Bumper week for Phalarope species with almost 450 individual birds logged across Britain and Ireland

 

One of two Grey Phalaropes that has spent most of this week at Anglian Water's Covenham Reservoir, near Louth in Lincolnshire  

This has been a bumper week for Grey Phalaropes with now fewer than  440 individuals logged at various British and Irish waters.

The biggest count is believed to have been the 60 reported on a single day at Brandon Point in Co Kerry.

The birds are believed to have been blown off course by recent strong westerlies on their southerly migration down the Atlantic.

One bird, alas, died after colliding with overhead power lines in Childswickham in Worcestershire.

Over the same period, there have also been sightings of nine Red-necked Phalaropes in England including two at RSPB Titchwell in Norfolk  where one perished apparently after having being snatched by a passing Hobby.  

      

Well camouflaged - in autumn plumage, phalaropes can be tricky to spot as they hunt for insects in choppy waters 

RSPB keen to step up fight against racism with appointment of £35,000-per-annum 'race equity' officer

                               

RSPB's HQ in Bedfordshire - the society is eager to encourage 'more ethnic diverse people to act for nature'

A SALARY of up to £35,259 per annum is on offer for a candidate who applies successfully to join the RSPB's anti-racism taskforce.

The closing date for applications is midnight next Friday September 26.

In these changing times,  the RSPB is not just about protecting birds, it is also about social engineering - in other words, encouraging  more non-white people to become involved with nature.

Says a spokesperson for the society: "This is a key role working alongside our senior programme manager and senior race equity specialist to shape our ways of working to enable more and more ethnic diverse people to act for nature."

The post is for 10 months only, with interviews being held from October 15.

For further information, contact the RSPB's Equity, Diversion and Inclusion unit at  edi@rspb.org.uk

BTO reveals programme of presentations for its 2026 annual conference in Northampton

Bird of mystery - Nightjar in flight

The BTO has today announced its programme for next year's  annual conference to be held at the Mercure Hotel in Northampton on Saturday February 28.The proposed talk by Greg Conway on Nightjar ecology promises to be one of many highlights.

Could bright-blue plastic bags safeguard young livestock from predatory threat of White-tailed Eagles?

 

Some farmers fear White-tailed eagles pose threat to new-born lambs and Shetland ponies

Letter in the Sunday Telegraph (September 7, 2025)

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