Chris Sperring MBE

Ghosts Of The Night

2026-06-30T21:52:40.784+01:00

My new book is out and available at all great book shops. I will be making some appearances for book signing, as soon as the barn owls stop nesting I will post some dates.

Enjoy…

Signs of Hope:

2026-06-07T22:27:19.899+01:00

A Portishead Story

Nature’s Quiet Return to Our Towns

There’s been many signs of hope so far this year—small but powerful changes that feel like a long-awaited shift in how we see and care for the places where we live. Casting my thoughts back to 2019, I remember standing on the stage at Portishead’s Folk Hall, speaking in front of a packed audience. There were town and district councillors there, alongside many local residents, and I shared an idea that at the time might have felt a little unusual: a different way of looking at our town.

For so long, the default view of a well-kept public space has been one of neatness—trimmed verges, closely mown grass, sharp, tidy edges everywhere you look. But on that day, I spoke about something else: the value of letting go, just a little. Not letting nature take over completely, nor letting it run wild in a way that causes problems, but simply giving it a foot in the door. What might happen, I asked, if we paused the constant cutting and tidying in some places, and allowed nature a chance to recover and thrive within our urban world?

Back then, it felt like a seed being planted—an idea waiting for the right conditions to grow. But this year, it feels as though not just the penny has dropped, but that idea has taken root and is beginning to show its true, wonderful impact.

Look at the photograph here: a piece of open ground that, until recently, would have been kept short and uniform like so many others. Now, its centre has been left uncut. The edges remain neat and maintained, so it does not interfere with anyone’s enjoyment of the space—people can still walk, sit, and use the area as before. But within that quieter middle section, something extraordinary has emerged: a ray of hope in the most vivid form. Rising proudly from the longer grass is the magnificent Pyramid Orchid—Anacamptis pyramidalis—its distinctive cone-shaped bloom glowing pink and purple against the green.

Now, the Pyramid Orchid is not classified as a rare species; it is widespread across much of the UK, often found on grasslands, roadside verges, and meadows. Yet that does not make it any less precious, nor any less vulnerable. Like all wild plants, it is deeply sensitive to change. Its survival depends on a delicate partnership—an ancient symbiosis—with the mycelium, the fine, thread-like networks of fungi that weave through healthy soil. These fungi strands act as a lifeline, not just with germinating the orchids tiny seeds but also helping the orchid’s tiny roots take up water and nutrients, and in return, the plant provides the fungi with sugars it produces through sunlight. This relationship is fragile. If soil becomes compacted—whether by heavy footfall, cars driving or parking on verges, or repeated heavy machinery use—the air pockets and structure that mycelium needs to survive are destroyed. The partnership breaks down, and the orchids can no longer grow.

This is why this small patch of uncut grass matters so much. It is not just about one flower; it is about creating the right conditions for life to flourish. By leaving the centre of this space untouched for now, we have allowed the soil structure to remain undisturbed, let the mycelium network thrive, and given seeds that have long laid dormant in the earth the chance to germinate and bloom. Of course, the area will likely be cut later in the season—once the orchids have flowered, set seed, and completed their annual cycle. But for now, let us wait. Let us enjoy this moment, and let nature finish its work.

This change is more than just a few wildflowers growing in a field. It is a change in perspective. We are learning that “well-kept” does not always mean “uniform.” It means balance: keeping the edges tidy for people, while leaving space in the middle for nature. It means understanding that a town can be welcoming and beautiful, and also rich in biodiversity.

That talk in 2019 was about imagining a different kind of urban landscape—one where nature is not seen as something to be controlled or pushed to the edges, but as a valued part of our community. Today, seeing that Pyramid Orchid standing tall in ground that was once closely mown, it feels like that vision is becoming reality. These are the signs of hope we need: not grand gestures, but small, thoughtful choices that let nature breathe. And as more spaces like this begin to appear across our towns, we are reminded that sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is simply step back, give nature a little room, and watch what grows.

Well done to all, that made this happen.

The future looks brighter.

Garden Nature Recovery

2026-05-25T11:43:47.510+01:00

As I mentioned earlier, nature in the garden has truly flourished this year. It’s been over a while now since we stopped putting out bird feeders, and for even longer, we’ve let native plants grow freely — including trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and what many would call “weeds.”

At first, when we removed the feeders, we saw fewer individual birds. But over time, the variety of species we recorded really increased, and now we’ve seen a huge rise in both the number of birds and the diversity of species visiting.

Robins haven’t fared as well this year, though this could just be a temporary dip. Other species have thrived: Wrens, Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Goldcrests, and Starlings — the latter bringing their young to forage for insects among the foliage. Most notably, Blackbirds have made a wonderful recovery after years of struggle. They’ve already raised two broods this year, producing four fledglings that are now strong fliers.

