NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST'S VITRIOLIC RANT AT 'RAUCOUS CACOPHONY' OF DAWN CHORUS

Song thrush - "car alarm with feathers"?

A NATIONAL newspaper columnist has blasted the Dawn Chorus as "a raucous cacophony".

In today's edition of The Daily Telegraph, Michael Deacon says the sound of birds singing "erupts at ever more obscene hours each morning, seemingly within inches of my bedroom window".

He continues: "I swear the birds never used to be this shrill, this rowdy, this deliriously hysterical."

The columnist singles out  one bird - possibly a song thrush - as "particularly ear-splitting".

He writes: "From what I can make out, it is essentially a car alarm with feathers".

Mr Deacon goes on to suggest that the birds are "celebrating our misfortune" over lockdown.

"Maybe my lack of sleep is making me paranoid," he concludes.

* What former Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey said about the song thrush: "Probably if birds were to be regarded as endeavouring to please us by song, the thrush should be put first. His is undoubtedly a major song and can give a very pleasant impression of contentment as well as of exultation." 

Further reading:
https://amzn.to/2VPfQl5

DID COUNTRY PARK SWAN TRY TO GIVE LINCOLNSHIRE ANGLER A GUILTY CONSCIENCE?

There was a surprise on the lakeside at the country park in Cleethorpes, North-east Lincolnshire, for this fellow who was angling when he probably didn't ought to  have been (because of lockdown). 

As if to give him a guilty conscience, a mute swan flew in close by, forcing him hastily to reel in his line. 

The swan landed but didn't tarry. 

It swam off allowing our fisherman to resume his afternoon's sport in the sunshine.

LANCASHIRE OSPREY KILLED IN FREAK MOTORWAY COLLISION WITH LORRY

HOPES that ospreys might breed in Lancashire this summer have taken a jolt.

Since earlier in the month, an adult  bird had been prospecting potential nesting sites at Brockholes near Preston.

But it it is thought that this was the one reported to have been killed in a freak accident on Thursday evening of last week.

According to Matthew Calderbank, writing in the Lancaster Post, the osprey was  perched on a bridge over the River Ribble, when it became 'spooked' by a cyclist wheeling his machine along the hard shoulder of the M6 motorway near Brockholes.

Sadly, it flew into the path of an oncoming HGV truck and perished from multiple injuries.

It had been hoped that the osprey would attract a mate and the pair nest at Brockholes nature reserve.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust reckons that the chances of such a breeding this year are now remote.

Ospreys are not thought to have bred in the county since the mid-18th Century. so the wait must go on.

It is not known if the corpse of the osprey was retrieved.

TAKING PEREGRINE CHICKS FROM THEIR NESTS 'DEEPLY UNETHICAL' SAYS ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP

Immoral to take birds from wild for falconry says welfare organisation

THE organisation Animal Aid has launched a petition calling for Natural England to reverse its decision to grant a licence for peregrines to be taken from the wild for use in falconry.

It has put out a statement as follows: "Taking chicks from their nest and natural habitat to be used in needless breeding programmes is deeply unethical, and this decision must be reversed. 

"Peregrine falcons have seen an increase in their numbers in recent decades, so these breeding programmes are in no way beneficial to the species, but only humans involved in falconry.

"Natural England attempt to dignify this taking of chicks from their natural habitats, by calling falconry ‘an ancient tradition’. 

"This is a similar justification given by others for brutal blood-sports such as bullfighting and fox hunting, and should not be a valid excuse for any form of animal exploitation.

"Falconry is an  archaic sport that exploits animals and results in the human-caused deaths of other wild animals.  

"We feel that Natural England should not be supporting this industry in any way, and licensing individuals to take chicks out of the wild for this purpose is immoral and must be stopped.

"Following coverage in The Guardian, we are launching a petition to Natural England to urge them to revoke these licences."

More information at: https://www.animalaid.org.uk/
.

