Buzzard Update, Birding Update

Firstly, and following Thursday's Blog posting. A big “Thank You” to readers from all over the world who gave support to our UK Buzzards through their blog comments and/or via a direct message to Natural England's website. 

By coincidence and within an hour or two of the blog posting Natural England had made their decision with the website updated as reproduced below. 

“Decision on buzzard control licence application. 

5 June 2014 

On 23 April 2014 Natural England received an application for a licence to cage trap and shoot ten common buzzard (Buteo buteo) in the vicinity of a site which has experienced loss to pheasant poults in recent years. The application had been made by the operator of a pheasant rearing and shooting business on the site and is supported by the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation. After careful consideration, Natural England has concluded that the application does not meet the criteria that would permit lethal control to be licensed. 

ENDS” 

So the rightful verdict was made in favour of Buzzards however the saga raises questions as to how and why deliberations and decisions made by a publicly funded body are conducted in secret without openness and transparency. 

Make no mistake, the forces of evil will not give up and more applications to kill Buzzards and other raptors will inevitably follow. Destroying Buzzards or anything else they see as a threat is an easy way out for farmers and landowners too lazy or incompetent to find ways of protecting their young pheasants. In any case it’s time that as a nation we debated the practice of the captive breeding and release of millions of birds into the countryside to then kill for pleasure. 

On to happier things and my birding to Conder Green and Fluke Hall this morning. 

A couple of infrequent species for Conder Green began the morning in the way of 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers in The Stork car park and 2 Stock Doves feeding in the road. The woodpeckers were a juvenile and an adult, the adult bringing food to the noisy youngster. 

Also feeding young were Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting with 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler and 5 Whitethroat in song. 

Meadow Pipit

I had a good count of Swifts this morning as more than 50 of them devoured the midge harvest above the hawthorn hedgerow. Swallows and martins were counted on one hand. 

On and around the water, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Redshank, 2 Shoveler, 17 Canada Goose, 14 Shelduck and 15 Oystercatcher, the latter including 3 chicks. 

Canada Goose

There wasn’t much doing at Glasson Dock save for another heron, more Swifts, several Swallows and a number of Mallards with young. The water was very still, the sky very blue. 

Mallards

 Glasson Dock

There were seven more Grey Herons in the ditches near Fluke Hall which told me that their breeding season is probably over, early nesters as they are. And then Surprise, Surprise. At last I saw 2 Lapwing chicks on the wildfowler’s pools along with a nesting Moorhen, 15/20 Shelduck and a singing Corn Bunting. This seems to happen each year, the late appearance of a few Corn Buntings which coincides with the fast May and June growth of the silage crop. 

Corn Bunting

In the vicinity of Fluke Hall itself, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, 7 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap. 

Whitethroat

Along the lane a single Kestrel hunted for a while until the morning’s procession of cars filled with dogs began to spoil the Kestrel’s fun and my photo attempts. 

Kestrel

Kestrel

Oh well, there’s always another day, another place for Another Bird Blog.

Linking today to Anni's Birding Blog and Eileen's Saturday Blog.

Buzzards - Here we Go Again

Here we go again. 5th June 2014. Our UK Buzzards are under a new threat from nameless individuals.  

Buzzard - Buteo buteo

 

“The RSPB is concerned to learn that Natural England — the UK Government's nature conservation agency — is considering a licence application to trap and shoot 10 Common Buzzards to protect young Pheasants. Natural England is expected to make a decision on the fate of the Buzzards imminently. 

Martin Harper is the RSPB's Conservation Director. He said: "The Buzzard is a fully protected bird of prey which is only now recovering its numbers from sustained historic persecution, which saw the bird lose much of its UK population and range. Any relaxation of their current protection, coupled with ongoing persecution, could threaten local populations. Their vulnerability is a key reason why we are fighting for their protection." 

Last year Natural England granted licences to control Buzzards at a chicken farm, and at a Pheasant shoot — the first time such licences had been issued. Subsequent licence applications to kill adult Buzzards at four Pheasant shoots managed by the original applicant were then rejected by Natural England. The RSPB has learnt that an application was made on 23rd April to cage-trap and shoot ten Buzzards across four sites to prevent 'serious damage' to Pheasant poults. 

The Society knows the applicant has sought licences to control Buzzards in previous years. Martin Harper added: "I am disappointed that a new licence application has been sought to control Buzzards to protect gamebirds. To our knowledge, there isn't convincing evidence to justify issuing licences for the control of Buzzards and we think the application should be rejected by Natural England, especially since they rejected applications for the same activity last year. It's time that wildlife licensing is conducted in a more transparent way. A test of a modern 21st-century society is one that is open and tolerates birds of prey and finds ways to live in harmony with them." 