There’s another fascinating part to the Blackbird story: their singing has been extraordinary over the past week. Just yesterday, I saw five mature males chasing one another, stopping regularly to sing — something I’ve never observed at this time of year before.

Chiffchaffs are still around, though I’m not sure if they’re nesting. Chaffinches visit occasionally, alongside Greenfinches and Goldfinches. Our usual corvids are present too; Jackdaws often gang up on their larger relatives, Magpies and Carrion Crows, and won’t let them settle for long.

Yesterday brought a really special sight: when a Common Buzzard landed in the goat willow — clearly searching for an easy meal — it was mobbed by a mixed group. Blackbirds, Wrens, Tits, and all three types of corvid who worked together to drive it off, until it eventually flew away empty-taloned.

All in all, this has been one of the best springs for birdlife in this garden since I first started keeping records back in 1993. Over the coming weeks, I’ll carry out a full audit of the plants and insects here, and I’ll share what I find.

Nature has an amazing ability to recover — but only if we let it, and give it the chance it deserves.

Hope you enjoy our resident Blackbird in song.

A Shower of Voles

2026-05-17T12:01:26.602+01:00

Vole Rains: A Turn of Fortune for Our Barn Owls

From the perspective of our local Barn Owls (Somerset), the past few weeks have been quite the rollercoaster ride—and not always in a good way. For a while now, there’s been a noticeable slowdown in the number of prey items being brought back to nest sites. This was a worrying development, and honestly, it could have spelled disaster for the growing owlets we’re watching this season. You see, 2026 has been a remarkable year in one respect: we’ve got some exceptionally large broods out there. More hungry mouths to feed is usually a wonderful thing, but it also means there’s zero room for error when food supplies start to dip.

I’ve written time and time again about how weather conditions can make or break a breeding season, and how weather is often the main culprit when broods fail or numbers drop off. In April, as the dry spell dragged on, I really started to get that uncomfortable sense of déjà vu. I’d seen this play out before: parched ground, slow-growing grass, and with it, a crash in the populations of the small mammals that Barn Owls rely on almost entirely—especially the short-tailed vole. It felt like we might be heading straight into another tough, lean period, and with such big broods to support, the stakes felt high.

One thing that’s been an absolute godsend, though, is our network of nest cameras. These have changed everything about how we monitor and understand what’s going on. Gone are the days when we had to visit nests physically to check on progress—which always carries some risk of disturbance. Now, I can simply sit back with a hot cup of coffee, watch the live feeds, and absorb every detail of what’s happening right there in the nest, without interfering at all. It’s given us such a clear window into their world, and this year, that insight has been invaluable.

Just a few days ago, on May 12th, during the Hawk and Owl Trust live show, I spoke at length about exactly this situation. I explained how prey deliveries had slowed to a trickle, and how the dynamic inside the nests had shifted dramatically. Only a few weeks earlier, many nests had what we call a “larder”—surplus food stored away, ready for when times got tough. That safety net had vanished completely. Now, there was no backup, no extra supply; whatever the male owls caught on each hunt was exactly what the family got to eat that day. Nothing more, nothing less.

You could see the pressure they were under. Normally, Barn Owlscan hunt day and night, but through observation we find them normally hunting under the protective cover of darkness. But these males were getting desperate. We started seeing them out hunting during the daytime too—braving bright sunshine, open fields, and all the risks that come with being active when they’d usually be roosting. This isn’t good news at all. Hunting by day and then at night drains their energy reserves much faster, putting them under real physical stress. It also makes them far more visible and vulnerable to predation. It was a clear sign that they were doing everything possible to keep their mates andOwlets alive, but it wasn’t sustainable long-term.

Then came the turning point. On May 3rd, something amazing happened: it rained. Not the long, relentless storms that can also cause problems, but short, sharp showers—just what the doctor ordered. Even now, as I write this on May 15th, it’s still raining off and on. The pattern has been perfect: bursts of rain, sometimes quite heavy, followed quickly by bright spells of sunshine. It’s exactly the combination that makes all the difference to the landscape.

Why does this matter so much? Well, it all comes down to our old friend that champion keystone small mammal the Short-tailed Vole. This can be the mainstay of a Barn Owl’s diet round theze yer partz, and their entire life cycle is tied to the grass. When the ground dries out and grass stops growing, voles struggle to find enough food, their breeding slows down, and numbers drop sharply. But give them rain followed by sun, and the grass shoots up, lush and green. And when the grass grows, the voles thrive.