HUGE NUMBER OF BIDS FOR RIGHT TO CULL GULLS PUTS SQUEEZE ON NATURAL ENGLAND WORKFORCE

Company for this herring gull in the form of a couple of magpies

ALMOST 1,000 applications have been lodged with Natural England by individuals and organisations seeking licences to cull two protected species - herring gull and lesser black-backed gull.

Although nationally in decline, both species are common in some cities and towns, especially those on the coast, where their aggressive behaviour and food-stealing antics can cause distress. 

The identities of  those seeking culling licences have not been revealed but the list could include some seaside councils.

Natural England says that such has been the increase in workload to process the applications that extra staff have had to be deployed temporarily to the licensing team.

During the course of the next fortnight, applicants will know they have been awarded licences.

Natural England's director of wildlife licensing, Dave Slater, has issued this statement.

"Since opening the  process, we have received very high numbers of applications for control of the two gull species and for control of wild birds on protected sites. 

"The scale of lethal control of these gulls that has been applied for is considerably greater than the levels of lethal control which Natural England have concluded are ecologically acceptable for these species.

"We understand that some applicants will be disappointed if they do not receive licences. 

"However, NE must ensure that the licences it issues will not be detrimental for the conservation status of protected species. 

"Our research indicates that the breeding population of herring gull, a red listed species, has fallen by 60 per cent since the 1980s, with amber listed lesser black-backed gulls declining by an estimated 48 per cent."

"NE must also ensure that the licences it issues do not adversely affect the conservation objectives of statutory protected sites. 

"These are legal requirements with which Natural England must comply."

Mr Slater continues: "Many applicants will want to  act upon their licences urgently, especially now that the bird breeding season is upon us, and I want to thank them for their patience. 

"This work has taken longer than we originally anticipated, for the reasons explained below.

"We have to date received almost 1000 applications, around three quarters of which arrived with us in March, many of these after the gull application deadline of 15 March. 

"A significant number of these applications did not include all the required information and have taken additional time to go back to applicants to ask for this necessary information. 

"We have brought more people into the licensing team to increase our capacity to address this unexpected additional workload. 

"We have also been working with stakeholder groups to test that the conditions in the licences will be clear and workable for users.

"For the named gull species in particular, we need to ensure there is adequate information on large numbers of applications, and then assess them together. 

"This is because we must undertake an assessment of cumulative impacts on conservation status before we issue these licences. 

"In addition, where any applications are on protected sites, such as Special Protection Areas (SPAs), we need to ensure that we have the information we need in order to be certain there will be no adverse effects on those sites."

Mr Slater concludes: "We expect to able to start notifying applicants very soon as to whether or not their application has been successful. 

"I recognise it will be challenging for those who do not receive the licence for lethal controls, but this will be due to the conservation constraints required by law. "

Checking out the view from aloft a  street lamp - lesser black-backed gull

* More about the licences at: 
https://bit.ly/2SeqhN7

* See also parlamentary debate on herring gulls at: 
https://bit.ly/2Y7RBAb


* Further reading:

https://amzn.to/3aGXAyH

LONG-SERVING EDITOR OF RSPB MAGAZINE SET TO HAND OVER THE REINS

Mark Ward - new challenge beckons

AFTER 10 years at the helm, Mark Ward is to step down as editor-in-chief of the RSPB's quarterly members' magazine, Nature's Home.

In the summer 2020 edition, he states: "This is my last welcome in the role.

"Without a doubt, my favourite part of editing 40 issues of the magazine has been hearing from readers through their emails and letters, plus sharing their wonderful photos."

Mark does not say who will succeed him - whether the post has been advertised or whether an appointment has already been made.

However, he is set to stay at the RSPB as the charity's new "head of supporter experience".

FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE IS SELDOM EASY SAYS NATURAL ENGLAND CHAIRMAN TONY JUNIPER

Tony Juniper -  'robust decisions made on best evidence'

SINCE taking over as chairman of Natural England, Tony Juniper has become more aware than ever of the tricky judgements that often have to be made in reaching controversial decisions.