There are a variety of ways to prevent young Pheasants being killed by Buzzards. For example, by creating cover for the gamebirds, or by installing deterrents to keep Buzzards away. The RSPB has written to Defra calling for clear guidance to Natural England to reject all licences to control Buzzards to protect gamebirds.” 

Pheasants, an introduced species, released in their millions every Spring do untold damage to native species like Grey Partridge. Buzzards are a native species have recolonized areas from which they were previously wiped out by shooting interests. 

Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Buzzard - Buteo buteo

The RSPB should name (and shame) the applicant and the sites involved, both to give unwelcome local publicity and to enable local bird watchers to monitor the area. 

I suggest that everyone reading this send an immediate complaint to Natural England via their website. Somewhat ironically the Natural Engand slogan is “Natural England – for people, for places for nature”.

Menorca Mop-Up

A rainy start to Thursday means I may not get birding until later or even Friday. So for today I’m posting left-over photographs from Menorca 2014, and then no more until next year - promise. 

Below, a Spotted Flycatcher, a common species in early May, this one near Cala Galdana. 

Spotted Flycatcher

There was a ringed Audouin’s Gull near the hotel most days. The Darvic letters BCFH looked familiar from 2013, and so it proved. The gull had been ringed as a chick in the nest at Cap Menorca, Ciutadella on 4th July 2008 but later taken a liking to Sant Tomas where I’d seen it in 2013 too. 

Audouin's Gull

Here’s a female Stonechat at the roadside from Tirant to Cap de Cavalleria. She was irate that we were near to her nest. 

Stonechat

Near Tirant - Menorca

I’m told that the insect is a not uncommon Scarlet Darter, the following photo the usual distant view of the elusive and shy Purple Heron, and then an unidentified millipede sp. 

Scarlet Darter

Purple Heron

Menorcan Millipede

Two Donkeys at Es Migjorn, much in love

Menorcan Donkeys

Black-winged Stilts at two different sites, Es Grau and Addaia. 

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Woodpigeons on Menorca have noticeably darker plumage than our UK ones, but just like our own the Menorca ones are also losing their fear of man by frequenting towns and gardens on a regular basis.

Woodpigeon

A break from birds with a few pictures from our favourite coffee stop - the charming, unspoilt, quiet town of Es Mercadal. 

A Bistro - Es Mercadal

Street Scene - Es Mercadal

The Old Smithy - Es Mercadal

 

Coffee Stop - Cas Sucre at Es Mercadal

To finish today’s post, here is the ubiquitous Egyptian Vulture and a Bee-eater on that rusty old fence. 

Egyptian Vulture

Bee-eater

 
I hope blog readers enjoyed Menorca? We certainly did.

And who knows what tomorrow's post will bring?  Stop by Another Bird Blog soon to find out.

As you might expect, this post is linking to Theresa's Run-A-Round Ranch where you can find more birds on fences.

Sunday Sortie

The thrushes woke me this morning, Blackbirds mainly, but also a Song Thrush which has taken up residence in a neighbour’s garden and sings in ours. Whilst last winter was wet and stormy it remained very mild in temperature with negligible frost to solidify the ground where thrushes find most of their food. Blackbirds appear to be having a very successful year; I’m seeing heaps of them everywhere I go, and unlike recent years even Song Thrushes seem to be in good numbers at the moment. 

Song Thrush

 Blackbird

After the early wake-up call I grabbed a quick breakfast and then set off north for Conder Green et al. Cockerham saw the first gathering of post-breeding season Lapwings - 25+ birds on a field near Gulf Lane. “Post-breeding gathering” is a somewhat optimistic description when the species breeding success along here is zero and where the phrase “non-breeding gathering” might be more accurate. 

Afterwards the journey with window down was quiet enough to note 2 Lesser Whitethroat in roadside song between Gulf Lane and Conder Green. 

Upon arrival at the creek a Barn Owl was just heading back to roost, disappearing into the building and allowing little time for a picture. It looked bedraggled, a bit “mucky” and wet underneath in parts. All that diving into dew-laden long grass does nothing for a Barn Owl’s appearance, so best to go indoors for a rest and to dry off a bit. 

Barn Owl

And yes, the midges were out in force over the hedgerow, enough to attract 20+ Swifts to feed for a while. Just a small number of Swallows and House Martins in evidence here although I did find House Martins in the early stages of nest building at a new site in Glasson Dock where blobs of "brown-tack" decorated a frontage. The usual Swallows fed around the dock gate near their hidden from view nest sites.

