Hurricane in a teacup? Twitcher on back foot after critics pan 'offensive' content in his controversial first book

                                                                    

KEEN birder Gary Bagnell has pledged to rewrite sections of his first book after it came under fire on social media.

Just before Christmas, Garry Bagnell published Twitching by numbers: Twenty-four years of chasing rare birds around Britain and Ireland.

But sections of soon came under the notice of feminist Lucy McRobert who, like him, is both a birder and a writer - but on a different wavelength and at the primmer end of the literary spectrum.

She was evidently so appalled by the content and tone of some of the text that she put out a tweet (since deleted) highlighting extracts which included words such as 'knockers' and 'boobies'.

So deeply offensive did she find these terms that she claimed they made her skin "creep".

                                        

Lucy McRobert - distressed

Time was when this sort of bawdy content was commonplace in media - in classic novels stretching back to Henry Fielding's Tom Jones and probably before, then, more recently, in  so-called lads' magazines such as Loaded that sold  fabulously well at the end of the 1990s.

Innuendo and/or explicit images were also a mainstay of the Carry On and Confessions of movies that were popular in the 1980s and before. 

And don't forget the output of TV comedians Benny Hill and Frankie Howerd, not to mention the photographs that have long appeared on Page 3 and elsewhere in many a red-top tabloid newspaper?

And can anyone remember Club18-30 holidays? 

But that was then - things are different in 2022 (as they will be in 2023). 

What was once deemed saucy playfulness is now regarded as 'leering' and even 'predatory'.  

Any author who deviates from what is considered decorous and appropriate enjoys no licence - he (or she) risks being singled out and pilloried with  opprobrium.

Following Ms McRobert's influential intervention, many others have entered the fray - most to support her viewpoint but others to counter-attack on behalf of Mr Bagnell who has mounted his own spirited self-defence.                                                   

Garry Bagnell - focus of female flak

In the wake of the uproar,  Mr Bagnell (55), an accountant, of Southwater in West Sussex, has both  apologised for any upset he has caused and indicated that he now intends to rewrite his book, self-censoring the sections that have caused such offence. 

Perhaps he ought to publish two editions  - the revised sanitised version and the original, the latter to contain a  warning on the cover that some of its content may cause offence to certain readers.

One can only speculate which version would sell more copies?

The Wryneck says: Mr Bagnell is unlikely to win any awards for chivalry, but, in fairness, he did not set out to be a role model for other birders. He just sought to put down in words and pictures some of the highlights of almost quarter of a century of twitching, these accompanied by reflections on other aspects of his career and outlook on life. Some of his comments might might  strike a discordant note with certain readers, but credit to him for his endeavour - putting together an illustrated book takes a fair bit of sweat and toil. Every day, we all encounter a myriad of  things that cause personal irritation, inconvenience or even offence, but we shrug them off, look on the bright side and  just get on with life - we don't all rush to Twitter to condemn.  

Five-minute twitch: Riverhead, Grimsby Top Town

                                     

Location: Riverhead, Grimsby Top Town

Date: December 24, 2022

Weather Sunny intervals, mild

Target species: Waxwing

Star species: Cormorant

Other species recorded: Mute swan, mallard, herring gull, moorhen, collared dove, feral pigeon, blackbird, blue tit                                     

                                                                     

Summer birds survey reveals 33 species on urban site earmarked for £75-million salmon farm

                                          

Summer surveys revealed 33 bird species on site earmarked for salmon farm  

A SERIES of five bird surveys on a site in Grimsby earmarked for construction of an indoor salmon 'farm'  recorded no fewer than 33 species. 

The research was conducted by eco-consultancy Aecom on five dates between April and July this year.

The report says: "The surveys identified a breeding bird assemblage within the site consisting of relatively widespread and common passerine species, including both ground-nesting and scrub / tree nesting species. 

"A total of 33 species were recorded, of which at least ten were not breeding (i.e. flying over the site, or visiting the site to feed only).

"Of these, two species (herring gull and lesser black-backed gull) were  breeding colonially on the rooves of the adjacent cold storage and Grimsby Seafood Village buildings, as were carrion crows.

"The breeding assemblage for the site is likely to be of no more than local value as it is relatively limited and includes no more than nine Priority Species." 

The location of the proposed £75-million project, which would use boreholes to provide both fresh and salt water, is redundant railways sidings close to the sea wall.

The site is designated of being of Wildlife Interest in the North East Lincolnshire Council Local Plan.