In a statement this week, he says: "When it comes to evidence, law and policy, there are many technical questions that must be combined into what are often finely balanced judgements.

"It is in relation to these that we often find a range of strongly held concerns coming back to us.

"In many cases, and often in relation to the same decision, the range of views expressed by different groups are diametrically opposed.

"For example, in relation to the issuing of licences for the control of certain birds that cause economic damage, wildlife campaigners say the regime we adopt is too weak, while those who manage the land in different ways say it is too stringent."

In a scarcely disguised reference to the activities of TV presenter Chris Packham and wildlife blogger Mark Avery, he continues: "We are all too aware of  also clashes between the values, ethics, passions and customs of different groups, some with access to the media or the resources to bring legal actions.

"Disagreement is of course in the very nature of debate, and we will do our best to respond to the concerns that people bring to us and to explain why we have taken particular decisions.

"As we put in place plans for nature recovery, I am sure that no serious conservationist would argue that we could or should at all times, and without exception, protect all species.

"That is simply unrealistic, no matter how regrettable it is that any animal must be controlled or killed.

"The task that we must rise to is to make sometimes finely balanced judgements in line with our overall purpose, including the sustainable development context."

He concludes: "I realise that will not have everyone’s support all of the time, but our hard-working licensing team will do their best to make robust decisions based on the best evidence available."

NOTE:  Natural England's purpose as set out in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, 2006, is to ensure “that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development”. 

PEREGRINE CONTROVERSY 2 : WHY NATURAL ENGLAND GRANTED LICENCE FOR CHICKS TO BE TAKEN FROM WILD FOR USE IN FALCONRY

Peregrine falcon - this one was seen taking a breather on the beach at Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire

Natural England's, director for wildlife licensing, Dave Slater, explains why his organisation has controversially granted a licence for peregrines to be taken from the wild for use in falconry.

On April 15,  we granted licences for three falconers to permit the taking of a small number (six in total) of peregrine falcon chicks from the wild for use in falconry. 

Each falconer intends to take one male and one female chick to form a breeding programme with the other licensees.

We understand that some people may have questions and concerns over the taking of birds from the wild and so I wanted to outline more about our decision.

We issue wildlife licences for a range of purposes, and falconry and aviculture are listed as purposes for which licences can be granted under the legislation. 

This includes the potential to take a small number of birds from the wild for these pursuits - but only if strict welfare and conservation conditions are met. 

The taking of birds from the wild for these purposes is also practised in a number of other European countries.

 Our expert staff have taken care to ensure the strict legal tests have been met, and that there will be no negative conservation impacts to the population. 

To ensure this is the case, the licence holders need to meet a number of conditions before they can take any chicks from the wild. 

We have also put in place strict conditions to safeguard the welfare of any chicks taken, and we will be closely monitoring the operation throughout.


Peregrine falcons have a conservation status of green which means they are widespread and their numbers are not under threat. 

In fact, the species’ current range and numbers are greater than at any time since detailed recording began in the 1930s. 

The peregrine population has particularly increased over the last 50 years - there were just 47 breeding pairs in England by the 1970s but by 2014 this number had increased to 826 breeding pairs.


Part of the licence assessment process is to consider the expertise of the applicants and those involved in any field work. 

The applicants have also had to demonstrate that they will appropriately consider, and provide for, the welfare of any chicks taken.

We are only permitting a chick to be taken from a nest where three or more chicks are present. 

We know from detailed studies that peregrines typically lay 3-4 eggs and that only two of these are likely to survive to adulthood. 

We have specified that the smallest (weakest) chick must be taken from the nest and so are only permitting the taking of a chick which would ordinarily not survive in the wild. 

Over the past 50  years peregrine falcon have been exceptionally well studied and surveyed in the UK, and this provides us with the confidence that any birds taken would typically not survive in the wild.

If a chick was to die, we would investigate to try and establish the cause. 

The taking of another chick would need a new licence application and we would need to be satisfied that the reasons for the chick’s death would not repeat themselves under any future licence application.

