After 10 years' service, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust calls time on its all-terrain Spurn wildlife safari vehicle

                                                                

Expensive to repair - the Spurn peninsula 'Unimog' (photo YWT)

IT is the end of the road for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's 'Unimog'.

Over the past 10 years, the 16-seater  all-terrain vehicle has been used for  three-hour long Spurn Safaris. 

But, alas, no longer.

The trust has issued the following statement: "Very sadly, it is no longer viable for us, as a wildlife charity prioritising nature’s recovery, to keep up with an increasing number of repairs to the aged vehicle. 

"This means we have decided to pause our Spurn Safari trips and the Unimog will no longer be in use at Spurn. 

"The Unimog has had a fantastic final summer season and we will be very sorry to see her go." 

The statement continues: "It is the best time to make this difficult decision  as we head into more challenging seasonal weather conditions, an ever-changing beach and a quieter season.

"We are now researching other ways to transport visitors safely and sustainably along the beach three miles to the end of Spurn and lighthouse to ensure we give visitors an amazing wildlife experience on our beautiful nature reserve."

It adds: "We would also welcome discussions with partners or transport organisations and businesses whose values align with ours and who would be interested in working with us."                               

Wotalotabirds! Fantastic views of waders in flight were sometimes to be seen from the 'Unimog'. (Full disclosure: this photograph was snapped in Cleethorpes on the Lincolnshire  side of Spurn  peninsula and the Humber Estuary

New editor of British Birds journal is experienced ornithologist and chair of Spurn Bird Observatory

 

Sarah - graduate of  Aberystwyth University 

IT'S good luck to Sarah Harris who has taken over as editor and content manager of  British Birds journal.

She is replacing Stephen Menzie who has stepped down after almost five years as editor.

Sarah is well-known in the birding world not least because she is chairperson and one of three directors at  Spurn Bird Observatory.

A graduate of Aberystwyth University with a degree in Countryside Conservation, her varied career has also involved being a seabird monitoring programme organiser with the BTO.

Previously, she has also worked variously as RSPB white-tailed eagle officer on Skye, as assistant warden on  the islands of Skomer and Skokholm for the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales and as ornithological warden on the Calf of Man for the Manx Wildlife Trust.

Sarah's interests include witnessing and recording bird migration, bird ringing, supporting the work of bird observatories, patch birding in the Brecks, sea-watching, moth recording and travel, both home and overseas.

She also  also enjoys mountain biking, yachting, power-boating, yoga, gardening and keeping a large freshwater aquarium.

Meanwhile, her predecessor has described stepping down from the British Birds editor's chair as "a tough decision".  

He will stay involved with the organisation through his membership of the rarities committee.                                   

Established in 1907, the monthly journal is still going strong 

On the lookout for divers - the new British Birds editor

Natural England releases updated map on progress of King Charles III England Coast Path Trail

                                                       

Birder behaving badly! Twitcher under fire for seeking to flush rare Pechora Pipit from undergrowth

Pechora Pipit - species that likes to skulk (photo: Wikimedia commons)

A TWITCHER who allegedly sought to flush a rare bird has been rapped on social media.

The incident is reported to have occurred at Trow Quarry, South Shields in Co Durham, where a mega-rare Pechora Pipit turned up earlier this week.

This is a shy bird which is usually difficult to photograph because of its propensity to skulk low in vegetation.

For most of the the scores of birders waiting to snatch a glimpse - and preferably a photo - patience was the watchword.

But one broke ranks and allegedly walked into the undergrowth with the sole intention of flushing the bird into view.

In response, one birder posted on X:  "This sort of thing gets all birders and bird photographers a bad name."

The bird, which hails from the banks of the Pechora River in Siberia, is believed to be the first confirmed record on  mainland Britain since November, 2007, when one was seen, following days of heavy rainfall, near Goodwick in Pembrokeshire.

That Welsh bird was seen by many birders, the last sighting being some four days after it had arrived as it flew off in a south-westerly direction.

An account of the sighting subsequently appeared the following 12 months later in the Welsh Ornithological Society's publication Scarce and Rare Birds in Wales 2007.

                                          

The 2007 Pembrokeshire bird was a new species for Wales

It is believed the species was first recorded by English ornithologist Robert Swinhoe (1837-77) who spent much of his life in China as a career ornithologist and  naturalist.  

He encouraged like-minded compatriots to support his ornithological research and was intrigued when one of his team sent him a corpse of  a Pechora Pipit which had apparently been picked up dead near the base of a lighthouse.

Because of its secretive habitats, the Pechora is probably often overlooked or mistaken for confusion species such as  Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit or Red-throated Pipit.

An authoritative report on how to differentiate the species from its cousins was compiled by C. D. R. Heard and G. Walbridge and published in British Birds journal in September, 1988.

                                        

RSPB praised in House of Commons for its Howgill Beck river restoration project in north Cumbria

                                                

Award winner: RSPB Geltsdale

LABOUR MP Julie Minns has praised RSPB Geltsdale  which sits within her Carlisle constituency

During a Commons debate, she told colleagues: "I recommend  Members a visit to my beautiful constituency of Carlisle and north Cumbria - in particular to RSPB Geltsdale where they will see the award-winning Howgill Beck restoration project, which has won the UK river prize. 

"It is a fantastic restoration project that has restored the wetlands, and native species have returned to the environment. It is a stunning part of north Cumbria.

"The  RSPB and all its partners should be congratulated on this wonderful project."

                                         

Julia Minns - away from Westminster she enjoys walking and swimming (at dawn!) in Ullswater

Resort's coastal ranger in timely plea to dog-owners: Please spare a thought for our shorebirds

                                 

Black on black - dog has designs  on this carrion crow

A COASTAL ranger and wildlife officer has appealed to dog-owners not to allow their pets to run at the flocks of shorebirds that spend autumn and winter on the estuary, beach and saltmarsh in Cleethorpes, northern Lincolnshire.

Says Josh Forrester: "I routinely monitor recreational disturbance along our coast and have unfortunately witnessed recent incidents where scores of birds were being chased."

The Humber Estuary is a Special Protection Area and home to species such as curlew, redshank and knot which are all in decline.

Although they are seldom caught by canines, disturbance reduces their feeding time and depletes their energy.

In fairness, most dog-owners are responsible. They know that  disturbing birds  - preventing them from feeding or roosting, or causing them to take flight - is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations.

Water-sports enthusiasts, such as jet-skiers and paddleboard-users, are are also urged to stay away from the saltmarsh and sand banks - especially areas accommodating  large congregations of birds.

The memo also applies to birders who sometimes approach too close in their eagerness to snatch close-up photographs.

                                  

Danger beckons - the shorebirds in the foreground doubtless know it will soon be their turn to be chased

A handsome beast - but dogs off the lead spell danger for saltmarsh birds such as egrets, redshank and snipe 

                              

Sacked Government minister Lucy Powell is member of RSPB - and son is 'bit of a keen twitcher'

                                         

Lucy Powell - frontline politician who likes birds

IT has emerged that a Cabinet minister sacked earlier this month by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is a member of the RSPB.

Lucy Powell had been Leader of The Commons until, much to her disgruntlement, she was shown the door by the PM.

Mother-of-three Ms Powell has represented the Manchester Central constituency since 2012 and is a supporter of Manchester City FC.

In a debate back in spring, she revealed her ornithological credentials when she said:  "I am a member of the RSPB, in part because my son is a bit of a keen twitcher."

Ms Powell is currently favourite to become the next Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, following the resignation, also earlier this month, of Angela Rayner.