What future the welfare of wildlife as Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds takes over as Environment supremo?

                                                

Emma Reynolds - enjoys running and cinema-going

Meet Emma Reynolds (47), the newly appointed  Environment Secretary whose decisions in government could do much to shape the fortunes of birds and other wildlife during the course of the remainder of this parliament. Married to a solicitor and with two sons (aged eight and six), she grew up in the West Midlands and was MP for Wolverhampton North East between 2010 and 2019 before being elected for Wycombe at last year' General Election. The extent of her interest in environmental affairs is not known. Ms Reynolds is said to enjoy running, pubs and cinema-going. She used to play football, and there is a strong likelihood that she supports Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Ms Reynolds take over the Environment brief after her predecessor, Steve Reed, was promoted to Housing Secretary. 

15-minute twitch: Grounds of Waverley Castle Hotel, near Melrose, Scottish Borders

 

The Waverley Castle - one of the first Scottish hotels to be constructed from concrete

Date: August 30, 2025

Time: 7.45am - 8.00am

Weather: Sunny and warm

Target species: Great Spotted Woodpecker

Star species seen: Siskin

Other species seen/ heard:

* Wood Pigeon

* Nuthatch

* Blue Tit

* Coal Tit

* Blackbird

* Carrion Crow

* Jackdaw

* Robin

                                           

These Jackdaws were finding plenty to feed on 

The delightful grounds include their own small apple orchard

Statue of Sir Walter Scott, celebrated novelist who spent most of his life in the area

                                                                                   

Giant Redwood - specimen tree imported many years ago from California

Coal Tit in quest for something to eat

Expansive lawns are a feature of the grounds

                                                                            

This Nuthatch made its presence felt by calling persistently

Juvenile Robin on high alert

Five Shetland pony foals mysteriously disappear - were they taken as prey by Sea Eagles?

 

How Sunday Post newspaper headlined the 'story'

A CROFTER  has pointed an accusing finger at Sea Eagles after five recently-born foals disappeared from his herd of Shetland ponies 

According to a report in the Sunday Post newspaper, Donald John Cameron believes the huge birds are the "most likely culprits" for the disappearance of his foals, and he has called on the Scottish Government wildlife agency, NatureScot, to investigate the disappearance. 

Though they sometimes take lambs and deer calves, there is no known  record of Sea Eagles predating foals, but it is understood NatureScot is willing to  check nests for any prey evidence.

The report was later picked up in England by newspapers such as The Daily Telegraph.

                                               

The report in yesterday's edition of The Daily Telegraph newspaper