We will be closely monitoring the operation including through asking the applicants for evidence to ensure compliance, whilst staying within the government guidelines around Covid-19.

The applicants have declared that any birds taken, and their young, will remain within the breeding programme. 

In the unlikely event that a licence holder ever wishes to sell a bird, they would first need a certificate for ‘commercial’ use -  however we understand that such a certificate would not be issued.

There are no restrictions on the movements of the birds under the licences.

However, a certificate would need to be obtained to export any of the birds.

We have limited the licence period to two years and have the power to revoke or suspend the licence if there were evidence that the licences have been assessed on false information.


Falconry is an ancient tradition which has been practised in England for centuries and is recognised as an ‘intangible cultural heritage of humanity’ by Unesco.

The applicants wish to breed verifiably British peregrines for use in their falconry activities, and the European Commission’s (EC) Wild Birds Directive includes reference to the sustainable use of species to fulfil cultural requirements, providing this does not affect their conservation status.

Following comprehensive discussions, we concluded that birds already held in captivity cannot provide verifiably British birds. 

This is because it is incredibly difficult to definitively establish the provenance of birds held in captivity due to poor documentation.

Wild peregrine falcons which have arrived in captivity due to injury are also not likely to be suitable as breeding from a bird from the wild is much more difficult than one reared by humans - they are simply not used to humans and are not as likely to breed successfully as a chick taken from the wild and reared by a human.

The above alternatives have been carefully considered by Natural England when reaching a decision. 

This has included the need to consider the alternatives and evidence in a manner proportionate to the likely conservation impacts which could occur from the licensable activity. 

In concluding our decision, we have noted that there are likely to be some minor conservation benefits to the peregrine falcon population as a result of these licences - for instance in reducing the likelihood of non-native and hybrid birds escaping into the wild during falconry.

These licences are intended to provide birds for a specific breeding programme and the issuing of a licence does not mean that we will issue licences for further taking of wild birds in future.

This will provide UK native peregrine falcons to falconers and potentially limit the amount of peregrines taken from the wild in the future.

It will also have the added benefit of creating a captive population of known provenance which we have never had before and would give us options in the future.

In summary, while we do understand that many will find taking these magnificent birds from the wild uncomfortable, our rigorous approach has ensured that this will have no impact on populations, will be done humanely and will support legitimate and responsible falconry practices.

PEREGRINE CONTROVERSY 1: FALCONER REVEALS WHY HE WANTS TO TAKE CHICKS FROM THE WILD

Although aware that it would generate controversy, Mr Wall (that's him on the right) has been entirely open about his project - he even posted a photograph of his Natural England licence on Facebook

THE falconer seeking to  to take peregrine falcon chicks from the wild has explained the motivation behind his controversial proposal.

Gary Wall who has persuaded Natural England to grant him a licence to take the birds - even though they are are protected - for falconry purposes.

Mr Wall has been a falconer for almost half a century, both breeding peregrines and supplying them to the Middle East where Arab sheikhs fly them at species such as Houbara bustards.

His current focus on the requirements of the British falconry scene.

He says he plans to plan to create a stud book population of native peregrines, providing British falconers with a native source of birds that would "reconnect with their cultural heritage".

Oversight of the project will be by Mr Wall and a "co-operative" of like-minded falconers to be known as the British Peregrine Conservancy.

It is understood that up to three chicks per season will be taken over the next  ten years to create a "foundation stock".

Peregrines have been bounced back since the 1960s when their population was decimated by chemicals and persecution.

Their breeding range has expanded from rocky cliffs to inner cities, and they regularly nest in cathedrals and churches.

According to Mr Wall, they have ceased to be endangered because there are reckoned to be 2,000 breeding pairs in the UK.

The licence stipulates that no birds may be taken without the consent of the landowner and none, under any circumstances from the counties of Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and parts of the Pennines and Yorkshire.

