UK400ClubRareBirdAlert

Protecting our diminishing wildlife - this is what Natural England is all about

2013-05-23T19:18:00.001+01:00

Hi Lee,

I have been through a battle with Natural England in two Public Inquiries trying to prevent the unnecessary destruction of a commuting and roosting site, here in Oxford, for 13 species of Bats, including two which are nationally rare. In the name of wider economic interests, Natural England are now obliged to issue such licences for the destruction of protected species. This new obligation is known as the Hampton Principle (after a report by the corporate businessman, Philip Hampton, published in 2004).

The findings of the Hampton Report became Statutory Law on April 6th 2008, after over 300 business and governmental organisations were consulted. However, not a single environmental charity was given the chance to comment.

That law was implemented by the Labour Party.

Forcing them to adhere to the Hampton Principle, Natural England recently abandoned its legal action against the Walshaw Moor grouse estate for the burning of blanket bog.

At the first Public Inquiry into the Evergreen 3 proposal (a rail scheme by Deutsche Bahn to provide a new, high speed rail link between Oxford and London, Marylebone) Natural England initially refused a license to destroy the bat site because the rail company and Network Rail would not agree to keep services down to 30 mph though a sensitive tunnel, even though the tunnel is within a mile of the next stop in both directions.

The Inspector duly did not recommend the proposal.

However, Justine Greening (Secretary of State for Transport) ordered Natural England and Deutsche Banh to "resolve their differences". They met behind closed doors for four weeks and when they emerged, Natural England had reversed their position, on the basis of a mitigation scheme for the bats.

The Government wanted to grant the Order, but we forced them to a second Public Inquiry on the grounds that this decision had been made in secret. At the second Public Inquiry Natural England employed a Barrister and a team of six to argue in favour of destroying this site by allowing trains to travel at 70 mph through the tunnel.

The Natural England witness to the Inquiry did not know how many species of bat existed in England, did not know the level-flight speed of any bat, and did not know of any avian predator of bats, let alone their level-flight speeds. However, he did maintain that if the bats were killed by fast trains "it did not matter".

In tests of their lighting scheme for excluding bats from the tunnel during train passes, the best figures they could produce excluded a maximum of just 60% of the bats present. That still left 40% of the bats present, with a fast train approaching, either remaining to forage in the tunnel, failing to crawl into safe crevices, or actually entering the tunnel ahead of the train.

Natural England know this means bats, including rare species, will be killed at this site at an unsustainable attrition rate in the future, but "that does not matter".

By keeping trains to the existing 30 mph limit through the tunnel - something bats have co-existed with for many decades - the new, vastly improved, journey times would be increased by just 46 seconds, between both Oxford and Bicester or Oxford and London.

But Natural England refused to support that measure, in the name of the economic interests of Deutsche Bahn and their commuters.

These trains are scheduled to start and terminate at Oxford, with a turn-around time at Oxford station of 14 minutes!

Natural England, Deutsche Bahn and Network Rail won the day.

All my evidence to the second Public Inquiry was redacted in the Inspector's Report. Every word removed. The reason for this was because Justine Greening, in being forced to hold a second Public Inquiry ruled that we could discuss anything we like about bats, vibration and noise, but we must not talk about speed.

Therefore all my evidence about the level-flight speeds of bats, compared to the speeds of on-coming trains, was removed. All my evidence about the co-evolution of bats, owls and sparrow hawks and their comparative level-flight speeds was removed. All my evidence about the extent of different bat calls, the furthest distance these bats could detect an on-coming train and, therefore, the time between detecting a train, travelling at 70 mph, and the train hitting the bat (a matter of hundredths of a second) was removed.

That is how Governments can control Public Inquires. Deutsche Bahn and Network Rail had not wanted a speed restriction at any price, and so it was arranged. First, they twisted Natural England's arms, and then they restricted the Public Inquiry's terms of reference.

I have written about this on oxonbirds, and extensively in the Oxford Times, though the more damning letters were not published. One of those not published pointed out which organisations refused to support me in my defense of this bat site.

