The 1st Hen Harrier Day 10th August 2014

The 1st Hen Harrier Day 10th August 2014

As I was driving towards Derwent Dam I was hoping the weathermen had made a mistake and there was to be no rain. I pulled up around 07:50, in one of the free car parks as I’m tight like that, and was pleased that is wasn’t raining. I put on my waterproofs any way as I think deep down that I knew the heavens would open in the not too distant future. My second thought was, would the weather put people off and the number of attendees be disappointing?

View from the Car park

I met up with some friends from the Derbyshire Wildlife trust (DWT) and we made our way to the meeting point where the more frivolous drivers had parked. More familiar faces started to appear as more protesters arrived and before we knew it cars were having to turn back and find alternative places to park.

At 09:40 the call to arms came and we all made our way down to the dam, it was truly a wonderful sight as a mass of protesters brollies formed a bulging river of colour. This made a nice change to the usual sea of green & brown that is always popular with birders (including myself).

A river of colour

 By the time we all settled in front of the dam everyone was soaked, but no one was complaining. We were all here for one reason and the weather could not dampen our spirits. Mark Avery, who had helped organize this event along with Birders Against Wildlife Crime, called everyone forward to start proceedings.

The people gather

 Mark talked about the reasons he had wanted to create an event to highlight the persecution of our Hen Harriers. He reminded us of how a group of people in 1932 held a mass protest on Kinder to end restrictions of access for the common people to the uplands of The Peak District. All in the crowd were inspired by what Mark had to say. 

Mark Avery talks to the masses

He then handed over to Chris Packham who delivered a passionate speech that was spoken with clear frustration in his voice.

Chris Packham

A huge cheer was heard when Owen Paterson was referred to as the ex-Secretary for the environment, and a round of applause was given to the current shadow minister Barry Gardiner. He was welcomed into the fold of the ‘Green blob’, he later tweeted ‘he was proud to be part on the Green Blob’.

A young man named Findley Wilde was then invited along with his brother Harley to take centre stage and talk about his 6ft model Hen Harrier and what had inspired him to build it. An example to us all he is certainly the future of conservation. (You can read his Blog here).

Chris acknowledges Findley Wilde

Chris then used the example of the Marsh Harrier to highlight that with the right will a species can make a recovery.

Chris Packham inspires the crowd

He then had a pop at the shooting fraternity, ‘we’ve tried to trust you to work with us, but you have failed us. Sort out the bad apples in your barrel, otherwise we’re gunning for you, and we will win!’. This was greeted with the loudest cheer of the day from every one present, well almost. The wildlife NGO’s were mentioned too, having failed to do enough to bring this issue to the forefront while numbers of Hen Harriers are still falling. An olive branch was offered to all people involved, noting that if we all work together and compromise we can all prosper.

The speech ended with a quote from Ghandi, ‘first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win’.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with Chris, Mark & Findley

After the speeches had ended Findley’ Hen Harrier became the main attraction as all of the organisations present used it as a great focal point for photographs, The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, Hawk & Owl Trust, BAWC and others will hopefully get some great publicity from the event to push the issue forward.

I hope that the momentum gained from this event can now be maintained and more ideas, to keep the plight of our birds of prey in the forefront of people’s minds, will follow . My worries earlier about number were unfounded as around 570 protesters turned up, and everyone’s spirit was high at all times, like minded birders and nature lovers had all come together to load our gun and point it directly at the law breakers that are murdering our birds.

More details of Mark Avery’ petition for the banning of Driven grouse shooting, which has over 19,000 signitures can be found here. I was originally not against Grouse shooting but as I have learned more about this industry, and that's what it is,  it's plain to see that most that are involved have no respect for the environment or the natural world. Hen Harriers like other predators are not welcome anywhere near their moors, there is too much money involved and they won't tolerate any creature that eats into their profits.

Marks Blog covers all aspects of conservation and is definitely worth a read, it’s also probably the best place to keep up to date with the Hen Harrier protest. (find Marks Blog Here)

My Selfie with Chris

Very pleased to get a Selfie with findley

The #sodden570 have inspired me to do more and I am very proud to be counted as one of them.