The RSPB is Britain's largest wildlife charity, existing to safeguard the the interests of wild birds, but its chief executive, Beccy Speight, has so far refrained from public comment.

Also silent has been the BTO whose chief executive, Andy Clements, is a board member of Natural England.

The chairman of Natural England is Tony Juniper who has not made any comment specifically on Mr Wall's peregrine application.

However, taking a broad view, he states: "It is vital to highlight that Natural England, in discharging its general purpose, must take account of all the legitimate interests and points of view that exist in our society."

* How Arabs hunt Houbara bustards. See https://bit.ly/2y1p8RV

IS RED TAPE STALLING EFFORTS TO SAFEGUARD ENGLAND'S NESTING CURLEWS?

Curlew - as a ground-nester, its eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predators

AN alert has been sounded on the future in Britain of the curlew - at least as a breeding species.

Because of changed legislation, in England, opportunities have become limited for control of its predator-in-chief, the carrion crow - even on sites designated as special protection areas for curlews and other ground-nesting species such as golden plovers. 

This has prompted the Game Wildlife and Conservation Trust to sound the alarm.

Says its  communications director, Andrew Gilruth: " If we want to stop the curlew going the way of many other birds, such as the corncrake and the nightjar, we are going to need Defra to allow landowners to resume protecting the curlew’s young on their most important English breeding grounds - just as they can in Scotland and Wales.

"These sites have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas by Defra. 

"However, having given them the highest level of legal protection – this red-tape is now preventing conservationists from protecting birds in them." 

Across Europe curlew numbers have been in freefall - down by 46 per cent over the past 25 years. 

A review of scientific studies across Europe found that breeding success was so low that, between 1996-2006, over 70 per cent  of nests were not able to hatch a single chick.

Of those chicks that hatched, only half survived until they were able to fly. 

More at: www.gwct.org.uk

OUTBREAK OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE TAKING TOLL OF BLUE TITS IN WESTERN GERMANY

Blue tit - this bird, happily, is healthy

A SICKNESS with symptoms similar to Covid-19 in humans has claimed the lives of thousands of blue tits in Germany.

Since the start of the month, upwards of 12,000 birds - most in the west of the country - have been found dead or dying.

Symptoms are said to include breathing problems and loss of appetite, with pneumonia ensuing.

Initial laboratory tests indicate that the birds are succumbing to a bacterial infection, Suttonella ornithocola

Since as far back as the 1990s, the condition - or one like it -  is known to have affected birds in the UK likewise, but not to the same extent.

However, members of the public in this country are being urged to report any sick or dead blue tits through Garden Wildlife Health, a monitoring project run between the Zoological Society of London, the British Trust for Ornithology, Froglife and the RSPB. 

The website is: www.gardenwildlifehealth.org

CUCKOO DIDN'T LET GRASS GROW UNDER ITS FEET!

A SATELLITE-tagged cuckoo has arrived in England - in Berkshire to be more precise - just seven days after starting its migration from the Congo rain forest.

Over the past two years, it has flown flown some  22,000 miles on its various  migrations to Africa and back.

Says the BTO's Dr Chris Hewson: "It is great to see this cuckoo getting back to the UK so quickly.

"This shows us just how quickly these harbingers of spring can get here from tropical Africa when conditions for their journey are good.

"It is a journey so full of hazards that it’s always a relief when they get back,  no matter how fast or slow."

The migration progress of this bird, and other cuckoos, can be monitored at: www.bto.org/cuckoos

PRECIOUS BIRDLIFE DEVASTATED BY BLAZE IN POLAND'S LARGEST NATIONAL PARK

Watery no more - parts of the reserve have become a tinder-box

THOUSANDS of birds are feared to have perished in a fire that has been raging in the north-east of Poland.

Since Sunday, around 150 firefighters,  supported by aircraft and drones, have been tackling the  blaze in the Biebrza National Park - a rich wildlife habitat familiar to many UK birders.