I was refused support by the Bat Conservation Trust (after they heard that Natural England were now supporting the development, they emailed me to say they were too small a charity to fight a Public Inquiry), Oxford Bat Group - who were very interested, then suddenly stopped answering my emails or responding to phone messages asking for help, BBOWT, who said they could not oppose Natural England over bats because they receive grants from them and had to work together, and the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, who said they, too, were too small to take on "every fight" even though they incorporate the Mammals Trust.

I was refused support even though I was a long-standing member of both BBOWT and PTES/Mammals Trust.

Now, Natural England is under its Triennial Review, where it is proposed to be merged with the Environment Agency with the main aim to be the "support of Government Policy", rather than speaking out for wildlife.

Recently, the Government Chief Scientist, Sir Mark Walport, denounced the European temporary ban on neonicotinoids, obviously deciding that the precautionary approach regarding the health and the very existence of bees was not worth applying - because "the consequences of such a moratorium could be harmful to farming communities".

And then there is the Department of the Environment's Chief Scientist, Ian Boyd, who not only supports the scientifically flawed Badger cull (an experiment with just two sample sites, when there has already been a wide-spread experiment which produced the result that the positive effects were tiny compared to the cost) but also claims such a cull will be "good for biodiversity".

When the Government want a tame scientist, judge or organisation, they can always find one. We have a long and disgraceful history of corrupt Inquiries. Only when all the guilty are dead is the truth allowed to come out.

We all know that this Government are determined to squash the environmental lobby in the name of economic development and B I G money. By neutralising Natural England, which they have done with the legislation passed by the previous Labour administration, they have silenced the only Environmental organisation with Statutory powers.

Confronted by this about-turn - my letter to the Oxford Times was originally titled "Natural England Turned Poacher" - I have personally witnessed conservation charities collapse into compliance. They see their grants as being more important to them than fighting for their principles.

As for things to come, during my Rooks survey I came across an angry game keeper who wanted to shoot out Red Kites because "I don't care what they say, Red Kites take young Pheasant". He was already preparing to shoot out the Rooks "as soon as they fledge". Well, Natural England is your new friend... it is only a matter of time.

No Cheers,

keith Clancy

LGRE now on Twitter

2013-05-23T12:32:00.001+01:00

LGRE is now on TWITTER and he can be followed at LeeEvansBirding - Join the ever-increasing family of individuals following him and join in the fun

More barbaric acts

2013-05-23T09:42:00.002+01:00

As if our wildlife doesn't have enough to worry about, it is disgraceful that Natural England, subsidised by THIS government is sanctioning the killing of more wild birds and this time NATIVE rather than non-naturalised - see link http://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/natural-england-issues-licence-to-destroy-buzzard-eggs-nests-to-protect-pheasants/

What with Badgers and now Common Buzzards, and with the HS2 debacle, this government and others with such proposals MUST be removed - this sort of decision could prove catastrophic - HEN HARRIER simply hasn't got a chance. I give up

STOP PRESS MEGA: DUSKY THRUSH in East Kent

2013-05-18T10:30:00.001+01:00

A first-winter female DUSKY THRUSH is present in Margate Cemetery (Kent) for its fourth day. Found by Steve Tomlinson, this fine and very rare Asiatic thrush was showing very well this morning when I and 215 others visited. The postcode for the Cemetery is CT9 4LY whilst the grid reference is TR 352 692. This is the first twitchable individual in the UK since that in Hartlepool (Cleveland) in December 1959. A vagrant well worth twitching - see my pix on the UK400 Club blog page

HOUSE MARTINS suffering as winter returns with a vengeance

2013-05-15T22:27:00.000+01:00

These were the hectic scenes at my local patch (Startop's End Reservoir, Tring) this morning as a night of heavy rain, strong winds and temperatures no higher than 2 degrees C took their toll on incoming migrant HOUSE MARTINS

Defra still targetting MONK PARAKEETS

2013-05-15T19:00:00.002+01:00

Defra are continuing to apply for licenses to eradicate a population of up to 77 free-flying MONK PARAKEETS in Britain - a species that does no harm to any other species and builds its own nest. Its only crime being that it is noisy.

COSTINGS for the programme - a disgrace

Birds were shot during field trials in 2008 at a cost of £37,000.

Budget for eradication programme 2011-12 = £90,000. The amount actually spent from 1 April 2011 to 19 March 2012 was £52,000 (it is unlikely the other £48,000 was spent in the remaining 2 weeks of the financial year).