#wewillwin

My Thoughts about Bird of Prey persecution.

My Thoughts about Bird of Prey persecution.
First I should say that I don't consider myself an expert or particularly knowledgeable in these matters. These are just my thoughts as someone who knows right from wrong where the welfare of other living creatures are concerned. As a long time birdwatcher & nature lover the idea that some of this countries most beautiful and iconic bird species are murdered to increase profit is abhorrent.
I can’t understand why any one gets a kick from shooting any living creature for pleasure, however I don’t really blame the shooters themselves for the problem with raptor persecution. We are all different and live by different values, they turn up and pay their money for a days shooting. I know that not every one cares for the natural world and some people are oblivious to what goes on around them.
Some land owners, and I emphasize some, with their instructions to their gamekeepers are the ones that should hang their heads in shame. To put profit before the very environment that provides them with their wealth is very short sighted and greedy. These birds are part of this ecosystem and should be allowed to live a natural life. So what if some of Grouse and Pheasant are taken by these birds, that’s the natural world and how it works. I wonder how many shooters would get a thrill from seeing a Hen Harrier or a Peregrine whilst out on the moors, a fair few I’m sure.
Would an increase in predator numbers make shooting harder? I don’t know but if it does then surely that should make it more of a challenge for these ‘brave’ marksmen.
I will be at Derwent Dam on the 10th of August to show my support for this campaign against the bad practices carried out by the guilty landowners. After becoming very disillusioned with the RSPB in recent years I'm glad they have added their voice to this movement and I am so pleased that the Wildlife Trust has shown its support too, I can now wear my Derbyshire Wildlife Trust volunteer T-shirt with pride.

Ladybower Wood bird box success (2014)

 A view over Ladybower Wood

Upland Oakwood in the Peak District is a rare habitat and I am lucky enough to be able to monitor the nest boxes in the Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts Ladybower site. This SSSI site has over 75 species of lichen recorded but it’s the Bird life that excites me.

Early Spring in Ladybower Wood

The first time I visited this site it totally blew me away, it is a magical place with stunted Oaks, Silver birch & Rowan. Large grit-stone boulders lye abandoned between the trees and are covered in thick moss and lichens of all colours. Early mornings bring an extra level of beauty that is normally created by special effects teams in fantasy movies, a low floating mist rolls over the rocks and beams of sunlight penetrate the canopy and light up the woodland floor. Bird song completes this picture and quickly makes you forget the steep climb and aching limbs that you’ve suffered to get here. Curlew, Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit & Spotted Flycatcher are just some of the members of this harmonious choir.

Curlew on moorland that looks over Ladybower

Make your way to the top dry stone walled boundary and you look out over gorgeous Peak District moorland where you can see Red Grouse, Meadow Pipit & Kestrel. Turn around 180° and a vista that takes some beating makes the climb worth it, the light shimmers off Ladybower Reservoir where a valley thick with trees rises from its shoreline & the sound of calling Cuckoo puts the cherry firmly on top of this bird watching cake.

Kestrel hovers above the moorland

As with all woodlands the best way to watch birds is to find a comfortable spot and wait, if you have the patience to sit for a hour or so most birds will pass over or near you as they move through the trees in search of food.

Juvenile Blackbird

A very young Wren recently fledged

This was my 5th year ringing pullus in the 50+ boxes we have on site. 4 species of bird use these artificial tree holes which are Blue Tit, Great Tit, Pied Flycatcher & Redstart.

The Redstarts arrive back from north Africa in early April and the males will quickly establish territories using a short almost melodious rattle of a song. Great views are possible with this bird as they are not shy and will come quite close, listen out for a short repeated call to help locate them. The male has got to be one of our most beautiful birds with slate grey crown, nape & mantle, jet black face, coverts & primaries & a crimson red breast & flanks to put a Robin to shame. Then the rusty red tail that gives this most dandy bird its name ('start' being an old word for tail).