It is home to the likes of thrush nightingale,  corncrake, great snipe, red-breasted flycatcher, rosefinch, Ortolan bunting, bluethroat, lesser spotted eagle, black woodpecker, hazel grouse, great grey shrike and numerous warbler species - for instance, marsh, river, aquatic, barred and grasshopper.                                      

Bluethroat - a Biebrza favourite

At this time of year, they will have been nesting - with no hope of their chicks escaping the inferno.


Because, Poland is enduring its worst drought for a century, the fragile Biebrza habitat was already under stress with some wetland areas becoming almost desert-like

The blaze is believed to have been caused by farmers illegally burning grass.

Firefighting is reported to have been  hindered by the remoteness of the landscape, with the  lack of paved roads meaning the flames have been hard to reach.

* Photo of Biebrza : Wojsyl via Wikimedia Commons

WHAT BIRDS SEE AS THEY FLY INTO SPURN

View for migrating birds as they approach the Spurn peninsula. They are safe so long as they fly above the 73 turbines, but many hundreds annually possibly come a cropper through collision impact (Photo: RWE website)

WHAT do migrating birds see if they seek to make land on the Spurn peninsula?

A clue is provided in this thought-provoking image of the 73-turbine Humber Gateway windfarm located eight km off Spurn Point.

HIgh-fliers, such as geese and swans, should be OK, but what about fieldfares, redwings, waxwings, wrynecks and the wind-blown rarities that have long made this part of Yorkshire a magnet for the world's birders?

The windfarm was developed for a reported figure of £700-million and became operational in autumn 2015.

According to Press reports, its current operators, RWE, could soon put it up  for grabs by auction, with bidding likely to reach up to £1-billion or more.

A view of the windfarm - and Spurn lighthouse - from  Cleethorpes Prom

  See also: Grimsbynews.blogspot.co.uk

BOOK REVIEW: HOW BIRDSONG BROUGHT JOY TO THE LIFE OF A MUCH-TROUBLED BRITISH POLITICIAN

THE gradual loss of his sight was a tragedy for a former British Foreign Secretary, Edward Grey - not least because he was an avid birdwatcher who prided himself on once having been sufficiently sharp-eyed to detect the microscopic droppings of a treecreeper under a pine tree.

A native of Northumberland, Grey was educated at prep schools in East Sheen, Surrey, and Northallerton, Yorkshire, before going to Winchester College, thence to Balliol College, Oxford where, regrettably, he flopped as a student.

But elected to parliament, he enjoyed a meteoric political career which saw him become Foreign Secretary for 11 consecutive years, longer than anyone before or since.

Alas, he was unable to prevent the outbreak of the 1914-18 war and was devastated by its consequences.

There were more tragedies, of a personal nature, to come.

He lost all four of his brothers - one killed by a buffalo and another by a lion.

His beloved first wife died after a riding accident, and his second also predeceased him.

Then, with not many years between, his two homes were gutted by fire.

It was his continuing fascination with birds which provided a consolation for so much grief and heartbreak.

After he could no longer see birds because his eyes were (in his own word) “crippled”, he found compensation in his precious memories of what they looked like and how they behaved.

But, as his eyesight faded, his chief joy was in listening to their individual songs about which he became an expert.

He invented the term “dawn chorus” of which he maintained the star performer was the blackbird “because its song gives tone and spirit to the whole”.

This study traces the life of Grey both as a pre-eminent politician of the Edwardian era and as one of the finest ornithologists of the 20th Century.

* EDWARD GREY: THE BIRD LISTENER is available (price £2) as an-ebook via Amazon's Kindle store.

BIRDFAIR 2020 FALLS VICTIM TO UNFORGIVING VIRUS

BIRDFAIR 2020, which was to have been held at Rutland Water in August this year, has been scrapped in the wake of the coronavirus situation. Below is today's  statement issued by the organisers.

It is with heavy hearts that, after 31 successful years during which over £5million for nature conservation has been raised, we have made the difficult decision not to hold Birdfair 2020.

This event, which was the first of its kind and the largest internationally, raises funds and awareness for international nature conservation from the creation of new national parks to saving species from the threat of extinction. 