Budget for 2012-13 = £43,000 but £58,000 spent

Budget for 2013-14 = £50,000

So far £147,000 has been spent but so far the BUDGET has been £235,000

So far about £2,000 spent per bird with in all with around £3,000 budgeted per bird!

May is hotting up

2013-05-09T09:04:00.001+01:00

For a second day, a (WHITE-) COLLARED FLYCATCHER is showing well in Northumberland 10 miles NNE of Alnwick at Low Newton-by-the-Sea on the gorse bank opposite the tin church

Meanwhile yesterday saw a female ORTOLAN BUNTING on the causeway at Longham Lakes, just north of Bournemouth (Dorset), a SQUACCO HERON NW of Looe at Lanreath (Cornwall), a flock of 8 EUROPEAN BEE-EATERS at Briningham (NE of Swanton Novers) briefly, a GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK on St Mary's Airfield (Scilly) (where also a WESTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER and a WOODCHAT), a male RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER at Grutness (Shetland), an ICTERINE WARBLER and THRUSH NIGHTINGALE on Fair Isle (Shetland), a WOODCHAT SHRIKE at Penlee Quarry, Newlyn (Cornwall) and a HOOPOE at Balranald, North Uist (Outer Hebrides). The adult male RED-FOOTED FALCON continues at Lakenheath Fen RSPB (Suffolk).

A trickle of POMARINE SKUAS is moving east along the Channel with 19 so far past Portland Bill and Dungeness, a similar number past Seaford (East Sussex) and smaller totals elsewhere, whilst the first passage TEMMINCK'S STINTS are starting to come through and trips of DOTTEREL are appearing.

GULDENSTADT'S galore

2013-04-30T22:10:00.003+01:00

This year, unlike recent years, they were everywhere - even all over the road. I must have seen at least 25 individuals, often moving around in one large feeding flock. Heavy snow as we arrived was enough to bring these mountain glacier top residents down into the town and what a spectacle it was - lots of these too...

A very successful trip, including an extension into Eastern Turkey for other specialities - LAMMERGEIERS and BLACK VULTURES abounded, and more RED-BACKED SHRIKES than you could ever dream of.....

I have lots more trips to run in 2013, so if birding dawn 'til dusk floats your boat and a bagful of birds, contact me for further details - LGREUK400@aol.com

A somewhat sad ending for a wintering EURASIAN BITTERN

2013-04-30T21:58:00.001+01:00

Whilst twitching a EURASIAN BITTERN in Bedfordshire yesterday afternoon, I never expected having to take the bird into care - but that's what happened I am afraid....

Met with a bemused Bob Henry, Cliff Tack and Mike Wilkes, I could hardly believe what I was seeing - a BITTERN acting as if it was a Red-throated Diver on a small stretch of water just about capable of holding a Great Crested Newt.......

After two hours barely moving, it was clear something was up and after a determined attempt to catch it, I soon realised it had a broken wing and was not capable of flying (it had seemingly flown into overhead power cables). It was seriously emaciated and in poor condition and swiftly despatched to Aylesbury's St Tiggywinkle's Wildlife Hospital where it was immediately placed on life support.......

Sadly, it was confirmed today that the bird's injuries are so severe it will never fly again and will be kept indefinitely at the hospital's pond.....

See Johnny Lynch's images of the escapade......

The team succeeded - Bittern's in the bag (Cliff Tack, Bob Henry and I seconds after the capture)

Annual Tally increases

2013-04-30T09:43:00.001+01:00

Popular birds in the form of a ROCK THRUSH (David Carr) and EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER (Lee Woods)

With the addition of 19 new species in the past two weeks, the tally of species recorded in Britain and Ireland in 2013 increases to 329.........