A planning application is expected to be submitted to NELC Council in the New Year by the firm behind the scheme, London-based Aquacultured Seafoods Ltd. 

The Wryneck says: When the application is submitted, here's hoping precise details are revealed of the bird species for which this site is a breeding, feeding or resting habitat. The consultant classifies them as "relatively widespread and common" but that may be the other side of saying they are in steady decline.  The further description of them as "of no more than local value" is patronising. If they are of value anywhere, they are of value - and worthy, therefore of being cherished and safeguarded.

Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

                                                                                     

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL                        OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS!

Say farewell to the wildlife! It looks like curtains for creatures that have made former theme park their home

Behind the prison-style walls -  a sunlit glimpse into a green and leafy world of Pleasure Island

THE Lidl-led consortium seeking to redevelop a former Lincolnshire theme park with a supermarket and holiday lodges has cleared a major hurdle.

It has learned that it will not be required to provide an Environmental Impact Assessment of the effect its project will have on the wildlife that lives on Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes.

That means that songbirds (including cuckoos), bats, water voles and a family of badgers are now in real peril of being displaced, while scores of mature trees and shrubs face the chop.

The consortium's agents, Lichfields, have acknowledged that the site is home to a badger sett, "several" bat roosts and birds such as reed warbler, little grebe, mute swan, kingfisher, little egret and Cetti’s warbler on or around the lake. 

But the firm says "mitigation" can be provided in the form, for  instance, of "nesting opportunities" for birds and flight "corridors" for bats.

North East Lincolnshire Council's planning case officer, Cheryl Jarvis, has accepted Lichfield's assurances and states in her report that redevelopment would bring "no significant effects".   

It is understood that NELC's ecology officer, Rachel Graham, and Natural England both expressed opinions on whether an environmental impact assessment would be advisable, but their reports have not been released.

Long-term, the consortium  has also indicated its futher intention to build two hotels on the site, but this would hinge on sufficient income being generated by the supermarket and  holiday lodges.

The Wryneck says: This is a casebook example of the old adage that everyone likes Nature - until it gets in the way. The council is so desperate to see redevelopment of the former theme park that the conservation of wildlife is being disregarded almost totally. The agent's pledge of appropriate mitigation is so vague and lacking in detail as to be useless. How, for example, do you provide a "nesting opportunity" for a cuckoo? The planning case officer should have been much more rigorous in her analysis of the Lichfields statement.  What is more, any opinions expressed by the ecology officer and Natural England should have been published for all to see.  Why have they been withheld?

Ticking species off a list is "birding equivalent of eating fast food" says American author

                                    

THE latest author to have a pop at twitching is American animal behaviour expert Joan E. Strassman whose latest book has the natty title, Slow Birding.

She writes: "All too often, birding is something done racing around in automobiles, stopping for moments to pick up a species here and there, then driving on. 

"I  call it 'motor birding', the birding equivalent of eating fast food."

She continues: "What if, instead, we stayed close to home and watched the birds that intersect our lives? 

"What if we learned more about our birds, building our knowledge more slowly through daily observation? 

"It may take some pratice to get  more out of local birds. It may be hard at first to learn to watch birds instead of ticking them off a list. 

"This book will help." 

Ms Strassman doubtless has a point - but what a pity she makes it so self-righteously.

It is surely not a question of either/or. Most, if not all, twitchers are also dedicated students of the birdlife on their own patch. But they also like to enrich their birding experience by travelling beyond their patch to see new species. What is wrong with that?

Subtitled The Art and Science of Enjoying The Birds in Your Own Backyard, the author's focus naturally falls on American species including:  

* Blue jay

* American robin (dubbed the 'earthworm whisperer')

* House wren

* Dark-eyed juneo

* Northern flicker

* Cooper's hawk

* Cedar waxwing

* Northern cardinal

* Northern mockingbird

* Yellow-rumped warbler

* White-throated sparrow

* American coot

* Snow goose

However, there are also chapters on two birds more familiar to birders on this side of the Atlantic - European starling and house sparrow.

Slow Birding, published by TarcherPerigee books,  is available in hardback, at £24, via Amazon UK.

Award for Grimsby's new mitigation site which is already proving a magnet for wetland birds

 

Not a place of beauty but newly created habitat is pulling in the birds

      
GRIMSBY'S new Novartis Ings wetland birds mitigation site has only been established for a few months, but already it has won an award.

It comes from the Humber Nature Partnership which has published this photograph on its website.