Such incredible achievements are only possible thanks to the dedication of all those involved, including our sponsors, partners, exhibitors, speakers, visitors and the amazing 350+ volunteers. 

Even if public gatherings were to be given permission to go ahead later in the summer, we do not feel we could maintain our duty of care during this Covid-19 crisis, and delaying our decision further would only increase costs which would be difficult for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust to bear.

But we are determined that we will be back for Birdfair 2021! 

We are already planning a new direction for the event, offering the 24,000 people who visit each year different ways of exploring how they can engage with wildlife and nature conservation, both within the UK and worldwide. 

We’ll be sharing how these ideas are developing over the course of the coming months.

In the meantime, we are exploring the possibility of holding a Digital Birdfair - a chance to showcase speakers and discussions online.

We hope to engage our existing supporters and find new audiences through this innovative communication channel.

Make sure you keep in contact with us to find out what’s happening and when.  

Please check our website, Facebook and Twitter pages to keep yourself informed.

Birdfair will be back!

In the meantime, we send our very best wishes to our sponsors, exhibitors, contractors, volunteers and visitors - Take Care and Stay Safe!

The Birdfair Team

NEW NATURE RESERVE IN PROSPECT ON THE LINCOLNSHIRE COAST

The former golf course (which closed in 2018) could become a magnet for a range of unusual birds (photo: National Trust)

A NEW nature reserve is on the cards for East Lincolnshire.

The National Trust has acquired the former golf course at Sandilands between Sutton-on- Sea and Chapel St Leonards.

This will become part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park (consisting of 3,500 hectares).

Details are a bit scant as yet, but the trust says: "We want the future reserve to provide a space where everyone can enjoy the benefits of nature - be captivated by the colourful blooms of yellow flag iris and purple loosestrife, and hear the calling squadrons of avocet.

"In winter, the reserve will offer the spectacle of  whooper swans as they arrive from their summer breeding grounds in the sub-Arctic."

Continues the statement: "We will be creating new habitats for a variety of wildlife including breeding birds such as snipe, lapwings and oystercatchers, plus less common migratory birds such as black-tailed godwits, spotted redshanks and spoonbills."

The project has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from a trust supporter who especially asked for the money to be invested in Lincolnshire.

Funds will also be forthcoming from the trust’s Neptune Coastline Campaign - its longest running appeal to support coastline projects.

Partners in the project will include the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire County Council, East Lindsey District Council and the Environment Agency.

Work is due to start on site as soon as possible after  current coronavirus restriction have been lifted.

LINCOLNSHIRE BIRD CLUB KEEPS UP HIGH STANDARD WITH NEWLY-PUBLISHED ANNUAL REPORT

Male ruff as seen at RSPB Frampton Marsh

RUFFS in breeding plumage are seldom seen in breeding plumage, but a splendid photograph (by Neil Smith) of a bird seen at RSPB Frampton Marsh is featured on the front cover of the just-published Lincolnshire Bird Report for 2018.

Over the years,  Lincolnshire's annual report has developed a reputation for excellence, and the latest keeps up the high standard.

The comprehensive species list, plus annual ringing report,  is preceded by a review of the year in which author James Siddle identifies the 2018 highlights as having been:

* Stilt sandpiper
* Snowy owl
* Pallid swifts
* Arctic warbler
* Long-billed dowitcher
* Olive-backed pipit
* American wigeon 
* Balearic shearwater

Oh yes, and there was also a white-billed diver, but, alas, that was found dead.

Among the special features are ones on :

* The invasion of Hawfinches, 2017-18 (Phil Hyde)
* A History of The Status of the Hooded Crow in Lincolnshire and Kent (Andrew Henderson)
* Icelandic Redwings in Lincolnshire (George Gregory)

There are also finder's reports on two particular rarities - stilt sandpiper (Paul Buxton) and pallid swift (Steve Routledge)  - and an account by Gibraltar Point nature reserve warden Kev Wilson of the occurrence on nearby saltmarsh of a short-staying snowy owl.