Recent additions include BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (South Devon), Honey Buzzard (3 in Suffolk), RED-FOOTED FALCON (female on St Martin's, Scilly), Common Quail, BAILLON'S CRAKE (found dead at Slimbridge WWT), Corncrake, BLACK-WINGED STILT (mobile pair in SouthWest/Wales), Pectoral Sandpiper (London/Essex), Wood Sandpiper, Sabine's Gull (Eire), CASPIAN TERN (Spurn), WHISKERED TERN (2 in SouthWest), European Nightjar, EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (twitchable bird in Salop), ROCK THRUSH (twitchable female at Spurn), EASTERN SUBALPINE WARBLER (male at Landguard), WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER (Church Norton), Spotted Flycatcher and Golden Oriole

PIED-BILLED GREBE

2013-04-09T21:22:00.001+01:00

Still present after a number of weeks at Ham Walls RSPB (Somerset). These shots taken by Gary Thoburn are of outstanding quality

This Weeks Challenge - Quizbird 4

2013-04-09T21:20:00.000+01:00

Identify Quizbird 4. An easy one, so only 4 points up for grabs. Email LGREUK400@aol.com with the correct answer

Quizbird 3

2013-04-06T22:17:00.000+01:00

Identify the species depicted in this image? First correct answer will claim 5 points - email LGREUK400@aol.com with your answer

A relatively easy one - HAWFINCH - quickly answered correctly by a stream of observers.....

1) Chris Parnell, 5 points

2) Geoff Hawkins, 4 points

3) Michael Booker, 3 points

4) Steve Nuttall, 2 points

5) Mark Bailey, 1 point

When will this winter ever end?

2013-04-02T20:48:00.002+01:00

Yet another male WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT recorded today - this one at Melksham in Wiltshire - whilst 5 remain with singles on the Isle of Wight at St Helen's Duver, in the Observatory Garden at Portland and along Chesil Beach (Dorset), at Bockhill Farm, St Margaret's-at-Cliffe and at Samphire Hoe Country Park, Dover (Kent). The Dawlish Warren NNR (South Devon) HOOPOE remains for a second day, whilst a major surge of White Wagtails, Ring Ouzels, Black Redstarts and Northern Wheatears is being felt.

In West Norfolk, the juvenile WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE reappeared this evening over Roydon Common, whilst at least 1 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD continues at Haddiscoe Levels (Norfolk)

In the far North, the drake HARLEQUIN DUCK remains on North Uist at Traigh Iar (Outer Hebrides), with WHITE-BILLED DIVERS on South Ronaldsay (Orkney), Butt of Lewis (Outer Hebrides) (2) and Portsoy Harbour (Aberdeenshire) (3).

Lots and lots of rare wildfowl lingering in the south and west, including 6 or more drake LESSER SCAUPS, drake FERRUGINOUS DUCK at Otmoor RSPB (Oxon) and RED-BREASTED GOOSE at Farlington Marsh (Hants).

The two male KENTISH PLOVERS remain at Rye Harbour NR (East Sussex) and the male PENDULINE TIT at Stodmarsh NNR (Kent).

QUIZBIRD 2 - worth 6 points

2013-03-31T21:26:00.003+01:00

The biggest twitch that I have been on this year by far but what mega bird was being espied by us all - six points on offer for the first correct answer

It was this fabulous adult male CASPIAN PLOVER that was causing all of the excitement - all 6 points going to Bardsey's Steve Stansfield......

2) Craig Fulcher, 5 points; 3) Miguel Demeulemeester, 4 points; 4) Paul Higson, 3 points; 5) Mark Bailey, 2 points and 6) Pete Kinsella, 1 point

For the latest league positions, browse the UK400 Club forum

We have a leader board

2013-03-28T19:51:00.001Z

Here he is - the tertials should have been a dead giveaway. Quizbird 1 was in fact Radipole Lake's famous dapper drake HOODED MERGANSER. Many of you plumped for Harlequin Duck but you were all wrong. The leaderboard is as follows - Belvide's Stevie Nuttall leading the way...

1) Steve Nuttall, 7 points

2) Sean Foote, 6 points

3) Will Brame, 5 points

4) Miguel Demeulemeester, 4 points

5) Pete Kinsella, 3 points

6) Jake Everitt, 2 points

7) Sam Viles, 1 point

Quizbird 2 will be uploaded on Sunday

RED-NECKED GREBE at Siblyback Reservoir

2013-03-28T19:28:00.000Z

Just look at this outstanding shot taken by Steve Rogers of the Siblyback Reservoir RED-NECKED GREBE - a pretty rare bird these days. See more top quality images on Steve's site at http://www.swopticsphoto.com/

