A Review of January 2015

A view over the Duckmarsh

January has been a cold month, but in between the snow and high winds there has been some great opportunities to get to The Avenue and do some birdwatching. This 16.5 hectare site has produced a fabulous range of birds in this winter season so far, from Goldcrest & Blue Tit to Yellowhammer & Buzzard. One of the highlights throughout the month has been the good numbers of Buntings & Finches on site, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch & Reed Bunting. Mixed flocks of around 100 birds can be seen on site at any one time.

 On Sunday the 4^th of January we had our first ringing session which produced over a 120 birds, but the numbers of individual species is encouraging news, both visitors and residents alike. 13 Bullfinch, 7 Greenfinch, 3 Willow Tit, 13 Yellowhammer, 20 Great Tit & 21 Blue Tit. Other birds caught were Goldcrest, Dunnock, Robin, Goldfinch, Jay, Reed Bunting, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch & Wren.

 The bird tables & feeding stations have been regularly topped up throughout the year but more intensively in the harsher winter months, this gives the birds a regular top up when natural food is harder to come by.

 A fabulous 50 bird species were seen by the 6th, that had rose to 56 by the end of the month along with 2 mammals, Fox & Wood Mouse. For the first time we have had a record of a Chiffchaff in January, it was first seen in December 2014, it's great that it has stayed around, insects and small spiders are its main diet and it seems to be doing well and finding plenty to eat.

Fox has a good scout around the Reed Beds

 On the 13th I had a trip down memory lane and decided to go for a walk around one of my childhood patches, Williamthorpe Ponds. It was good to see that plenty of birds still visit this old Coal Board reservoir that's now looked after by Severn Trent Water. It's not as wild a place as when I used to go, nice footpaths, well trimmed hedges and tidy woodland are now the norm, maybe one of the reasons I stopped visiting. It did add a few birds to my year list though.

Treecreeper at The Williamthorpe Ponds

 I took a trip to Ladybower Wood on the 20th to clean out the 50+ boxes I look after there, Pied Flycatcher & Redstart are our targets there but we get Blue & Great Tit using then too. This year we also put up some open fronted boxes in the hope of helping some of the good numbers of Spotted Flycatcher we had seen in 2014. A real treat while sitting having our lunch was watching a Peregrine soaring overhead, I had it in my binoculars when it started to stoop and I followed it all the way down, I was very surprised to then see what it was chasing, a Sparrowhawk. What a thrill.

The view from the top of Ladybower Wood

 The 25th saw our first volunteer work party of the year and 12 wonderful people turned out on this cold and sunny day. I took one volunteer, Lynne, to clear debris from the river which took about 30 minutes, we then went to join the others that were pulling up Willow & Alder saplings from our wetland meadow. This is a laborious back breaking job, but at the end of the work party when everyone is aching and covered in smelly mud, we all feel a great sense of achievement.

Saplings & Gauze is burned to prevent any regrowth

With such a great start to the year I’m really looking forward to what the following months will bring.

Here is a list of my 2015 birds so far:

Mute Swan (1) - Canada Goose (2) - Barnacle Goose (3) - Wigeon (4) - Gadwall (5)
 Teal (6) - Mallard (7) - Shoveler (8) - Pochard (9) - Tufted Duck (10) - Red Grouse (11)
Pheasant (12) - Cormorant (13) - Grey Heron (14) - Little Grebe (15)
Great Crested Grebe (16) - Sparrowhawk (17) - Buzzard (18) - Kestrel (19)
Peregrine (20) - Water Rail (21) - Moorhen (22) - Coot (23) - Snipe (24)
Black-headed Gull (25) - Lesser Black-backed Gull (26) - Herring Gull (27)
Woodpigeon (28) - Collared Dove (29) - Barn Owl (30) - Tawny Owl (31)
Kingfisher (32) - Green Woodpecker (33) - Great Spotted Woodpecker (34)
Magpie (35) - Jay (36) - Jackdaw (37) - Rook (38) - Carrion Crow (39)
Raven (40) - Goldcrest (41) - Blue Tit (42) - Great Tit (43) - Coal Tit (44)
Willow Tit (45) - Long-tailed Tit (46) - Chiffchaff (47) - Nuthatch (48)
Treecreeper (49) - Wren (50) - Starling (51) - Blackbird (52) - Fieldfare (53)
Song Thrush (54) - Redwing (55) - Mistle Thrush (56) - Robin (57) - Dunnock (58)
House Sparrow (59) - Grey Wagtail (60) - Pied Wagtail (61) - Meadow Pipit (62)
Chaffinch (63) - Greenfinch (64) - Goldfinch (65) - Bullfinch (66) - Yellowhammer (67)
Reed Bunting (68)

Please send to all friends and family

Earlier today I sent this email to everyone in my address book & posted it on my Facebook page, Copy & Paste and do the same. If it generates one more signature it's worth it.

Hello All.