Says  the HNP: "the mitigation site  represents the culmination of many years of work by a range of organisations.

"It demonstrates that, with close partnership working between conservation bodies, local businesses and local authorities, economic development and wildlife can flourish together.

"The award recognises the commitment of all involved, in particular North East Lincolnshire Council which has developed the site. 

"The award also serves as a thank-you to phamaceutical company Novartis which donated the land and has always demonstrated a commendable approach to environmental issues on the Humber."

The tally of bird species is steadily increasing and, over the past two or three months, is reported to have included the likes of kittiwake, goosander, yellow-legged gull, golden plover, Mediterranean gull, spotted redshank and Iceland gull.

                                                

Iceland gull  (photo: Andrew Dove)

A statement from NELC says: "The main aim of the 20-acre site is to provide a haven for wildlife ahead of future potential industrial development in the area.

"Companies looking to expand or invest in the area would have previously been required to obtain land for wildlife to offset their developments as a planning requirement - an expensive process likely to delay development for months and can be hugely expensive. 

"Thanks to this mitigation project, the compensation land is ready and waiting for them."

                                           

Ian Johnson (centre left),of Novartis, and council leader Philip Jackson with the award. Also pictured are representatives of supporting organisation plus site designer Roger Wardle (centre). Photo: HNP 

Goldcrest habitat?

Seen sailing down the Humber Estuary between Spurn and Cleethorpes (with conifer on high).

Council confident that newly-installed river basin fountain will give boost to Grimsby's urban wildlife

The new fountain has been approved by the Environment Agency

IT is hoped a newly-installed fountain will help improve water quality - and encourage wildlife - within the River Freshney basin in Grimsby.

Earlier this year, the river was dredged in the same section, with the removal of more than 2230 tonnes of silt and waste over a four week project, allowing the river to flow much more freely.

The new fountain will build on this, increasing aeration of the water, reducing algae growth and helping to protect this piece of water for wildlife and/ or other water activities.

Says North East Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson: "With warmer summers, we have to change our approach to water management. 

"We know that the water quality of the River Freshney has vastly improved over the last 10 years, and we need to make sure that this continues in the future.

"We now have otters back in the centre of Grimsby and we need to make sure all hard work put in to dredge the river and remove unnecessary silt is maintained and the water can be enjoyed equally by people and wildlife.

"Additionally, this will provide a very attractive feature in our town centre, complementing the work done on the Garth Lane waterfront site last year and the work due to start on the Riverhead in the new year."

The fountain has been approved by the Environment Agency.

It complies with the Eel Regulations, ensuring the safety of eels and other water-dwelling creatures.

All electricity for the fountain comes from renewable sources as part of the council’s commitment to the green agenda.

Watching humpback whales from boat was "profoundly moving experience" says Environment Secretary

 

Therese Coffey - pledge to fund creation of new wildlife habitats 

Below is a speech delivered by the Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey, to coincide with last week's international conference on nature recovery held in Montreal. 

Thank you for joining us bright and early - and thank you to the staff of the Natural History Museum for hosting us here before they open their doors to the public this morning as they have done for generations.

We are fortunate to have this cathedral of nature consecrated to 4.5 billion years of natural history, to the pursuit of science and to the study and appreciation of the world’s flora and fauna right here in our capital city.

So it’s hard to think of a more inspiring place for us to meet as I call on all of you to help us come together to secure the future of life on earth and a better future for every generation to come.

When I visited the museum recently, some of the scientists here reminded me that just five years ago, in Hintze Hall a diplodocus would have greeted us.

But it is right that we are now dwarfed by the awesome, twenty-five-metre skeleton of a blue whale the largest animal that has ever existed, bigger even than the biggest dinosaur.

Forty years ago, following a coordinated campaign from schoolchildren and conservation experts alike, sea-going nations around the world came together at the Metropole Hotel in Brighton and agreed a moratorium on commercial whaling.

In a global move to bring species back from the brink of extinction and find more peaceful ways of appreciating these wonderful creatures.

As Environment Minister, a few years ago I had the privilege of watching humpback whales from a boat off Nova Scotia. Itit was a profoundly moving experience.

And while this work is ongoing, we should take heart from what we have achieved and our commitment to seeing it through. Because it seemed impossible until it was done.

I am delighted to announce that, this spring we will launch a multi-million pound fund to create and restore wildlife-rich habitats - from scrub to wetlands and grasslands.

