News archive

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

A Hedgehog Murmuration

The photograph was taken by Edinburgh photographer Jarlath Flynn at the Gretna murmuration recently. It was posted online and noticed by the organiser of a petition to help save Britain's hedgehogs with 'hedgehog highways'
If you would like to add to the 278,000 signatures on the petition there is a link below.
Note, if you sign this petition you will receive emails from change.org inviting you to look at related petitions as they occur - it isn't hard to unsubscribe if you get too many and most are worthy causes.

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Another Young Hen Harrier Disappears

A joint North Yorkshire Police and RSPB investigation has been launched into the sudden disappearance of a hen harrier named Arthur. The rare bird of prey had been tracked by the RSPB via a lightweight satellite tag since it hatched in the Peak District during the summer. Arthur is one of more than 30 hen harriers tagged in England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man this year as part of the charity's Hen Harrier LIFE project.
Hen harriers are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, their numbers remain consistently low and are known to be subjected to human persecution. After initially staying in the Peak District, Arthur moved to the Brecon Beacons in South Wales before flying to Nidderdale in North Yorkshire in
mid-October. On the morning of Friday 26 October, he flew onto the North York Moors National Park. Arthur's last registered position was at 9.55am that same day when he was just north of Lowna Bridge, near Hutton-le-Hole. The body or the tracking tag have not been located despite extensive searches by the RSPB investigations team. This has led to suspicions that Arthur may have deliberately come to harm and the tag has been destroyed.
Sergeant Kevin Kelly, of North Yorkshire Police's Rural Taskforce, said: "The sudden disappearance of Arthur is deeply concerning and we are working with the RSPB to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. "This is a severe blow to the Hen Harrier project and an unwanted addition to the already concerning and ever-rising numbers of hen harriers that are just 'vanishing'.
"I encourage any information that could help me forward this investigation. These rare birds are one of the jewels in the crown of the English countryside. We have been looking around last known locations but there has been no sign of Arthur.
"Anyone who may have information that could assist the investigation is urged to come forward as soon as possible."
Please call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room. Or email RuralTaskforce@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.
Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you would prefer to remain anonymous.
Please quote reference number NYP-31102018-0238 when providing information about this incident.Information from RaptorPolitics.org -link below

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

RIP Heather Reynolds

I am sorry to inform you all that Heather Reynolds died last week. She was a founder member of the York Local Group. Her work for the Group was recognised with an RSPB award for 30 years' service. As well as a keen birder and naturalist she was red hot on flowers and was always a joy to be with in the field pointing out what you had missed on the ground.
In 2012, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Local Group, Heather wrote an article for the newsletter about the founding and early history of the group. If you would like to read this use the link below to download the newsletter.
Heather Reynolds funeral service will be held on 23rd November, York Crematorium at 1 pm. Her son, Chris Reynolds, has said that flowers are not limited to the family but that if people would like to consider a donation instead, they are collecting for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and York against Cancer

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Monday, 12 November 2018

A Picture Quiz

This puzzle was sent to us by a friend who had found it on Facebook. I have tracked it back to a post by a Swedish birder but cannot tell you any more about it. Each of the 25 squares represents a bird to identify from its plumage eg in the 1st column, the 3rd square down is a greater spotted woodpecker.
There are no prizes, indeed there are no definitive correct answers (that I have been able to find).
The Download File link below will give you a larger, scalable, printable pdf - apologies for the low resolution.

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