Male Redstart

Male Redstart sings to attract a mate

Typical box

We have had 2 successful boxes this year, (only one in previous years) with 6 eggs laid in one and 7 in the second. After an incubation of around two weeks both clutches hatched with different levels of success, there were 2 infertile eggs in the first box but all 7 made it from the second box.

7 Redstart eggs, note moss & sheeps wool.

Redstart Distribution Map from BTO Atlas

Mid April brings another visitor from Africa and the clear crisp song of the Pied Flycatcher. This is the bird I always really look forward to seeing when I come here, the stunning male dressed in black & white stands out among the trees whereas the female with her drab brown plumage is much harder to spot.

Female Pied Flycatcher brings in food for young

Male Pied Flycatcher checks on young family

Male Pied Flycatcher

This species is more successful here with 5 boxes used this year (3 to 4 is more common). Clutch sizes were good with 7,7,6,6 & 7 sky blue eggs laid. Hatching numbers were good too with only 1 egg failing to hatch. Both male & female will incubate with the female taking on most of the responsibility as males can sometimes practice bigamy by taking on a second partner. This means the mother has to work extra hard to feed the young, lucky for them that this spring has been ideal and there are lots of insects and small caterpillars around.

Pied Flycatcher eggs, note no green vegetation in the nest

Pied Flycatcher Distribution Map from BTO Atlas

10 days later I returned to check on the young birds and ring them if they had grown sufficiently. It gave me great pleasure to discover that all chicks were now well grown and healthy, they were also the perfect size to ring so I got to work ringing all 32 Pied Flycatcher and 11 Redstart pullus.

Female Pied Flycatcher sat on eggs

Young Redstarts at around 10 days old

Both these birds have suffered in recent years leading to them being placed on the Amber list of birds. In the 1990's numbers of Pied Flycatcher pullus ringed was almost 25,000, this has plummeted to just over 8,000 in 2013 (BTO ringing total), Redstarts have dropped too with numbers of pullus ringed down from around 2,000 to just over 1,200 (BTO ringing totals) in the same period. This is Probably a result of there being fewer ringers finding nest sites and the decline in visiting birds breeding. This means that our 43 young birds are very important and hopefully with a bit of luck and some good weather a good percentage can survive the trip back to Africa and return next year to breed here again.

Blue Tit & Great Tit success is down a little this year, brood sizes are up to 7.67 & 8.00 respectively but fewer boxes were used than in previous years, this could have benefited the Pieds & Redstarts with less competition for food.

Blue Tit eggs

Adult bird sat on eggs

Almost ready for fledging

Great Tit Eggs, large variety of nesting materials 

Same season but different materials used

This Great Tit has had a wonderfully successful season

Every year I ring in Ladybower Wood I feel very privileged to have these very close encounters with all of these birds, including the Blue & Great Tits. All birds are special to me and playing my part in providing nest sites and the monitoring of the boxes gives me great pleasure. Some ringers say ringing is about data and the process should not be enjoyed, but i'll never understand that attitude, how could I not thoroughly enjoy this very personal contact with some of our wonderful wildlife. I get to watch these young birds grow from egg to fledge, and help protect them at the same time. 2014 also gave me the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Iolo Wiiliams  in Ladybower Wood as Iolo and his film crew came to film our Pied Flycatcher & Redstarts. 

Other birds you could see in and around Ladybower wood include Cuckoo which have been here in great numbers this year, with 4 singing males heard and seen in the wood. I have seen Hawfinch here for the first time, Spotted Flycatchers are around in abundance and Woodcock take flight from the leaf litter. Tree Pipits singing from the edge of the reserve are another treat along with more common species like Nuthatch, Treecreeeper, Siskin, Chaffinch, Common Buzzard, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat & Great Spotted Woodpecker.