Each investment will secure multiple benefits for nature, climate, and people and encourage opportunities for private funding by backing underfunded projects that give us the biggest bang for our buck.

And we know that demonstrating our collective willingness and ability to close the finance gap for nature is key to unlocking the ambition we need in Montreal.

We all know that there is a long road between where we stand today, and where we need to be.

In national parks in South Africa I have seen how the illegal wildlife trade pits people and wildlife against one another with devastating consequences for all.

But I genuinely believe that if we work together to make the road ahead a road to recovery, we stand not just to avoid the worst impacts but to save precious species by securing the diversity, abundance and connectivity of life on Earth that will also help to bolster the peace and prosperity we all want to see.

The UK is committed to playing our part and to continuing to work with all of you and our friends around the world to see this through.

Crown Estate signals support for East Atlantic Flyway designation as a Natural World Heritage Site

                                    

High hopes for UNESCO heritage status

THE Crown Estate is backing plans for a long stretch of England's East Coast  to be a designated a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.

As main landowner, the Estate's support is essential to the application which is being spearhead by the RSPB.

One of its aims is both to showcase and safeguard millions of shorebirds that spend spring, autumn and winter feeding here before migrating to the Arctic tundra to breed .

Most coastal authorities are also on board with the project, and North East Lincolnshire Council is expected to be supportive at a meeting tomorrow (Thursday).

If rubber-stamped by UNESCO, the name of the heritage site would be: East Atlantic Flyway - England East Coast Wetlands.

Says Olivia Thomas, head of marine planning at the Crown Estate: "The nomination of the English East Coast as a Natural World Heritage Site presents a fantastic opportunity to recognise the value of this coastline, for its variety of coastal environments, diverse habitats creatures and and dynamic seascapes. 

"We recognise that it is important to understand how the world’s coastlines can adapt in response to the threats posed by sea level rise and climate change. 

"We also recognise the need to support net zero targets and help to counter the threats through careful and sensitive development of green energy. 

She continues: "We would welcome the opportunity to work with the RSPB and other proposal partners to assess any developing nomination in detail, considering how best to balance the international importance of the area alongside other policy drivers such as the transition to net zero. 

"We are, therefore, pleased to offer our support for this proposal, as part of the partnership of a variety of key coastal stakeholders and explore further the shape and refinement of the proposition over the coming years." 

The Crown Estate manages the seabed and around half of the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we work alongside industry and stakeholders to unlock its potential. 

Signficantly, it awards seabed rights for offshore windfarms, not just the turbines but also the cabling and other infrastructure.

The organisation is obviously aware of the tensions between offshore energy and safeguarding birds and other marine life.

However, it says it is committed to develop a leading role in stewarding the UK’s marine environment, wherever necessary convening relevant organisations to "broaden our understanding of what is required to ensure a resilient marine environment that supports sustainable development".

The stretch of coast identified is said to be comparable in size to the Getbol South Korean Tidal Flats (South Korea) and a coastal strip in China which haave alslo been designated for similar status.

It is not yet known when the East Atlantic Flyway application will be determined.

                                               

Godwits and knot feeding on the shoreline in Cleethorpes

Lukewarm Whitehall response to Hannah's petition for swift bricks to be made compulsory in new housing

Swift campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor

AN attempt to compel housebuilders to incorporate swift bricks into their developments has met with a courteous response from Whitehall - but not much else.

Hannah Bourne-Taylor enjoyed immense mainstream media publicity when, scantily clothed, she launched her petition in London last month.

The official response reads as follows: "We welcome actions by developers to provide swift bricks, but Government considers this a matter for local authorities depending upon the specific circumstances of each site.

"The Government welcomes any action by individual developers who wish to provide swift bricks, and the benefits are set out in our Planning Practice Guidance on the Natural Environment (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-environment )

"However, we will not be legislating to compel local authorities or developers to include particular forms of green infrastructure in every development. 

"In some high density schemes, the provision of swift bricks might be inappropriate.

"In other places, it could not achieve the desired connectivity for wildlife."

The statement continues: "For the natural environment to thrive, we need both local authorities and developers to understand the natural characteristics of each site and to take proportionate and reasonable action relevant to that location.

"Planning conditions or obligations can, in appropriate circumstances, be used to require that a planning permission provides for works that will measurably increase biodiversity. 

"Local authorities can prioritise specific species such as swifts, and we have seen this from  Brighton and Hove Council. 

"We are also introducing new Local Nature Recovery Strategies which are tools designed to help local authorities plan proactively for nature."

