once the numbers are put together by RSPB I think the role gardens play in terms of supporting bird life will be self evident. Long may it continue as, set against general habitat losses, gardens continue to play an important role in sustaining our winter bird populations.

E-petition: Licencing Upland Grouse Moors and Gamekeepers.

When I contacted almost two hundred different bird and natural history groups a couple of weeks ago, asking for their support with the above, I also elected to provide an occasional update on progress.

Well, since contacting you the total number of signatures has moved forward significantly and now is over 8100!   Thank you so much to those who have already taken time out to provide support. Whilst I've never suffered under the illusion that the petition would automatically result in my proposals for regulation to be embraced without a lot more persuasion and politicking, the objective of keeping the subject alive is being met and handsomely at that.

However, a new challenge is within our grasp to achieve with a little more effort. If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures it receives an official Government response from the Department concerned, in this case DEFRA.  I'm sure we can envisage already the likely content of such a reply,  BUT it is important to realise that such a statement can then be quoted back at Government  and used in a variety of ways to ensure the proposals are kept alive for an even longer period and remain within the "conservation debate".

Well I guess you know what's coming next!!  Signatures and more signatures, yes please!  But remember, this is not just a petition on which birdwatchers can express their support, it's for many other people as well, people who may not be active wildlife watchers, but who nonetheless have a heartfelt concern for our natural heritage not being put under assault as the continuing threat of raptor persecution threatens to do. This is a constituency which is not easy to reach ( unless your're rich and can afford a full page advert in a daily newspaper !! ). As conservationists and birders we're all busy and I'm sure take time to discuss our sightings with colleagues and like minded friends on a regular basis, after all that's part of the enjoyment of it all.  But we've also contact with others outside of that immediate circle of like-minded enthusiasts. People who we know have as great a love for wildlife as ourselves.  Within that constituency are many who I am sure would lend support to the above petition, particularly with a little help if the issues were explained.  We all know the problem, who is involved, who refuse to recognize that it is people within their own ranks who are responsible for the utter shameful scourge that is raptor persecution in this modern age, persecution that is pursued for commercial gain and self -interest.  I suppose the only thing left to say is, if the opportunity arises to recruit someone willing to sign, then give it a try and thank you so much for your support.  Much appreciated.

A bit of a washout! 24.1.2014.

Last week was busy in a variety of ways and for no good single reason.  And so I was looking forward to Friday, when I was to help with some goose monitoring work, plotting of flight lines etc , not least because I would also be celebrating my 72 nd birthday via a full day of field work.  Good planning I thought!

At 0600 hours it was raining!  It continued raining all day until 1700 hours without respite! Coupled with all this was a blustery F6 wind which swept said rain across the landscape in a veil of permanently swirling mist, which lowered the visibility significantly. Great !  It wasn't all disaster, as a mid morning lull to activities provided an opportunity to call in the local RSPB office at Gruinart, and, after a change of clothes, have a chat and a cup of tea and pick up some WeBS forms.  Another chat nearby with Martin Scott and Adam Cross, and  a catch up on gossip, before launching yet again into slightly improving weather that wasn't bad enough to call things off , but bad enough to frustrate things badly!!! Notice , folks, I'm not talking birds here, just the intent to look at them!!  Barnacle Geese stoically fed in exposed fields, occasionally raising their heads and leaning forward in a very streamlined pose to offset the wind.. I just cowered behind a wall, got wet (AGAIN) and swore (frequently! ).

Whilst interactions were at a minimum the day was not altogether lost.  Suddenly, at 1700 hours, there was a break in the cloud to the west and things improved quite markedly in a local context. A flock of Barnacle Geese I had in my sights which, up to now, had fed in the lee of a fence line to gain a little shelter, suddenly began to call, moved into the field a little and took off in unison.  What!!  They were flying in altogether the wrong direction to that I'd have anticipated, even put money on!  They moved to an area which I've   suspected they might use as a roost occasionally, so this was at least a partial confirmation that hunch might be correct, and something that can be checked later.  Not quite the birthday present I'd have best hoped for, but it lifted the spirits and proved that sometimes the pain and gain expression has some truth in it.  This was the only positive product from 6-7 hours of observation, but worth having!! As a 72 year baptism day, then I live in fear of what a Centenary celebration might bring!