Short-tailed voles are incredible breeders. Once conditions are right and the vegetation is thick and nutritious, they start pumping out young again. What’s more, their offspring grow incredibly fast—they can start breeding themselves at just three weeks old. That means their populations bounce back with astonishing speed. I’m already confident we’ll start seeing more prey being caught and brought back to nests very soon. Before long, I hope we’ll see those nest larders filling up again, giving the owls that vital safety margin we were missing just a couple of weeks ago.

There’s one more big factor that will shape how well things go from here: grass cutting. In many areas, fields are cut for silage, which is a crucial winter feed for livestock—but it’s also a major event for wildlife. When fields are cut right up to the very edge, every bit of cover disappears, and voles lose their homes, their food, and their protection from predators.

So, I’m going to make the same simple request again to every farmer and landowner reading this: whenever you can, please leave a strip of tall, uncut grass right along the boundary of your fields. It doesn’t need to be wide—just a narrow margin makes a huge difference. That small patch of long grass becomes a sanctuary. It’s where the voles can live and breed safely, and where our Barn Owls can hunt successfully. And it’s not just good for owls and voles; it helps all sorts of wildlife, from insects and small birds to hedgehogs and shrews. It really is one of the simplest, most effective things we can do to support nature on our doorstep.

This morning, though, I feel genuinely positive. It’s rare that I get to write about a situation where the weather has actually played ball and given wildlife exactly what it needs just when it mattered most. The rain has arrived, the grass is growing, the voles will bounce back, and our hardworking owls can breathe a sigh of relief. After a few nervous weeks, things are definitely looking up—and I can’t wait to see what the cameras show us next.

Getting ready for bird song

2023-01-31T14:18:00.003+00:00

How Bird Song Can Help Us Better Understand The World Around Us

Introduction

We all know that birdsong is one of the joys of spring, but did you know that it can also tell us a lot about the birds themselves and the world around them?

Some of the first birds to sing normally around February are the Blackbirds. They sing to establish their territories and to attract mates. The Robin sings all year round, and its song can tell us about the bird’s health and the time of year.

Birdsong is not just a pretty sound – it can be a valuable tool for understanding the world around us. Whilst Song Thrush can be singing in January it seems very temperature inspired much like the others but more obvious.

What is the significance of bird song?

Birdsong is an important communication tool for birds in the wild. Birds use different songs and calls to mark their territory, attract potential mates, and to warn other birds of danger. Different species of birds use different types of songs to communicate with each other and to identify themselves. For example, a male robin will often sing a distinctive song to claim its territory, and a female will chirp back in response. Birdsong can also tell us about the health of a bird. A distressed bird will often emit a different type of call than one which is healthy and content. By listening to birdsong, we can get a better idea of the health of an individual species, which can help us gain a better understanding of its environment. Aside from birds, bird song can also be very important to humans. We have been appreciating and researching birdsong for centuries, and it has been used as a way to bring joy, relaxation, and pleasure. Listening to birdsong can be calming and can help us to connect to nature in a deeper way. //

How can bird song help us understand the world around us?

By observing and listening to bird song, we can gain insight into the behaviours and habits of birds. We can use this knowledge to gain a better understanding of the birds’ ecology, such as their diet and nesting habits, as well as the larger environment in which they live. By listening to bird song, scientists can also gain a better understanding of the climate, habitat, and landscape in which the birds live. Bird song can tell us a lot about the health of a region, such as whether there are large amounts of pollutants or other environmental pressures. By monitoring the bird songs at different times of the year, scientists can gain a better grasp of the changes taking place in the local habitat. In some cases, we can even learn about the mood of a certain population by listening to bird song. For example, some species of birds are only known to sing in the spring, which could indicate that the birds are feeling upbeat and ready to mate. //

What are some specific ways that bird song can help us?

First and foremost, bird song can help us to better understand the birds themselves. By listening to and observing different types of bird song, we can gain insight into their behaviours, diets, and nesting habits. This information can be useful in conserving and protecting the local bird population. Second, bird song can also tell us a lot about the environment in which the birds live. By listening to bird song, we can gain a better understanding of the climate, habitat, and landscape in which the birds live. Scientists can also use bird song to monitor the health of a region, including the levels of pollutants or human interference. Finally, bird song can also tell us a lot about the mood of a certain population of birds. We can determine whether they are feeling happy and ready to mate, or whether they are feeling distressed. By making us aware of these different feelings, we can better understand the behaviour of the birds and the forces that are impacting them.

To wrap things up

There is no denying that bird song can be a beautiful and calming sound. But, it also provides us with a valuable tool for understanding the birds and their environment. By listening to and observing the different types of bird song, we can gain insight into the birds’ behaviours and their environment. This information can be invaluable in helping us to conserve and protect local bird populations.

