I Am Still Here

Apologies for being absent for some days now but AOL managed to cancel my contract and then not register a new agreement so now tell me I am no longer one of their customers (beware AOL customers) so have disconnected my internet connection.  I have applied to a new supplier but I will not be up and running again until the end of this month.

Otter - photographed in Hungary some years ago

A bit to report.  Driving through Llangadog on October 29th on the A40 a Weasel dashed across the road.  This is the first of this species I have seen in 11 years in Wales.  More recently on November 9th I first checked out Cilsan Bridge but only 46 Mute Swans present.  Dryslwyn was far more productive.  There were 13 Whooper Swans, 168 Canada Geese, 40 Greylag Geese, 40 Wigeon, 8 Curlew and a superb male Otter fishing under the bridge.

Whooper Swans

Last Saturday we enjoyed a splendid Welsh Ornithological Society Conference at Myddfai in Carmarthenshire.  Thanks to my friend Ben for letting me on line so I could update this blog.

Quiet Time

Nuthatch

Returning from France it has been a quiet time here.  I have got the garden feeders going again and some birds have taken an immediate interest.  Nothing special but I always enjoy watching the antics and activity of the local Nuthatches.  Not many wintering Chaffinches yet so no chance of a visiting Brambling.  I am off to Bedford to give a talk this week so maybe get out later this week.

Disgrace of Policeman turned Egg Collector

Upson travelled to North Wales to steal Chough eggs.

There can be nothing worse than a "bent copper"and when we hear occasionally of corrupt policemen it always sends a shock through the system.  For the wildlife community the discovery today that  an officer from my native Suffolk has been found guilty of stealing the eggs of protected bird species is very shocking indeed.  Colin Upson 52 of Sotherton, Suffolk had collected 650 wild birds eggs including species such as Golden Eagle, Cettis Warbler, Hawfinch and Chough whilst travelling around the UK.  Perhaps the most shocking news was that most of the eggs were collected in Suffolk whilst he was carrying out his police duties.  These included Woodlark, Marsh Harrier and Kittiwake eggs the latter being taken from Lowestoft Pier. Although he had detailed records of his crimes hidden away he tried to claim that the eggs belonged to a relative and were taken when it was not against the law.




Upson took the eggs of Marsh Harrier in Suffolk


Upson was allowed to retire before this case came to court and it is therefore understood that he is receiving his full pension.  This frankly adds insult to injury and one hopes when he is sentenced that he will get the maximum of six months in jail.  When a serving police officer knowingly breaks the law it weakens the trust that the public have for authority. 

Stay of Execution for English Badgers

Today's announcement by the Westminster Government that the planned Badger cull in the West Country is to be delayed until next year is good news particularly for these iconic animals.  What the Government mean exactly is not clear.  They claim the decision was made because it is too late into the season to carry out their plan.  That sounds nonsense to me.

Has the anti-cull campaign meant nothing to them?  Has the fact that the eminent science community has described their plans as unworkable and more likely to spread TB amongst cattle had no effect?  Have the 100,000+ petitions signatures made no impression?  This coalition does really take the public for idiots.

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CULL MUST GO ON!

Back in the UK

Awaking this morning in France it was still raining hard for the fourth consecutive day.  Thankfully as we were packing up to leave it topped and sunshine at last.  This brought out the birds with at least 6 Black Redstarts feeding on the grassy areas including a superb male.  A Corn Bunting briefly sang from a nearby bush, 8 Rock Sparrows were wheezing from telephone lines and 2 Blackcaps fed in a small bush.  There were lots of Serins, Chaffinches and Goldfinches around the house and I also had a brief view of a Tree Pipit.




Tree Pipit


Back in UK heavy fog all the way home so on arrival got the wood stove going and prepared for cooler weather.

Ce n'est pas normale

The phrase used as a title is what people have been saying to me in various tongues everywhere I have been travelling in recent years and they are talking about the weather.  We are well aware of the horrendous spring and summer in the UK but what about elsewhere?

Floods in North Norfolk UK

When in Alberta, Canada in June/July we experienced several consecutive days of 30 degrees.  Very unusual said the local news.  Alberta only reached 30 degrees twice in 2011 and then in August.  In Brazil consecutive days of 45 degrees were described by locals as much hotter for the time of year.  Friends from Alaska describe recent unseasonal flooding which threatened their home.  Tonight I heard the President of Greenland describing enormous changes in his country's climate and said nobody could deny accelerating climate change was here to stay.

Almost snowless Rocky Mountains in summer 2012

Here in the south of France we have enjoyed very warm sunny weather throughout the autumn. Ce n'est pas normale has been heard often. Even two days ago myriads of butterflies were still on the wing.  Plenty of Great Banded Graylings, Clouded Yellows and Painted Ladies.

Painted Lady

This all changed today.  We awoke to low, dark cloud and persistent rain.  Although mild (20 degrees) it has been so dark that our sensor security lights have never gone off.  What is more  we are forecast this weather until Sunday.  Ce n'est pas normale.

Brrrrrrrrrr! It's getting colder

Although bright and sunny it was really cold first thing this morning.  The air so clear that early snow was very visible on Canigou and its sister Pyrennean peaks. On our return from market we  drove under a splendid Red Kite.  Getting closer to home I noted a number of small birds around our community so set off in pursuit.

Chiffchaff

In lower vegetation I found at least 20 Chiffchaffs in quite a small area.  After these migrants most of the birds found were winter visitors.  A Fieldfare called from thick pine woodland and several Song Thrushes broke cover.  Two Corn Buntings were probably residents as was a singing Woodlark.  Chaffinches were pouring overhead and so were quite a number of Siskins.  Winter is not far away.