One worry this year is that I’ve not heard Wood Warbler for the first time in 5 years. Hopefully it's just bad luck on my part and they are around but I have just not heard their distinctive song. I will visit again on the 10th of August after supporting Hen Harrier Day which takes place just around the corner to check all pullus have fledged and clean out the boxes. I'll keep my fingers crossed they have arrived albeit a little late.

Bempton Cliffs & Blacktoft Sands (6th May 2014)

The busy cliffs at Bempton

It wasn’t until waking up this morning that I decided to make the 2 hour trip to Bempton. I try to go at least once a year but last year left it too late and missed most of the birds. So, determined not to make the same mistake this year I set off with Ron in tow to see some new birds for this years list.
 

We arrived at around 11 o’clock and to my disappointment we were greeted with a cool reception at the visitors centre, there were at least 6 RSPB employees just outside the centre and not one greeted us with a smile or a hello. A girl inside was much better as were all the volunteers out on the reserve that were manning the viewing points. I hate to mention this but felt I had to get it out of my system.

Tree Sparrow

Now that’s out of the way lets get back to what we came here for. The first bird we saw was Tree Sparrow, it always gives me great pleasure to watch these delightful birds, around the reserve they are very comfortable around people and you can get some great views and witness some interesting behaviour very close to hand. As we walked toward the 1^st viewing point we saw Guillemot & Kittiwakes, they were perched on the cliff faces desperately trying to hold onto their tiny territory.

 Gannet were soaring along the cliff edge, their size and wingspan amazes me every time I see them, a great bird to watch. From the viewpoint I picked out Razorbill and a Bridled Guillemot again clinging to the rock face. 15 minutes of scanning the rafts of sea birds I finally managed to pick out a single Puffin sat drifting on the water. As we moved around the reserve people were saying how they had not seen any Puffin; the volunteers confirmed that not many had arrived back at the cliffs.

I then I heard a sound I’d not heard before, well not at least in real life. I recognised it from hours of listening to bird song on the CD in the car; the books refer to the sound as the jangling of keys and it’s not a bad description. Sat on a barb wire fence was a Corn Bunting, a lifer for me, and not just one. Along the stretch of fencing were around 5 -6 birds all singing into the wind, Skylark joined in and the sound of this duet filled the air and was wonderful to hear.

We stopped for lunch where we watched Kittiwake tearing grass from the cliff tops and then we visited the west side of the reserve where we saw out first Fulmar soaring around on the updraughts without a wing beat. A large patch of bare earth was being used by the Kittiwake to collect mud; this was mixed with the grass collected earlier to make their nest site, a neat cup is formed on a cliff edge to make life safer and more comfortable. 2 eggs will be laid and young raised in this small precarious home. Rock/Feral Pigeon were flying around in large numbers which attracted the attention of a Peregrine. Ron, my self and around ten other very excited birdwatchers enjoyed some fantastic views of this bird as it flew back and forth along the cliff top. Climbing up we knew it had selected a target, it turned and plummeted back toward the cliffs, all manner of birds were flushed in panic as it locked on its prey. Luckily for the selected meal the Peregrine missed but it was a fantastic thing to witness.

We then left Bempton Cliffs and headed for Blacktoft sands where we hoped to see one particular bird. After spending a short time in Singleton and Townend Hides where we had some great views of Marsh Harrier and Pochard we moved onto and settled down In the Marshland Hide.

Here we watched our target bird, the Avocet.

There wasn't a great number of birds but boy are they beautiful with their clearly defined black and white bodies, very delicate upturned bills and blue legs. In 1893 the Avocet was declared extinct in Britain, however in 1941 the Avocet recolonised when coastal marshlands were flooded in East Anglia as a defence against possible invasion by the Germans. We now have around 1,500 breeding pairs in the UK, these numbers are boosted by around 4,500 visitors that over winter with us. I was watching one of these pairs preparing a nest, just a simple scrape in the mud and a few twigs right on the edge of the shoreline on a small island.

This island had around 10 breeding pairs of Black-headed Gulls too and I was surprised that the Gulls weren't more aggressive toward the Avocets but seemed to tolerate them. I wish I had more time to watch but it was getting late and it had been a long day, I still had a 1 ½ hour drive home so chose to reluctantly leave. 
 