"As with all our policies, this area continues to evolve and develop, balancing the very laudable different priorities of supporting people into home ownership with protecting and enhancing our natural environment - both of which we want to achieve. 

"The Government will continue to review and bring forward proposals in this policy area, and there will be opportunities in future for residents to contribute through consultation."

The petition has attracted more than 30,000 signatures in double-quick time, but it will need 1000,000 to ensure a debate in Parliament.

BBC defence expert thrilled to the endemic species of Taiwan but it is still a British favourite he loves most

                                            

Frank Gardner - BBC man is a keen birder

BBC defence correspondent and BTO president Frank Gardner has revealed his favourite bird.

In a short presentation to today's annual meeting of the latter, he said he never tired watching the robin in the parks of London - with the goldfinch not far behind.  

                                      

Somehow you can't beat a robin

In October, Mr Gardner was  on a work assignment to Taiwan to research the mood in that country over a perceived threat from its much larger neighbour, China.

He found the capital, Taipei, "drizzly" but enjoyed time off in the mountains and above the cloud layer where his "excellent" guide found him numerous endemics including Mikado pheasant - unofficial national bird of Taiwan.

"They are very keen on their birds in Taiwan," he declared

A huge downside for him (and others) this year has been the devastating impact of  bird flu.

When he visited St Mawes in Cornwall in summer, he looked for ward to watching gannets, but saw none.

He compared this unfavourably with a trip, in summer 2021, to  when the cliffs were "teeming" with gannets, razorbills, guillemots and more.

 It was "puffintastic,"he enthused.  

 

Pre-Christmas publication date for eagerly-awaited new edition of Collins Bird Guide

                                                          

What more graceful bird to grace the cover than the swallow

EXCITEMENT is building in advance of next week's proposed launch date of  the third edition of the Collins Bird Guide.

According to advance publicity, this eagerly-awaited title has  32 more pages than its predecessor.

This has allowed for more space - both illustrations and text - to be given to various groups, including grouse, divers, raptors, terns, owls, swifts, woodpeckers, swallows, redstarts and flycatchers.

The entire text and all maps have also been revised.

Accompanying every species entry is a distribution map and illustrations showing the species in all the major plumages (male, female, immature, in flight, at rest, feeding -  whatever is important!)

Says Collins: "In addition, each group of birds includes an introduction which covers the major problems involved in identifying or observing them."

There are also sections on:

* How to organise a sea watching trip

* How to separate birds of prey in flight

* Identification of duck hybrids.

Roll on next Thursday December 8 when the book is due to be published.

Bygone birding: Did goldcrest really make part of North Sea crossing on back of short-eared owl?

                                                                         

Goldcrest? Does species sometimes hitch a lift across the ocean wave? 

Below is a letter published in an edition of The Zoologist journal (1882)

Sir -

The following fact was related to me by Mr. Wilson, the foreman on the South Gare Breakwater at the mouth of the Tees:

"I was at the end of the Gare on the morning of October 16, 1879, when I saw a short-eared owl come flopping across the sea. 

"As it got nearer, I saw something sitting between its shoulders, and wondered what it could be. 

"The owl came and lit on the gearing within ten yards of where I was standing, and, directly it came down, a little bird dropped off its back and flew along the Gare. 

"I signalled for a gun, but the owl saw me move and flew off across the river. 

"We followed the little bird and caught it, and I sent it away to be made into a feather for my daughter's hat."

"The little bird was a golden-crested wren." 

Wilson could have had no inducement in telling me other than the truth, and I have every reason to believe that what I have written is correct. 

It does not necessarily follow that the goldcrest came the whole way across the North Sea on the back of the owl, but I think it is quite possible that, feeling tired on the way, it might have availed itself of the assistance of its compagnon de voyage, and so be carried to shore.

Wilson further told me he had seen another wren on an owl's back about a fortnight after he saw the first one. 

T. H. Nelson 
Redcar

Plucky goldcrest made the 400-mile flight from Dutch Coast to Spurn in just under eight hours

 

RADIO tracking by Motus has provided fascinating information on the flight of goldcrest that made the trip from a small island off the Dutch Coast

Weighing little more than a 20p coin, it completed the 400-mile journey in just under eight hours at an average speed of 27mph.

The bird had been tagged by a Dutch research team, led by Prof Sander Lagerveld of Wageningen University, which is studying the migration ecology of small passerines and bats. 