Swallow

In song at Conder Green I found 2 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting and 5 Whitethroat. Meanwhile, Meadow Pipit, Great Tit and Blue Tits were all in the throes of feeding youngsters. Also feeding youngsters were the Oystercatchers on the nearest island, 3 newly hatched chicks taking the tiniest of morsels offered to them by the adults. The Oystercatcher is unusual as the only British wader where the adults feed their young, as most wader chicks are able to feed themselves very soon after hatching. 

 Oystercatcher

Other wildfowl and waders, 5 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 18 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 14 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Grey Heron. 

If the Oystercatchers have succeeded the Tufted Duck have yet to do so: I watched the male cajole the female into returning to the nest when the coast was clear, the female slinking low and quiet into her den of grasses after he shouted encouragement. 

Tufted Duck

A stop for Lane Ends led to a number of warblers: 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff all in in song. Early arriving Chiffchaffs may be looking for their second brood by now. 

A male Kestrel carried food back to the nest box at Damside, and the same thing at Fluke Hall where a second pair are in residence. I got to thinking if regular Kestrel success played a small part in the misfortunes of local Lapwings in recent years? 

At Fluke Hall Great-spotted Woodpeckers were busy feeding young out of the nest, the noisy chicks scattered through the trees and almost impossible to see in the summery trees. The Tawny Owl was around again, the Blackbirds told me so but I left them to their dispute and walked to the sea wall, passing half-a-dozen Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat along the way. 

Still no Lapwings with young, but there’s possibly a late try from a couple of stay-behinds on the remnant stubble. A pair of Tufted Duck flew from the channel for the second time this week while a pair of Oystercatcher’s are definitely “at it” with the male giving me stick from the safety of his lookout post. 

 Oystercatcher

A good enough morning was had by all. It’s amazing what you can find when you put your mind to it. 

Log in soon to see what Another Bird Blog will discover next. Linking today to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.

North To Nati

There was birding today but things were so quiet that I'd struggle to fill a post. So instead here’s more from our two week holiday in Menorca of 2nd-16th May. 

A trip north and west is an annual event, a birding morning to see a number of specialised species which inhabit the coastal area of Punta Nati three or four miles out from the second city Ciutadella. There’s perhaps not much to interest the average Joe at Punta Nati - a lighthouse, a number of partly restored prehistoric monuments within a patchwork of dry stone-wall enclosed fields, and birds.

Punta Nati - Menorca

For birders this part of the island guarantees Short-toed Lark, Blue Rock Thrush, Thekla Lark, Tawny Pipit and Stone Curlew. Off shore there may be Cory’s Shearwaters, Audouin’s Gulls, Yellow-legged Gulls, European Shags and if the conditions are right, swifts of the Pallid, Alpine and Common persuasion. 

European Shag

 Alpine Swift

Although our morning here was dry and sunny the Tramuntana blew quite strongly to make the birds skittish and less likely to pose on the exposed walls, so apologies for less than ideal pictures. It all makes for good reasons to return to Menorca in 2015.

Blue Rock Thrush

Thekla Lark

Short-toed Lark 

Tawny Pipit

The common lizard in Menorca is the Italian Wall or Ruin Lizard - Podarcis siculus

Italian Wall Lizard - Podarcis siculus

On the way south but before hitting the outskirts of Ciutadella there’s a roadside stop at the Cattle Egret colony.

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

It’s easy to wax lyrical about beautiful Ciutadella, an historic town that has held up well to the pressure of tourism in the twentieth century. It was originally named by the Carthaginians, who called it Jamma, and was the original capital of Menorca until the British came along and chnged it to Mahon in the eighteenth century. To many Menorcans Ciutadella still remains the capital of Menorca and there is intense rivalry between the two cities.

A little shopping, exploration and coffe stops in Ciutadella is a relatively good exchange for a morning’s birding at Punta Nati.

Ciutadella

Street Artist - Ciutadella

Ciutadella

The Harbour - Ciutadella - Menorca 

At least a couple of Kestrel pairs nest in the centre of the city, one pair next to the clock tower of the Cathedral Basilica. The fine old buildings are home to many pairs of Common Swift, the harbour a place to see Yellow-legged Gulls and sometimes Audouin's Gull. So even amongst the shopping and sightseeing there's always a spot of birding.   

Kestrel

Menorca Cathedral - Ciutadella

 Yellow-legged Gull

Log in soon for more birding and photography from Another Bird Blog.

Linking today to Anni's Birding Blog and Eileen's Saturday Blog.