MP thrilled to bits by breeding success of black-winged stilts within his Lincolnshire constituency

                                            

Matt Warman MP  - Feather in Frampton's cap

PLAUDITS to Lincolnshire MP Matt Warman who is still speaking up for birds six years after having been named as one of Parliament's 17 species 'champions' by the RSPB.

When it emerged that black-winged stilts were nesting this summer  in his Boston & Skegness constituency, Mr Warman wasted no time in expressing his delight.

Said he: "I was very pleased to learn of the breeding success for black-winged stilts - a first for Lincolnshire - at the RSPB reserve at Frampton Marsh which is within my patch.

"This further consolidates the reserve's status as one of the best habitats in the UK for both resident and migrating birds."

Since the revelation, the birds - more frequently to be found in Mediterranean climes - have become an unexpected tourist attraction, drawing visitors from far and wide.

The mother of Mr Warman's wife, Rachel, used to work for the RSPB at another reserve, Freiston Shore, which not far from Frampton, and the MP says: "The welfare of birds and wildlife is certainly something we, as a family, care deeply about."

His own particular interest is in long-legged wetland beasties, and, in 2017, he agreed to become species 'champion for another bird to be found nesting in watery parts of Frampton and elsewhere in Lincolnshire - the redshank. 

                                           

Redshank - chosen bird of the Lincolnshire MP 

The other species 'champions' are (or were): 

* Jake Berry: Curlew

* James Cartlidge: Turtle dove

* Therese Coffey: Bittern

* Mark Garnier: Lesser spotted woodpecker

* Nick Herbert (now in the House of Lords): Lapwing

* Kevin Hollinrake: Puffin

* Kerry McCarthy: Swift

* Jess Phillips: Dunnock

* Rebecca Pow: Snipe

* Angela Smith (no longer an MP): Hen harrier

* Dame Caroline Spelman (no longer an MP): Willow tit 

* Derek Thomas: Manx shearwater

* Kelly Tolhurst: Nightingale

* Anna Turley (no longer an MP): Little tern

* Gavin Williamson: Barn owl

* Sarah Wollaston (no longer an MP): Cirl bunting

The Wryneck says: The species 'champion' initiative was a good one, so it is a shame that the RSPB has let it fall into disrepair. There are 650 British MPs and currently just 12 are species champions. How feeble is that! Considering that most, if not all, UK parliamentary constituencies have several hundred electors who are RSPB or wildlife trust members, it is surprising that (even if only for cynical vote-winning reasons) their representatives so rarely mention birds in their press releases or election material.  Well done to Matt Warman,  at least, for continuing to fly the flag!