Let's celebrate the Lapwing! Broadcaster Chris Packham calls for meadowland bird to be featured on banknote

 Celebrity naturalist Chris Packham has called for the Lapwing to be included among the various images  when the Bank of  England introduces its forthcoming  series of wildlife-themed banknotes. He would prefer a declining bird such  as this one to be preferred to other 'cute and cuddly' species such as Robin, Barn Owl and Puffin  which are more likely to be the popular choice when a poll is held later this year.

Headline birds - the three species making a splash on front covers of this month's ornithological mags

                                                                             

Cirl Bunting, Great Crested Grebe and Great Spotted Woodpecker - the three species featured on covers of  the February 2026 editions of three frontline birding titles.  

                                                   

Life among the penguins! Opportunity beckons to work (and observe wildlife) in Antarctica

                                                     

Port Lockroy - Antarctic HQ of the heritage trust

APPLICANTS have until midnight tomorrow Sunday March 15 to apply for a post that involves living for five months among peguins and the other wildlife in Antarctica.

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust describes the work thus: "It will include welcoming up to 10,000 cruise ship visitors to the island, running the charity gift shop, a British Antarctic Territory Post Office, fundraising, creating media content, annual maintenance and upkeep of the historic buildings and artefacts, wildlife observations and many other varied and challenging tasks. 

"We are looking for committed individuals to make up a team that will spend up to five months (from November this year to March next year) living and working at Port Lockroy in Antarctica."

Candidates must be aged over 18 and fit.

More details from: UK Antarctic Heritage Trust | UKAHT

Firm selling price at auction for charming ornithological seascapes by Gloucestershire artist Oliver Heywood

                                            

 

The hammer price at auction this week of two bird paintings by Stroud artist Oliver Heywood (1920-1992) was £520 -  comfortably above the pre-sale estimate of £300-£400. The sale was conducted on Wednesday by Dominic Winter at their saleroom in Cirencester in Gloucestershire. 

Will Skylarks, Yellow Wagtails and Spotted Flycatchers be casualties of Duchy of Cornwall's Kent housing ambition?

Yellow Wagtail - vulnerable

IT remains to be seen how the birdlife on farmland owned by Prince William will be affected by a forthcoming housing development south of  Faversham in Kent.

At a meeting this week, Swale Borough Council planners approved the first phase of a scheme that will ultimately lead to some 2,500 homes being built on a 323-acre site.

The land is part of the Duchy of Cornwall whose management has pledged to enhance biodiversity - for instance, by creating ponds and planting trees and wildflower meadows.

However, it acknowledge that the project may create  pressure for nesting Skylarks, Yellow Wagtails, Spotted Flycatchers and Yellowhammers - birds that may well vacate the site either during construction or soon thereafter.

Therefore, the Duchy states that "mitigating" habitat will be created at another site, though no details have been provided.

The most recent breeding bird survey, conducted in 2023, revealed the presence of no fewer than 42 species including the following nine that are of Red-listed status: 

*Herring Gull

* Skylark

* Starling

* Mistle Thrush

* Spotted Flycatcher

* House Sparrow

* Yellow Wagtail

* Linnet

* Yellowhammer) 

and 11 species that are of Amber-listed status:

* Stock Dove

* Woodpigeon

* Snipe 

* Black-headed Gull

* Lesser Black-backed Gull

* Kestrel

* Whitethroat

* Wren

* Song Thrush

* Dunnock 

* Meadow Pipit 

Nearby, two other notable species - Cuckoo and Little Owl - were also recorded.

Meanwhile, in winter, four daytime surveys - conducted between November 25, 2022 and February 5, 2023 - recorded the continued presence of some of the summer residents, such as Skylarks and Mistle Thrushes, plus  Fieldfares, Redwings, Tawny Owl and Great Spotted Woodpecker

And two winter night-time surveys identified  flocks of Lapwings and Golden Plovers.

In commentary accompanying the survey data, the Duchy of Cornwall notes: "Recreational disturbance arising from new residents, such as dogs off leads, and increased predation rates from domestic cats is  likely to extend beyond the application site boundary.  

"In the latter case, there is evidence cats have a home range of approximately 300 to 400 metres."

It is understood that the Duchy has agreed to locate "between 100 and 200 bat boxes" on the development, but whether there will also be Swiftbricks is uncertain. 

It is not known when work will start on the project.

Farmland earmarked for the housing estate

Above and below: Green and leafy - artist's impressions of how the completed site might look 

 

                                                                       

 

Former RSPB president will help draw up shortlist of creatures for possible depiction on next British banknotes

Miranda Krestovnikoff enjoyed three terms (nine years) - as RSPB president

FORMER RSPB president and broadcaster Miranda Krestovnikoff will have a say in what wild creatures are to be featured on the next series of British banknotes.

She has agreed to join a panel of nature enthusiasts who will draw up a shortlist of species that will then be put out to a Bank of England consultaton with the public.

Among birds, Robin and Puffin are likely to be favourites for inclusion.

The other panellists are:

* Katy Bell: Senior conservation officer at Ulster Wildlife, managing species conservation projects across Northern Ireland. Katy holds a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Edinburgh and a Masters in Ecology and Conservation Biology from Queen's University Belfast. Katy has worked in various research, ecology and conservation roles for universities and environmental NGOs.

* Gordon Buchanan MBE: Wildlife filmmaker and author who has worked on numerous BBC documentaries.

* Steve Ormerod: Professor in the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University, specialising in freshwater ecology. Steve holds a PhD in river ecology and is also deputy chairman of Natural Resources Wales and a member of the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 

* Nadeem Perera: TV  presenter, author and cultural strategist working at the intersection of nature and identity. He is the founder of Hero Hyena, a culture-led creative studio exploring wildlife through contemporary storytelling. He is co-founder of Flock Together, a birdwatching collective encouraging greater participation in nature among underrepresented communities.

* Dawn Scott: Executive Dean of the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences at Nottingham Trent University. Dawn is a Professor of Mammal Ecology and Conservation. She holds a PhD from the University of Durham and has  as a council member for The Mammal Society.

It is not known when the public consulation might take place, nor when the new wildlife banknotes will come into circulatin

The current series of banknotes features portraits of Winston Churchill (£5), Jane Austen (£10), JMW Turner (£20) and Alan Turing (£50).

Actors Adrian Edmonson and Samuel West signed up to star in light-hearted TV show about birding

Actors Adrian Edmonson (left) and Samuel West are the hosts of a pilot three-episode series to be known as Sam and Ade Go Birding which will be screened on the TV channel, 5,  at dates to be confirmed. Viewers will see the pair travel to West Cornwall in search of Cornish Choughs, waders and transatlantic visitors blown hundreds of miles off course; to North Norfolk, to watch Brent and Pink-footed Geese; and  to the Somerset Levels, where they stake out Kingfishers, Egrets and  Bitterns. The producers hope the light-hearted format of the show will replicate the success of a similar series called Gone Fishing, starring Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, that has been screened over several seasons on BBC TV.