Also tagged on the same date, October 20, were several yellow-browed warblers but it is not known what happened to them nor to the goldcrest after it flew north over Spurn's Motus tracking tower.

Fancy that - shape of kingfisher's beak influenced how Japanese designed their bullet trains

                                 

HOW about this for a description of magpies on a lawn: "They strut proprietorially around my lawn like a couple of fascists at a rally"?

It is an example of the colourful writing of Charlie Corbett in his absorbing book, 12 Birds To Save Your Life.

Subtitled Nature's Lessons in Happiness, this is a frank and very moving account of  the part  that birds - and his keen, perceptive  observation of them -  have played in helping him to come to terms with life after the grief and trauma that followed the loss of his  mother to cancer.

The author was outraged and dismayed when those same magpies took out a nest of mistle thrushes which, much to his family's delight, had made their home in the branches of a sycamore in his back garden.

But ultimately he forgives the black-and-white "scoundrels", deciding his scorn for such a "beautiful, charismatic and tenacious" bird is not fair. "After all, a magpie doesn't know it's a magpie,"he writes. "It just does its magpie thing."

                                         

Strutting 'like a fascist at a rally'

Corbett, who is a language expert and journalist based in Wiltshire, goes on to explore the special significance in his recent life of 11 other species - the skylark, kingfisher, curlew, bullfinch, house sparrow, house martin, robin, wren, song thrush, chiffchaff and barn owl. 

Along the way there are some interesting nuggets - for instance, that the aerodynamic excellence of the kingfisher's beak may have influenced how the Japanese fashioned the noses of their bullet trains.

Staying on the aeronautic theme, he describes how he once saw a peregrine being mobbed by two grey wagtails - a fascinating spectacle which he likens to "two biplanes being attacked by a Tornado jet".

And the allusion to the Tornado is not far off because its designers apparently used the shape of the peregrine's nostrils - which protect the bird's lungs at high speeds - as a means to increase the safety and efficiency of their engines.

Corbett is a great fan of the writings of the clergymen-ornithologists of yesteryear and also of  former Foreign Secretary Edward Grey whose exquisite The Charm of Birds is a evidently book to which he constantly refers - and understandably so.

By comparison, to him, the authors of modern guidebooks describe birds in a way that "feels a little less familiar, a little more worthy and a little too scientific".

He continues: "They write about birds as something to look at, to study and make a note of  rather than as of an innate part of our daily life, of the human story; there doesn’t seem to be any real affection - all cold fact and no heart."

(Note the use of the semi-colon - forsaken by most contemporary writers but, where appropriate, reintroduced by Corbett to pace the rhythm of his sentences.)

Is the author worried by the loss of birds and our seeming, downwards spiral into what risks becoming a "post-Nature" planet?

Of course he is. 

"We humans and the wildlife that surrounds us have become strangers in the great cocktail party of Life on Earth,"he frets. "It is much easier and more enticing to watch David Attenborough explore the jungles of Madagascar on the BBC on a comfy sofa  than to  go outside and form an attachment to the local squadron of plain brown and white sparrows chittering away on the road. 

"But the sparrows are Nature's ballast, and once they’re gone we won’t get them back."

To end on a cheerful note,  hats off to Corbett for his readiness to poke fun at himself - notably with an acknowledgement of his failed efforts to capture acceptable images of bullfinches which he describes as "cheerful, stocky little bird", but somehow "unreachable" in their thick hedgerows.

" I have I tried in vain to photograph bullfinches,"he says ruefully. "Which is why I am the proud possessor of about 50 photographs showing grey-pink-red blurs in the far distance."

And let's face it, he must be having a laugh (perhaps at the reader's expense) when he likens the sight of a flying kingfisher to "a dazzling samba dancer skipping through a dimly-lit London pub."  

Come off it, Charlie! Kingfisher as samba dancer?That's surely stretching things just a little bit.

12 Birds To Save Your Life is a book to read, then to re-read.

Published in paperback by Penguin at £9.99, it is available wherever books are sold.   

Bygone birding: Wiltshire rector 'singularly happy' to claim county record of black woodpecker

From Birds of Wiltshire (1887)  by the Rev Alfred Charles Smith, Rector of Yatesbury

I think myself singularly happy in claiming  the Black Woodpecker as a record for Wiltshire.

I have never been able to assent to the verdict of those who have pronounced all the recorded specimens in Great Britain as mistakes or impositions.

