POLITICS IN FOR THE WILDLIFE WITH THE LABOUR PARTY

 

It’s Political now and my words in italics

Well, they outlawed fox hunting and perhaps they will swing the balance against the class system that prevails and break down the barriers that have existed for centuries. The protest will continue

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s opposition Labour Party called on Monday for a review into driven grouse shooting, saying the sport’s impact on the environment needed to be assessed.

Years ago I wrote three short poems - one for each of the days in middle of August - in protest.

NATURAL ENEMIES?

natural enemies! pa-ah!

"they don't exist no more",

but we watch the skies, just

in case... you never know.

humans come and leave

things. We peck at stuff

and then there's that bunch

of feathers tied to the post.

It's really scary, that, 

and the unseeing eye 

socket scares us all,

but hey-ho

we eat our way

to plumpness:

good enough to eat - 

and THEN...     

GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER AND ITS ARTICLE ON AVIAN FLU.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE GUARDIAN.

THIS IS JUST A TASTER ON A SERIOUS MATTER

 Conservationists have called for ministers to ban the release of millions of gamebirds to prevent the UK’s wild birds being wiped out by a “catastrophic” avian flu epidemic this winter.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said there was a significant risk that pheasants, partridge and ducks released for shooting from 1 October could spread avian influenza into wild bird populations, wreaking havoc in farmland and garden birds.

It added it was surprised the UK government appeared to have done no risk assessments for a major outbreak erupting in gamebirds, and urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to impose an immediate moratorium on their release.

CAMACHUELA TROMPETERO (TRUMPETER FINCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ALICANTE

A RED HOT  BIRDING DAY IN THE ALICANTE MOUNTAINS. MONNEGRE PRODUCES AGAIN  AND AGAIN

I’m saying it was red hot day and the temperature climbed to 34 degrees C to make it so. It was a very early start from home and by 7.30 we were well into the mountains to check out a site we have been monitoring. Camachuela Trompetero - Trumpeter Finches were our only target but we always get more!
We sat back from the site and watched. Within minutes we saw a group of 4/5 flying around us and we could hear them calling. In fact they were all around us, on a fence and on the ground too. The photographer got busy and making as many record shots as possible which will be examined later in detail. At one stage I was on route to a different location and on way one sat on a fence, calling, and with me in full view. They seem to be comfortable in the presence of people. From my vantage point I saw a flock of 20/25 birds flying together and wondering what they could be. Minutes later 23 sat on the fence for Bryan to capture on camera. Initially, it seems, not a leg ring too be seen and that does mean there are or have been other birds. Every time we go there we learn more and next week we could know more. There is a proviso to this is that these finches have not been seen this late in August on Monnegre. Hence our reason for going again soon. And that is another damn good reason for calling our morning red hot. And there is more.

Before, Bryan saw a Black Redstart -ColirojoTizon (Yes. I believe him - this early too) and I saw a Black Wheatear - Collalba Negra atop a bush. Three Red-rump Swallows - Golondrina Daurica flew past us low. Up in the sky Pallid Swifts - Vencejo Pallido, the odd Barn Swallow - Golondrina Común one House Martin - Avion Común and some Crags too - Avion Roquero. A regular feature has been Spotted Flycatcher - Cerrojillo Gris and again we watched one.

We were entertained by a very pristine Blackeared Wheatear -Collalba Rubio. What a smart bird and the photo will prove it. The expert claims it is a juvenile - hence the smartness. We watched it for several minutes and it constantly bobbed the tail. Something to check?

Although the heat was with us we decided to go up more. We stopped at the major ruin as it has been a good spot on other occasions. On the way Woodchat Shrike - Alcaudón Común and we spotted three - possible two were juveniles and they have been thin on the ground this year! Bee-eaters- Abejaruco Comun we kept hearing and eventually I got my first clear sighting for this year and one on a wire too. They are around us but not too numerous this time.