Quizbird Part 1 - The new UK400 Club challenge

2013-03-27T08:31:00.000Z

Identify this bird. This particular challenge is worth 7 points, the first correct answer receiving all 7 points and the seventh just 1 point. A league table of contestants will be found on the new UK400 Club forum. Email your correct answers to LGREUK400@aol.com

The Ham Wall Spectacular - breaking new records (GREAT WHITE EGRETS)

2013-03-13T23:01:00.001Z

I visited Ham Wall RSPB Reserve today on the Somerset Levels where, amongst other rares, I saw the 9 GREAT WHITE EGRETS on the drained Meare Heath lagoon, 250 yards west of the main car park at Ashcott Corner. This is the largest single concentration ever recorded in the UK beating by just one, a gathering of 8 on the ARC Pit at Dungeness (Kent) last week. Two birds are from Brittany, bearing colour-rings from the scheme at Loire Atlantique.

All 9 birds on the drained lagoon

8 of the 9 individuals followed by closer, enlarged shots of all 9 individuals

Two different birds are ringed - both from Brittany

Winter returns with a vengeance

2013-03-10T21:14:00.000Z

Paul Rowe Rare Bird Photography: drake American Wigeon at Bowling Green Marsh RSPB and Pied-billed Grebe at Ham Wall RSPB

Bitterly cold Northeasterly winds battered the country today pegging back further migration and halting up the likes of Sand Martin, White Wagtail and Northern Wheatear. The first House Martin was reported today (in Berks) and Little Ringed Plover, with a few European Barn Swallows being seen.

Nothing really new on the rarity front but quite a movement inland of PIED AVOCETS and KITTIWAKES, as well as eastbound Northern Pintails

The drake HARLEQUIN DUCK remains on North Uist, with a record 9 GREAT WHITE EGRETS on the Somerset Levels at Meare Heath and the PIED-BILLED GREBE nearby at Ham Walls RSPB

Still an adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE (at Farlington), 15 Black Brants, 7 Hutchinsii, 4 American Wigeons, 15-22 American Green-winged Teals, drake Ferruginous Duck in Hampshire, 2-3 drake Lesser Scaup, 9 Ring-necked Ducks, 3 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 5 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 GLOSSY IBIS, the YELLOWLEGS and Welsh LBD, the Thetford BBD, Rosy Starling (Exminster) and of course the DESERT WHEATEAR at Rattray Head

New BBA Forum is now launched

2013-03-08T16:42:00.003Z

After a number of technical problems, the new BBA Forum is now up and running and available to use for members. You may be prompted to register - if so, I would prefer that you log on under your own names and not pseudonym names

Many thanks

Lee

The New Site is at http://uk400club.freeforums.net/index.cgi

Defra refuse to give BLACK GUILLEMOTS their full rights

2013-03-08T11:47:00.001Z

Read on.....and make your feelings known

WANTED:

Marine protection for the only breeding black guillemots in England

Walking along the Cumbrian coast at this time of year, the cliffs with their sheer drops can look wild and inhospitable; it is easy to think that nothing could exist here. But come spring 8 million seabirds will make the long trip home to their breeding grounds around the UK's coast; soon the cliffs will be alive with squabbling guillemots, groaning puffins and graceful fulmars.

At St Bees Head in Cumbria an additional treat is in store for visitors as these cliffs are home to the only breeding black guillemot population in England; if you are lucky, you might just catch them descending into their burrows with sandeels and butterfish in bills ready to feed their chicks.

St Bees is a fantastic example of how faithful seabirds are to the sites they use; some seabirds return back to the exact same nests every year.Thankfully the colony here is a nationally designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which means that seabird nest sites are protected from damaging human activities; however the areas that these birds use at sea are not.

It's a sad truth that this story is the same all around the UK - seabirds are currently protected when on land, but as soon as they leave the shore to hunt for food for themselves and their chicks, they face threats such as net entanglement and disturbance from offshore developments in unprotected waters.

I'd like to thank everyone who Stepped Up for Nature and signed the RSPB's Marine Pledge throughout 2011-12. At the moment less than 0.1% of the UK's waters are protected from all damaging activities and there is an urgent need for the development of an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas. In November 2011, thanks to your support, we were able to hand-in over 50,000 signatures to Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon and show the UK Government that people out there like you care about the marine environment including the fate of our seabirds.