I cannot, and I do not, believe that all our older ornithologists were so mistaken or deceived, and, on looking over long lists of instances given on what seems to be excellent authority, I feel that  Picus martius has occasionally appeared in England, perhaps more frequently in former years than of late. 

At all events, the single specimen I adduce is now in Mr. James Rawlence's collection at Bulbridge, in the parish of Wilton, and that gentleman received it from Mr. Samuel Pope, then of Kingston Deverill Farm, who assured Mr. Rawlence it was killed while they were shooting rooks in Longleat Park. 

I regret that I cannot give the exact date, but it was some years ago, and it was sent to be stuffed by Mr. King, the well-known bird-stuffer at Warminster, now unhappily deceased, or he might have supplied this and other desired particulars. 

The Black Woodpecker is much larger than all the other European species and is entirely black in colour, the top of the head only excepted, which is of a rich blood-red. 

It is a strong powerful bird, and is common in northern Europe, and found sparingly in the fir forests of Germany and Switzerland. 

When I was in Norway in 1850, I was so fortunate as to fall in with it in the great forest of the Glommen, and shot it as it was ascending the trunk of a fir tree. 

There were two in company, and I followed them as they flew screaming through the forest, but I never saw birds fly more heavily, or with such apparent exertion and such clumsy motion as these. 

It was surprising, too, with what loud-sounding taps they hammered with their powerful beaks on the bark of the trees they were ascending, and I could well understand how they gained the Norwegian name of Spill-Kraka - 'Splinter Crow'  - from the mass of splinters always to be found at the foot of the tree where they carry on their labours. 

In France, it is Le Pic Noir; in Germany, Schwarzspecht; in Italy, Picchio Corvo.

****

More about the Black Woodpecker:

THE BLACK WOODPECKER IN BRITAIN: FACT, FICTION OR FRAUD? eBook : Wright, James: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Price: £2

£36,000 salary on offer for curlew enthusiast - but he or she will have to be a bit of a bureaucrat

                                                                 

 

CALLING all curlew enthusiasts!

A £36,000 one-year contract is up for grabs at the Curlew Recovery Partnership.

Below is the notice of vacancy: 

The England Curlew Recovery Partnership is looking for an outstanding conservationist and network builder who can manage this transformative partnership.

The Eurasian curlew is arguably the most pressing bird conservation priority in the UK.

More than that, it has unparalleled importance as a symbol of Britain’s wild places. 

An extraordinary conservation effort to save the curlew is underway, and there is hope that in bringing back this much-loved species we can recover the fortunes of much of our nature.

The partnership builds on the existing informal network of projects and individuals working  at a local level, connecting them at a national level to other projects, conservation NGOs and Government agencies.

The Partnership Director post is hosted by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust on behalf of the partnership.

The partnership steering group, which is chaired by the author and campaigner Mary Colwell, will agree your work-programme which will involve working closely with a broad range of leading conservation organisations.

The role will be to mobilise and co-ordinate the existing resources across the partners, and among grassroots conservationists in the form of farmers, land managers, practitioners, gamekeepers, volunteers and all those that have a passion for curlews.

It is important  also to ensure that Curlew conservation is informed by new scientific evidence and that projects are informed by best practice. 

The successful candidate  be an experienced conservationist, adept at building links between scientists, Whitehall decision-makers, local communities and land-managers. 

The successful candidate will be at the heart of one of the most high profile conservation initiatives in Britain, and will need to be inspiring, collaborative, diplomatic and energetic.

* Curlew Action, Defra, Natural England, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the RSPB, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the British Trust for Ornithology, Natural England, Curlew Country, the Duchy of Cornwall and the Bolton Castle Estate.

Apart from the salary, benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service

• Contributory pension scheme (conditions apply)

• Life assurance

• Free parking

• Cycle to work scheme

• Free entry to all Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust centres

And here is the job description: 

Main function of role: 

To manage delivery of the work programme of the Curlew Recovery Partnership on behalf of the Steering Group Partnership and the Chair. To mobilise and co-ordinate the existing resources across the main partners, the broader group of partner organisations and with the grassroots conservationists in the form of farmers, land managers, practitioners, gamekeepers, volunteers and all those that have a passion for Curlews in England. 

Main duties:

National co-ordination

• Respond to UK Government consultations, particularly relating to Defra agri-environment schemes (AES) such as the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELM) and woodland creation schemes.

• Develop policy briefs for Defra on key topics in Curlew conservation, including predator management, silage/hay cutting and forestry.