I know this is unusual for me but news has been released today of yet another  Hen Harrier being shot. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rare-bird-and-blog-star-heather-the-harrier-shot-dead-30954300.html

These killings, although not proven in all cases, are the result of persecution by Land Managers & Gamekeepers to protect Red Grouse stocks on shooting estates. Please consider signing this petition to get Driven Grouse Shooting Banned. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65627

We are not asking for an outright ban on shooting, just this highly contentious and environmentally damaging type of shooting.

Read more here. http://markavery.info/epetition-ban-driven-grouse-shooting/

If after reading this you agree, please sign and pass on to friends and family.

Thanks for your Time

Stewart

Keeping the heat on the Grouse Moors

Every few days I visit the Ban Driven Grouse Shooting website (see here) to check on the number of signatures. As organisations like The Moorland Association, Countryside Alliance and The National Gamekeepers Organisation have tried to keep away from the issue on social media, the petition seems to have stalled I little. The fight for the Hen Harrier and all our Birds of Prey that are persecuted for profit on our Grouse Moors is far from over.

If you are one of the wonderful people that have already signed Mark Avery’s petition (see here) then thank you, but I ask if you could help push up the numbers from its current 20,652 (as of 31^st Jan 2015). Make it your mission to get at least get one more person to sign this week, it could be a family member, a neighbour or a work colleague. Just think of the difference that all those extra signatures could make if we individually can get just one more person to sign.

The issue has moved on and has become bigger than Birds of Prey. As the methodology of managing grouse moors is studied, questions about its impact on the ecosystem and the environment have been asked, and yet again the moorland owners and managers are in denial and refuse to accept any responsibility. Profit is their only concern, so we need to make them accept the damage they are causing and change the way they look after our countryside.

On the 10^th August 2014 four protests took place around England and I attended the one in the Peak District (see here ) to show that we are not going to stand by and let them continue to destroy our wildlife.

9^th August is the planned date for this years Hen Harrier Day and it would be great for as many people as possible to attend, we need to show that our determination to halt bird of prey persecution has not diminished and we are back in 2015 even stronger. So please book the date in your diary and keep an eye out for more details (here) or (here).

A good start to 2015

The snow had almost cleared from the ground, just small patches left where the sun couldn’t quite reach. This is probably my most enjoyable walk of the year, I have had a walk around The Avenue Washlands on New Years Day for the last 8 years and although I don’t see anything rare I will add more year ticks than any other day in 2015. Each tick feels like a new bird, 34 were added in my 2 hour walk including some of my favourites like Yellowhammer, Bullfinch & Treecreeper. Last year I saw 150 species, ‘not many’ I hear you cry, well for me that’s good, I saw 149 in 2013. I spend most of my time on the Avenue Washlands with maybe 10 trips elsewhere in a year. A patch birder I suppose you could call me more than a more traditional birder. I am really looking forward to 2015 and shall aim for 151 this year.

Reply from Glenis Willmott MEP (Labour) - Karmenu Vella

17 October 2014

Dear Stewart,

Thank you for your email regarding the nomination of Karmenu Vella as Commissioner-designate for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Let me assure you that I share your concerns on this matter. Labour MEPs have for some time been pushing the European Commission to take action on illegal bird hunting in several Mediterranean countries and to ensure the Maltese Government is fully enforcing the provisions of the Birds Directive. Earlier this year I submitted a written question to the Commission regarding illegal bird hunting; I have also co-signed a number of letters with BirdLife Malta, calling on the Commission to take urgent action on Malta's decision to open spring and autumn hunting seasons. I was pleased that the Maltese government recently decided to abandon plans to allow finch-trapping to go ahead, a practice which was originally out-lawed in Malta as part of the country's EU Accession Agreement. However, I believe the European Commission needs to do much more if we are to save endangered species from being hunted to extinction.

Labour MEPs were therefore extremely surprised when the Maltese Commissioner was nominated for this position, with responsibility for biodiversity and overseeing a possible revision of the Birds and Habitats Directives. I can assure you that this issue was raised during the scrutiny hearing in the European Parliament's Environment committee. If you would like to watch the hearing, a video is available here:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/committees/video?event=20140929-1430-COMMITTEE-HEARING2014KV

The EU, although falling short of where it should be, is a world-leader when it comes to environmental and wildlife protection. It would be very short-sighted if the proposed Commission were to row back on some of the protections in place.

However, if confirmed as Commissioner, Mr Vella will not be representing the interests of Malta, but the interests of the European Union as a whole. I was pleased to hear Mr Vellaemphasise this in his hearing and reiterate that he condemns illegal hunting and will work to enforce the provisions of the Birds Directive across Europe. However, as part of his portfolio, Mr Vella has been tasked with carrying out an in-depth evaluation of the Birds and Habitats Directives. I can assure you that Labour MEPs will follow any revision of these Directives very closely and we will work hard to ensure that there is no watering down of vital environmental and wildlife protection.