But we must ask you now to take further action.

We were thrilled that in September 2011 it was agreed that BLACK GUILLEMOT should be a species for protection within the recommended Cumbria Coast Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). This MCZ would form part of a collection of 127 sites around English waters, for consultation in 2013.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched their public consultation on the designation of English MCZs in December 2012. We now know that Defra only intend to take up to 31 of the 127 sites forward for designation in 2013. What's more, black guillemot has not been taken forward as a species within the Cumbria Coast MCZ which means that they will continue to have no protection at their key feeding and loafing areas close to their nesting grounds. We are bitterly disappointed by these unambitious proposals.

What you can do to help:

Please join us in letting Defra know that that they need to reinstate BLACK GUILLEMOT (or Tystie as it is affectionately known) as a species for protection within the Cumbria Coast MCZ for designation in 2013. Furthermore, that they need to implement a well-managed network of Marine Protected Areas, including MCZs, which offers full protection for all our marine wildlife, including seabirds, without further delay. You can do this and encourage others to do the same by responding to Defra's English Marine Conservation Zones consultation.
You can submit your letter email to MCZ@defra.gsi.gov.uk

mail to: MCZ@defra.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to the address below:

MCZ Team

C/O Post Room, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR

The consultation closes on 31 March 2013.

Why not also add a personal flavour to your letter by describing why the Cumbrian coast is so special to you and why our marine environment needs protecting.

LESTER MULFORD meets the end of the line

2013-03-07T20:41:00.002Z

When I first got into twitching in the early 1970's, one of the first 'teams' that John White and I first came across was that lead by Tony Smith. There were about eight members of this 'band' around this time and LESTER MULFORD was an integral part of it. The team 'operated' out of West London, Tony with his Ealing connections and Lester his Feltham. Other members included Pete Smith, Ralph Hobbs, John East, John Williamson, 'Surf City', 'Collocks' and Wayne Borras, and amongst their remit was to visit every pub in the land featuring a bird name in its title. Both Tony and Lester instilled their interests from their early LNHS days in the 1960's, quickly relocating from Dungeness to Portland Bill as there favoured weekend haunt. Lester quickly fell in love with Portland Bill and for 30 years or more, the entire batallion would be partially resident in the Observatory (particularly during the Mike Rogers period). Lester also held Staines Reservoirs as his 'local patch' and it would be both of these localities that I would see him on often a weekly basis. Workwise he spent years at British Airways, where his priveleged travel passes would frequently take him on global birding trips, Kenya and its Guinness Breweries being a particular favourite. Latterly, Thailand took his favour - and he married there - and spawned at least one toddler.

Lester loved birding - he lived and breathed it - and even after a serious motorbike accident in the 1980's was up-and-running after a short time and bagging Wheatears and other spring migrants. Like me, he loved Scilly - and never missed a year between 1966 and 2002. Tregarthen's then became his local and on many an occasion, I would be running through the arches on the Garrison on route for a rare to be faced with Lester and a Guinness in his hand asking me what had just turned up. Like many of his ilk, he was a true British birding character, the likes of which will never be replaced. Although he never joined the twitching jetset, prepared to 'cheque book' birds at any cost, he did finally achieve his goal, scoring his 500th UK-only species in 2009 (Ireland was never in his remit). He was a lovely man, very compassionate, caring, trusting and kind - and doting to the end to his mum, whom sadly died at the age of 102 in 2009. After that, Lester moved to Wisbech in Cambridgeshire to be closer to Tony and Liz in Holt. I very rarely saw him after that. Another huge loss and a gaping hole in my history. Goodbye Lester.

GOSHAWK TOURS - weather forecast is poor

2013-03-03T22:00:00.002Z

The weather forecast for this week is poor (rain from Wednesday) so the only planned trip for this week is TUESDAY 5 MARCH. Meet at Junction 18 of the M25 at 0700 hours prompt or pickup en route - trip vouchers obtainable from LGRE at LGREUK400@aol.com

More trips are planned from Monday to Thursday of next week weather allowing

Breaking News of a mega mammal - WALRUS on North Ronaldsay

2013-03-03T19:05:00.002Z

Discovered loafing at Bridesness today - see spectacular images at http://northronbirdobs.blogspot.co.uk/