 

Bird Atlas 2007-2011.

This absolute tour de force from the British Trust for Ornithology arrived late in 2013 and I guess has been absorbing reading for many ever since. This is not a review as such as I feel less than qualified to even consider such a task. However, such is the plethora of utterly absorbing information, page after page after page, that I'll simply say, if you haven't yet got a copy, shame on you and make amends, now!!!

This is a big book!!   I was always in awe of "big books" as a child, as I concluded that they automatically held something far more special than their smaller counterparts.  Certainly this qualifies on all fronts , is a book you can't put down, is a book you discover has lost you an afternoon and is a book that generates questions and provides a heck of a lot of answers.

Of course the quality of presentation is superb, the array and extent of data beyond reproach, but it also manages, even in summaries, to adequately answer queries or hunches of your own that apply to local areas. It really is "the biz" and the BTO team are to be congratulated on an absolutely magnificent outcome.

The Preface opens with the remark, " By now, everyone involved in Bird Atlas 2007-2011 must appreciate that their contributions and this book will set the agendas for conservation in Britain and Ireland for the next twenty years."   A big claim, but one that is more than adequately met and assisted by the Contents.  As an example of Citizen Science this is also a supreme example, not only of the level of participation, but of the administrative competence in dealing with such a volume of effort.

One hopes that in this era when we have lost, temporarily one hopes, the Hen Harrier as a breeding species in England, alongside similar examples of drastic reductions of other species as well, the imperative to address such challenges and effect change will be grasped enthusiastically by conservation bodies such as the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts. Indeed the Government's own agency, Natural England, should itself seriously address the losses within our natural heritage highlighted within this book and draw together some form of "national strategy" to bring about change and improvement.   Of course, it's not all about losses ! There are some encouraging aspects as well, some of which are obvious to many, some less so  ( which species you ask.....read the book and find out!! ).

A proud addition to anyone's home library and one that will assure very many hours of contented reference.

A good day spoiled in some respects!

I must admit that I've got a bit "absorbed" of late by this Barnacle Goose question on Islay and so, previous to dawn, saw me travelling northwards up the Rinns  to check on a couple of hunches.  However, previous to leaving home I'd spent a time listening out to what might be happening on Lossit Farm to the north, where, if geese are present, their grumblings and anxieties carry quite far and bely their presence. No such cacophony emerged this morning! As I left, a Woodcock rose from the edge of the grass moor and headed off towards the forestry , its night-time feeding completed.

As I passed Bruichladdich Pier groups of Starlings were emerging from roost in the first of the real dawn light and moving off like groups of missiles in a variety of directions.  Arriving at Machir Bay I carefully approached a vantage point overlooking the beach. No obvious roosting birds, but soon a small flock of Barnacle Geese arrived ( to roost after feeding under the moon/dim light overnight?).

The recent rains have swollen streams and rivers and you can see the upgraded channel across the beach that has now developed and that the birds undoubtedly visit for drinking and bathing. This beach is quite popular and roosting birds inevitably get disturbed, which is what then happened.  Before then a flock of about 200 Barnacle Geese came around the coastal headland behind me from further south, very probably the farm I mentioned previously where the geese were stripping out a reseeded field, and then swung out towards nearby farms.

Given activity had completely dissipated I decided to complete some WeBS Counts  ( BTO Waterfowl counts ) on nearby lochs. Noticeably Loch Gorm  carried a large number of Teal ( almost 300 ) some of which had possibly been "displaced" from the obviously enlarged and flooded lochans in the vicinity.  Moving on to the RSPB Loch Gruinart  Reserve  I managed a couple of hours really enjoyable birding before the rain moved in.  Ducks abounded with some absolutely magnificent Pintail on show, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Red-breasted Merganser and Shelduck , plus a couple each of Whooper Swan and Mute Swan.  A journey around to the eastern side produced several waders ( Turnstone, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher ) before conditions began to prove untenable.

As I journeyed back home the Iceland Gull near Uiskentuie showed well, Light-bellied Brent Geese fed both on the beach along Upper Loch Indaal, or bobbed unceremoniously in what were now rather choppy waters, and the rain lent further emphasis to its intent to spoil things. Typical!!