I hope you have found this information useful but if you have further questions on this, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes

Glenis Willmott MEP

Reply from Andrew Lewer - Appointment of Karmenu Vella

Here is the reply from Andrew Lewer (Conservative Spokesman for Culture, Education and Regional Development) about the concerns of the appointment of Karmenu Vella as  commissioner-designate for the Environment, Maritime Affairs & Fisheries.

Still no reply from Labour? 

Dear constituent,

Many thanks for your email to Andrew Lewer MBE MEP regarding your opposition to the appointment of Karmenu Vella as commissioner-designate for the Environment, Maritime Affairs & Fisheries.

During his opening comments Mr Vella denied any involvement in bird hunting or trapping as well as condemning any illegal hunting. He also explained that he was not here as a Commissioner for Malta and that he expected each and every Member State to implement all the directives. He stated that abuse of the Birds Directive, Habitats Directive or any other directive would not be tolerated in any form and reaffirmed that he was not there to defend Malta.

He agreed that the Birds and Habitats Directives were the cornerstone to safeguard European ecosystems and biodiversity but explained that the Birds Directive was adopted 35 years ago and has not been reviewed since. Mr Vella later proposed an ‘in-depth evaluation of the Birds and Habitats Directives’ aimed at maintaining and, where necessary, improving the protection for our ecosystems and vulnerable species.

He reiterated his opposition to bird hunting when highlighting his past experience as Minister for Tourism in Malta. He explained how tourism constitutes roughly one third of the Maltese economy and that, as a consequence, it depended 100% on the environment. He continued that, as the UK is the number one tourist market in Malta and that the majority of complaints surrounding Maltese finch trapping and bird hunting come from British citizens, when people talked to him about the lack of controls they were “preaching to the converted”. He added that he would not defend anyone with regard to violating any directives.

Andrew himself does not sit on either of the committees involved in Mr Vella’s hearing and so was unable to put a question to Mr Vella himself or approve or reject Mr Vella’s candidacy as commissioner-designate. However, one of Andrew’s ECR colleagues, Mark Demesmaeker, asked for clarification regarding Mr Vella’s stance on the Birds and Habitats Directives and how poor Malta’s record is when it comes to implementing the Directives. He received the following response:

“With regard to the Birds Directive, I will repeat again that, if we agree to review them, obviously there is no idea to deregulate or to demote them. We are not revising, but we are only reviewing. But again, we will have time to discuss this in more detail.”

Other ECR members raised their concerns surrounding Mr Vella’s policies on water management, air pollution and reducing ammonia emissions.

The ENVI coordinators overall conclusion was that the lack of reference to sustainable development in the mission letter of Vice-President Katainen and to the full implementation of the objectives of the 7^th Environment Action Programme raised in the letter to President-elect Juncker continued to raise concerns. Although it provided some useful clarifications, the reply by the President-elect was not considered fully satisfactory.

As for Mr Vella’s adequacy for the position, the coordinators felt that he had the necessary professional and political experience to master the challenges the position of a Member of the European Commission bring with it.

In spite of some lack of details in his replies, Mr Vella demonstrated that he had a sufficient grasp of the main issues inherent in the portfolio. He also committed to defending Community interest when dealing with Member States. He showed the intention and need to familiarise himself more with subjects falling within his remit as well as a positive attitude towards the environmental agenda and readiness to cooperate with Parliament.

The general outcome of the hearing was that the Commissioner-designate gave a positive impression of his aptitude to be a member of the College of Commissioners and to carry out the specific tasks assigned to him. In this context, however, coordinators expressed a strong recommendation that a higher profile should be given to environmental sustainability in the work of the future Commission by including this in the title and the portfolio of VP Katainen and that full implementation of the 7^th EAP shall be an explicit task in the mission of Commissioner-designate Vella. It is crucial that a clear commitment be made on these matters prior to the plenary vote.

Those members of the ECR group on the Fisheries and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committees collectively decided to neither endorse nor oppose Mr Vella’s appointment as commissioner.

I hope this information clarifies the current situation and helps ease any fears you may have surrounding Mr Vella’s appointment.

Regards,

Jack

Jack Berringer

Intern to Andrew Lewer MBE MEP

Conservative Spokesman for Culture, Education and Regional Development

European Parliament Brussels

WIB 05M067

Reply from Margot Parker (UKIP) MEP as regards to Karmenu Vella

Dear Stewart,


Thank you so much for your letter.

The point UKIP always emphasizes, is the level of undemocratic processes here in the European Parliament.
We as members of this parliament cannot vote against 1 particular commissioner since the voting is en bloc.
This means the whole committee would have to be voted against.
Given the fact that this is very unlikely to happen, I am afraid there is nothing we can do with regards to Mr. Karmenu Vella.

I regret I cannot give you any better news.

With kindest regards,


Margot Parker MEP
UKIP East Midlands Region