The Barn Owl Project Ringing

2014-06-04T14:58:00.001+01:00

Dawn 18th May

2014-05-18T11:02:00.001+01:00

The Blue Tit and the Wolf

2013-10-30T21:47:00.003+00:00

In January 2013 I was privileged to travel to Sweden to present 3 programmes for BBC Radio 4. The week before my visit the temperature around Stockholm had been almost constantly -15 to -20 degrees centigrade, but when I arrived it was a mild -2. The snow was deep everywhere, except the roads, pavements and runways which were kept efficiently clear so that life could carry on uninterrupted. I was to record 2 full programmes for the Living World Series; one being about birds of the Taiga Forest and the other about tracking large carnivores, as well as a short piece for the Saving Species series. The stories seemed very different, yet they would ultimately come together, highlighting the unexpected links between species and proving that nothing lives in isolation.

The producer for this trip was Mary Colwell, we started in the county of Vastmanland, which is roughly the same latitude as the top of Shetland. I was in awe as our guide WWF Sweden's Tom Arnbom pointed to the south and said “there you can see the last Oak tree, now look north and this is the start of the Taiga forest”. The Taiga (also known as the Boreal) Forest is a band of coniferous trees that circles the globe just beneath the largely treeless tundra of the far northern hemisphere. It runs through Canada and Alaska, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Japan, and makes up 29% of the world's forest cover; making it the world's largest land biome. It was obvious that any wildlife surviving here all year round needed to be tough, and I was astonished by how many species were not only surviving but thriving in this forest.

As we set out our wolf tracker guide informed us that we were in the heart of Swedish wolf territory, and that there were several packs in the area. Grey Wolves have made a good recovery in Sweden after being shot out completely in the 1960’s, the first Wolves only returned in 1983, and there are now around 170-200. A pack of Wolves in Sweden only contains family members; 2 adults and their pups, so not the extended family that most people are familiar with from North America. With great excitement and help from our Swedish wolf tracker we found our first Wolf track. With recent snow fall we had to uncover the footprint from just beneath the fresh Snow, and as we moved on our tracker, Pierre, a local ranger, informed us that we were following two wolves.

Further on into the trees we found obvious signs of wolf territorial markings where both adults had been marking against trees in much the same way that that dogs do. After a few miles it became noticeable that the tracks were becoming very much clearer, and there was no need to move fresh snow from the prints any more. Pierre informed us that these tracks were only an hour or so old. We measured the prints and they were 11cm long (I compared it to my Lurcher cross Doberman dog at home whose print is 7cm long!). Amongst these very fresh wolf tracks we could now see other tracks. A Mountain Hare appeared just in front of one of the wolves, and then Pierre pointed out that something else was following the wolves. The tracks were familiar to me, it was a Fox. Slightly further on we found a great disturbance in the snow, not a kill but perhaps a close shave. It was obviously Wild Boar moving off the path at speed followed by an enormous 3-4 meter leap from one of the Wolf….and still the Fox was following. Pierre explained that when the wolves make a kill (usually wild boar or moose) there will always be left overs, and this is why the fox was following them. He explained that foxes aren’t the only animals that do this. Wolverines and even Pine Martens are known to follow wolves too. Throughout our time tracking the wolves we saw many different species of bird, including the Nutcracker and the magnificent Crested Tit. One big surprise for me though was seeing lots of Blue Tits. This bird is so familiar to us all, and is one we worry about during our cold spells in Britain, yet here it was in Sweden where the night temperatures can be as low as -25 to -30. As I marvelled at the sight of these birds in such harsh conditions Tom Arnbom mentioned that they also follow the wolves. He explained that once all the predators have had their fill great flocks of these small birds will descend upon the Wolf kill and strip clean any leftover meat and fat. This is what gets them through those cold Swedish nights, which of course is no different to us at home putting out the fat balls. This all just shows how delicate the balance of nature is, and how many species would be affected if the Wolf was removed from its environment.

If you missed both The Living World programmes from Sweden, you can listen again to both Taiga Birds go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qkx9w and Wolf Tracker go to
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qsr8j Both Programmes were produced by Mary Colwell and are a BBC Natural History radio production. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Special thanks to WWF Sweden's Tom Arnbom.

Somerset Barn Owl Project. The farmer that gave up a field.

2013-05-04T14:40:00.001+01:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t_tblrlQcY

Somerset Barn Owl Project. The farmer that gave up a field.