The report is published at £15 by the Lincolnshire Bird Club which has just celebrated its 40th anniversary.

More details are available from the club's sales officer, Bill Sterling, at:
wbsterling@hotmail.com

RSPB SOUNDS GARDEN ALERT: WHY ARE OUR BLACKBIRDS AND ROBINS IN DECLINE?

Robin - various factors believed responsible for its decline

THE RSPB has sounded an alarm note on UK population declines in both blackbirds and robins.

According to its latest Garden Birdwatch survey, which was carried over the weekend January 25-27 this year, their numbers 46 per cent and 32 per cent respectively. 

Says the Sandy-based charity: "The reasons behind these declines are complex and continue to be investigated, but fewer green spaces, pollution and a changing climate are just some of the challenges faced by garden birds."

Meanwhile, the survey reveals that the house sparrow remains the most abundant visitor to UK gardens.

Its 2020 list, in order of abundance, is as follows:
1.
House sparrow
2.
Starling
3.
Blue tit 
4.
Woodpigeon
5.
Blackbird
6.
Goldfinch
7.
Great tit
8.
Robin
9.
Long-tailed tit
10.
Magpie

In its commentary, the organisation states: "This year’s top ten for the UK is little changed from 2019, with the top three birds the same as last year. 

"Once again, top spot is taken by the house sparrow, making it first for the seventeenth year running. 

"There’s a little bit of shuffling at fourth and fifth, with the woodpigeon moving into fourth and last year’s number four, the blackbird, dropping one spot to fifth.

"There is one new entry to the top ten, with long-tailed tits flying into ninth position. 

"The chaffinch meanwhile has dropped from number nine last year to number 11."

The statement adds an ominous note: "While house sparrows and starlings may be the UK’s most commonly sighted birds, a closer look at Big Garden Birdwatch data shows that numbers have in fact dropped dramatically since the surveys began in 1979. 

"House sparrows are down 53 per cent, while starlings are down 80 per cent." 

GARDEN BLUE TIT ON A VERY IMPORTANT MISSION!

Touchdown on garden lawn

BLUE tits are not often seen on the ground except in special circumstances - for example, when they are gathering moss or other materials for nest building purposes. In this activity their zeal knows no bounds - nor, apparently, the strength of their neck and shoulder muscles and the capacity of their tiny beaks.

This is just the first beakful - see video below

FINGERS CROSSED FOR MORE BREEDING SUCCESS AS OSPREY PAIR RETURN TO LAKELAND

Loyal - the Cumbria ospreys have returned for a remarkable seventh year (photo: Cumbria Wildlife Trust)

GOOD news from Cumbria where a pair of ospreys have  returned to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve.

They are the same birds which  successfully raised and fledged two chicks last year

The female returned on  March 26, and her mate returned a day later.

The return has prompted this upbeat statement from Paul Waterhouse, reserves officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust which manages the reserve.

He said: “We’re delighted to see them back.

"They are  an incredibly successful breeding pair, raising 16 chicks so far since 2014. 

"Fingers crossed that this year, their seventh at Foulshaw Moss, will be equally productive. 

"Following the courtship behaviour we’ve seen already since their return, we can look forward to seeing eggs in the nest in April.”

The birds can be watched close-up on a live osprey webcam.

Continues Paul: "This presents an opportunity to study their behaviour all through the breeding season. 

"A highlight will be when we see how many eggs there are and start wondering when they’ll hatch. 

"We encourage everyone to follow all these milestone moments with us on our webcam. 

"It is a great way for us all to keep connected to wildlife and see nature at very close quarters even if we are confined indoors.”

Under current coronavirus restrictions, the car park at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve is currently closed. 

However, at least for the time being, the trust says visitors can only access the nature reserve by foot as part of their once-a-day exercise so as long as they adhere to social distancing rules.

The osprey webcam is at:

www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/cams/osprey-cam