An afternoon with Iolo Williams (30th April 2014)

 I woke up this morning with great expectations of a day that promised much. I dropped the kids off at school, picked up my friend Ron, and headed off into the Peak District and Ladybower Wood. An ancient woodland site on a very steep slope overlooking the Ladybower reservoir and edged on 3 sides by heather moorland. A Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Reserve (DWT) it can be found at the rear of the Ladybower Inn. I visit this site 6 or 7 times a year to keep a record of the birds that visit this beautiful and stunning place.

Today we were expecting a special visitor; not a bird but a familiar face from Natur Cymru & Springwatch, Iolo Williams. He was coming along with his film crew and a wish list of 2 birds they wanted to capture footage of for his new nature programme which will feature on Welsh TV channel S4C.

Ron & I arrived at around 11 o’clock and met up with DWT reserves officer Sam Willis. Our plan was to check the woodland and establish where the best areas would be to film the birds and make life a little easier for them when they arrived at 3 o’clock.

I always have to take a moment on arrival to take in the beauty of this amazing woodland, you are never going to leave here with a huge list of species, but what is does offer is some of the more scarce British birds. We covered almost every inch of this wonderful site and soon established where we thought the best spot would be. After around half an hour of negotiating this difficult terrain, not a place for the faint hearted, we heard our first Cuckoo of the season and a Garden Warbler was singing from the top of a willow. We finally reached the top of this very steep hill and decided to stop for a coffee and something to eat. We were enjoying our lunch when I thought a heard another familiar song, I quickly stood up and ran towards the stone wall that surrounds the reserve, I saw some movement in an Oak Tree and found a Tree Pipit singing. It flew across in front of us and was joined by a second; one bird landed on the wall and gave us a very clear view through binoculars and a chance to clearly see this species unique markings including a the heavier set bill and shorter back toe. Willow Warblers were absolutely every where, seeming to be singing from every tree top including the tree at the highest point of the reserve. Just over the wall Red Grouse could be heard and we soon picked out a couple of birds wondering amongst the heather on the moors beyond the wall.

We made our way back down the hill to wait for our guests. They promptly arrived at 3 o’clock along with some heavy looking equipment packed into back packs. All crew members coped very well with the very steep incline including Iolo who was carrying a large tripod. We set up about half way up the hill looking down on the area we had selected for the shoot. We kept our distance while they got some close up and talking to camera shots, Iolo then invited us over to chat and we all tried to spot the birds they had come along to film. Iolo and all of the crew were very friendly and had no hesitation in answering all our questions about the filming process and they were all full of enthusiasm when telling us about the previous places they had been visiting in Derbyshire. They all clearly loved our county and Iolo said he was enjoying his time here and had been having some great wildlife encounters.

It didn’t take long before our first target bird appeared and after flying around and perching on both flanks the Pied Flycatcher landed on a branch no more than 30 feet in front of us, it then made several more poses before our second bird the Redstart entered the frame. The Redstart was a little more camera shy than the Pied Flycatcher but the Camera man was more than happy with the shots he’d got.

It was a great afternoon seeing how wildlife films are put together, and as someone that dabbles in film making I took away some good tips on how the professionals do it. As we sat for nearly 2 hours we also got the chance to share our experiences and views on nature and of the struggles that our wildlife have to cope with in the modern world. I will also take away yet another memorable wildlife moment, Iolo and his team were friendly, courteous and more importantly passionate. If you want to hear his passion, follow this link for Iolo's Speech at the ‘state of nature’ conference.
As I listened to his words it made me feel a great sense of pride knowing that I’m involved in some great work that is hopefully helping our wildlife. It also gives me even more incentive to carry on and push even harder to give British wildlife a fighting chance against a society that seems just to care about self and material things. 

I said I had great expectations for today, and thanks to some wonderful people and even better wildlife it certainly didn't disappoint.