• Co-ordinate for schemes, such as Farming in Protected Landscapes, to ensure effective sharing of outputs relevant to Curlew conservation and capturing key findings for Defra policymakers. 

• Work with partners to identify opportunities for improved co-ordination of data collection for breeding Curlews at regional and national level.

• Represent CRP on (and share resources with) the UK and Ireland Curlew Action Group (CAG) and the Curlew Wales Steering Group and correspond and co-ordinate training activities with Working for Waders in Scotland.

• Support the development of research to increase the evidence-base for Curlew conservation, in particular by encouraging multi-partner research collaborations

External communications and activities

• Develop and maintain the CRP website, blog, social media, and email accounts.

• Develop and maintain the CRP network of  some 350 Curlew conservationists, primarily across England.

• Support local Curlew groups in England through provision of advice and resources about funding, fieldwork etc.

• Visit important Curlew areas and projects to understand local issues and engage with a broad range of Curlew conservationists.

• Engage with local, regional, and national media to disseminate key messages about Curlew conservation and promote CRP network activities.

Internal communications and activities

•Ensure that the CRP, including its Steering Group and Working Groups, is effectively managed.

• Manage the CRP finances and provide a monthly update to the Chair and SG (with support from colleagues in GWCT who administer the CRP bank account).

• Identify opportunities for future CRP funding, both from UK Government and various public and private sources, to support management overhead and delivery of local research and conservation projects.

CRP resources

• Work with SG members to develop, deliver and co-ordinate CRP training activities including field and online workshops, online videos, and online resources.

• Work with SG members to develop and deliver the Curlew Fieldworker Toolkit and undergo regular updates to ensure content confirms with best practise.

Closing date for applications is November 30, with interviews to be held on December 8-9.

And the person specifications:

Essential: 

● Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject

● Current driving licence and passport

Desirable

● A recognised qualification or accreditation in project management (e.g. PRINCE2, APM accreditation).

Experience

Essential: 

● Track record of working with local grass-roots projects and/or farmers to develop and deliver conservation projects

● Track record of working with local and national governments, private sector and civil society bodies

● Experience in organising and facilitating multi-stakeholder participatory processes and policy dialogues

● Experience in partnership building and relationship management

● Understanding of relevant technical fields (including species recovery; wader ecology; economics of rural environments; stakeholder engagement techniques; natural capital and ecosystem service approaches)

● Understanding of the relevant policy context, including agriculture, forestry and species recovery, especially as it relates to conservation of Curlews and their habitats

● Experience of the UK biodiversity fundraising environment and of managing grants and funding partnerships 

● Experience of project design, planning and evaluation

● IT skills including use of Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint and the use of online tools for document sharing and collaboration

Desirable: 

● Experience of Curlew conservation projects or similar species recovery initiatives

● Experience of implementing effective organisational governance arrangements

Competencies

● Ability to co-ordinate stakeholders within the Recovery Partnership, including dealing with conflicting opinions and objectives

● Ability to work effectively with multiple partners, giving growing momentum towards partnership working

● Demonstrated capacity to strategically manage diverse teams to achieve results

● Demonstrable project management skills including development of work plans, project financial management, monitoring and evaluation and effective reporting

● Excellent written and oral presentation skills and ability to communicate to a variety of audiences 

● Excellent communication and networking skills, able to negotiate with, persuade and influence a wide range of stakeholders 

● Able to work independently, prioritise workload and meet deadlines, with a high degree of autonomy over day-to-day work programme

● Willingness to travel extensively around England and occasionally further afield (chiefly other countries in the UK and Europe)

● Able to raise substantial funds for conservation projects

More information  at:

WWT - Curlew Partnership Director

The CRP consists of the following organisations: Curlew Action, Defra, Natural England, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, the RSPB, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the British Trust for Ornithology, Natural England, Curlew Country, the Duchy of Cornwall and the Bolton Castle Estate.

The Wryneck says: It is a sad reflection of current times that a bureaucratic framework has to be set up to encourage what should be happening  naturally - that is to say, curlews breeding in abundance right across Britain. How long before similar structures need to be set up to safeguard nightingales, swifts, skylarks, yellowhammers and other declining birds? Disappointingly, this project seems to have no defined targets. Might it not have more success if remuneration of whoever is appointed director was linked to results.  What is more, it fails to address another isssue - the ongoing confiscation of 'curlew' eggs from MoD airfields which has decimated the breeding population of the species in the county of Lincolnshire. On balance, this curlew initiative is probably a good one - just not quite as good as it seems.