2013-05-02T12:55:00.001+01:00

Somerset Barn Owl Project 200th

2013-03-04T15:35:00.001+00:00

Uploaded videos (playlist)

2013-03-01T18:38:00.001+00:00

The Living World - Wolves.mov

2013-02-20T20:35:00.001+00:00

Exmoor Owl Box Project

2011-12-09T22:43:00.001+00:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/strigidae001/featured

BBC Autumnwatch Webcams From WWT Slimbridge

2011-11-20T22:00:00.001+00:00

Picture I took today on a very overcast day at WWT Slimbridge with BBC Autumnwatch webcams is of 2 Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) roosting. Did 2 interviews today hope you enjoyed them, the webcams are back live tomorrow (Mon) at 10:00 till 16:30, and I have 3 interviews on Monday. 1st at 12:00, 2nd at 14:00 and 3rd at 15:00 GMT. Even though it was very dark and overcast the pictures coming o...ut from the webcam were just brilliant the BBC team are working very hard getting the best of live action. You can watch the webcam from anywhere on Earth by going to http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/uk/webcams/ Please do leave questions and comments on the BBC Aut-Watch webcam messageboard you never know I might read out your question or comment. Hope you are enjoying it so far. The webcam runs until Sunday 27th.

And I could not leave it there without the star of the show, so here is a profile picture of a Bewick Swan (Cygnus columbianus) taken from the Rushy Pen at Slimbridge.

Green Hay process the final chapter now for the monitoring

2011-09-20T21:45:00.000+01:00

Green Hay Part 3 Spreading with a dung spreader

2011-09-20T21:13:00.000+01:00

Green Hay process to Shapwick Moor Part 2

2011-09-20T19:40:00.000+01:00

Green Hay Process Hawk and Owl Trust NR Shapwick Moor PT1

2011-09-20T19:38:00.000+01:00

2011-09-18T20:00:00.000+01:00

This video marks the launch of the new Raptor project, which is a joint project between The Hawk and Owl Trust and The Mendip Hills AONB. This project has its own Facebook page and website which are interlinked. The main emphasis of this project apart from partnership working, is to raise the awareness for raptors within the AONB area, this is done by allowing people to participate in surveys, sending in sightings and most of all to let them take ownership of these special birds whether they live within, or close by, or work within the AONB. Already its proving popular with many sightings coming in, and also lots of bookings on our night time Owl survey walks and daylight raptor walks.

Hawk and Owl Trust Yellow Rattle Collection for Shapwick Moor

2011-08-05T17:12:00.000+01:00

Two Public Talks coming up

2011-03-04T10:35:00.001+00:00

Two public talks coming up that are a part of on going projects in the Mendip Hills AONB area and with Exmoor National Park.

Date: Tuesday 15th March

Time: 7.30-9pm

Venue: Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, Mendip Hills.

Cost: Free

Title: Barn Owl conservation on the Mendip Hills.

Speaker: Chris Sperring MBE

Booking: Required (through Chris Sperring) due to small venue

Date: Friday 18th March

Time: 7.30-9.30pm

Venue: Dulverton Town Hall

Cost: Free

Title: Owl Conservation on Exmoor

Speaker: Chris Sperring MBE

Booking: Not required

Hawk and Owl Trust Nature reserve Shapwick Moor (Water Vole)

2011-01-31T13:36:00.001+00:00

BBC Radio 4 Saving Species Tuesday 11th Jan at 1100hrs GMT

2011-01-10T22:27:00.000+00:00

Don't forget to tune into BBC Radio 4 Tuesday 11th Jan, at 1100hrsGMT to hear me talking about the great series of books from the early 1960s "Ladybird books". This time producer Mary Colwell and myself are after Brown Rats and Tawny Owls. I won't say anymore as not to spoil the programme. You can listen live or listen again at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x95h4 enjoy the programme, its been real fun being part of it.
BFN

Happy New Year to all. Portishead Celebrates The New Year .

2011-01-01T11:52:00.000+00:00

Happy New Year to all my friends where ever you are on the Earth! I hope everything you wish for and would like to do in 2011 comes true for you. For me 2011 marks my 20th year working as Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust. It will be probably be the hardest year yet because of the austerity measures our U.K government is implementing. But then for everyone in wildlife conservation and the wider community its going to be very tuff indeed. I will be working on Barn Owls and Tawny Owls through the latter stages of winter, hopefully some of these projects will be able to spill across into spring when the main nest checking season starts.
The media work will continue as well, with some possible interesting projects coming in mid to late 2011.
So once again happy new year to you all, and I will leave you with these pictures I took of the town of Portishead in North Somerset, England, celebrating the stroke of midnight that ended 2010 and brought in 2011. BFN