With Bee-eaters all around us Bryan spotted a very distant raptor. Within minutes we had two Golden Eagles - Aquila Real circling distant but close enough. The camera will confirm. I watched them ‘dance’ together and one could be a sub-adult. We have viewed them here before. Now, if that was not enough, and while we were sipping our second cuppa Bryan spotted one Alpine Swift - Vencejo Real. I waited, watched and we had a slow and lowish flypast. My best view ever for this species.

CONCLUSIONS: the birds are on the move and Hirundines although low in number for us will be going south. Greta has viewed Bee-eaters clustering and they cannot be long. The flock of Trumpeters too seems to indicate movement and we will endeavour to locate their winter grounds.

Monnegre again soon and then other locations for those passing through and those coming to winter here. There is so much to see and do.

We will reflect upon our Trumpeter log and again ask for sightings and information.  

WRITING AND WILDLIFE COLLIDE IN AN ARTICAL

 The hot summer sun is burning us dry. We cower and survive with aircon and the will to write is  with me - just!

We are still adjusting after our UK trip to South Shropshire and Harrogate and crime writers et al. There appears to be no normality as we re-adjust to being at home. Our thoughts are miles away with conversations not only about what we’re have done but next July too. The conversations are relentless and there is joy in that. We can look ahead, meet-up with friends and people who matter the most. And then there is the wider family of writers, consumers and drinkers. In the meantime I will enjoy each day and concentrate on the present. I love to do that.

Pre Harrogate and Theakeston Old Peculier Crime Writers Festival and the arrival of their long-list I put aside the books I was reading. I have now picked two up and read small chunks at a time. The reason for that is a novel appears too easily in my hand!

I have gone back to Anni Domingo’s “Breaking The Maafa Chain” and David Olusoga “Black and British” Anni’s book has been well researched - she told me so - and her origin is Sierra Leone. The connections are obvious - Africa, Black People, Slavery and historical facts. One, an interesting ‘novel’, with detail, and hard facts with Osuloga. I have much to learn. 

I have read C. L. Taylor’s “The Guilty Couple” I enjoyed it and reviewed it on this blog and on GoodReads. Just by chance a book club contact handed over a series by Frances Brody set in Yorkshires’ mighty industrial mill owning area. The first one “Dying in the Wool” I am enjoying. I dislike the word ‘cosy crime’ because it implies to me something not quite good enough! But that’s me. I appreciate good writing and she is good. Unlike ‘modern’ crime stories these are set in and after ‘The Great War’ within families that are several levels above the workers. Maybe not at an aristocratical  level but wanting to be. I am loving it but I have not deserted Anni or David.

Also the writing world keeps on revolving. There is so much out there. I am re-considering each one of the poems in my collection on wildlife not jut on criminality but the beauty of our land too. We are fast approaching the ‘inglorious twelfth’ and I am wondering what will happen this August? Will Avian Flu, hot sun, drought and the threat off fires reduce the intentions of the shooters to only sip a Pimms in the shade and wondering about their need to quench their blood lust or not. I will be blogging it.

Connected with the last paragraph is Clover Stroud’s article on ‘The Right to Roam’ and the sound bite of “ TEENS HAVE MORE FREEDOM IN THE CITY THAN’ - in our beautiful countryside. There’s much room for thought and the need to write.

I am pleased to say that Nora Nadjaran made me aware of her workshop with crowcollectiveworkshops.com - Blurring the Genes between Prose & Poetry. I am already tempted without going into detail. I am working on that connection.

LEGAL JUSTICE AND MORE ON THE WOODCOCK

 Woodcock petition: Thank you for such a strong start to our petition seeking shortening of the Woodcock shooting season.  We have already passed 17,000 signatures and we are still in the first month. Take a look at the hotspots for signatures - click here - do you live in one of them? 

 

Defra have responded to the petition and their response is utterly hopeless - in fact it isn't really a response.

 

Chris has written to the Petitions Committee asking them to seek a proper response from Defra - click here. We'd ask you to do something too - please write to your MP and tell them that you signed the petition and you are dissatisfied with the government response because it isn't really a response to what the petition asks. Ask your MP to seek a specific answer from Defra as to why they refuse to adjust the shooting season for Woodcock when even the pro-shooting GWCT want shooting to be delayed until December. The Defra response is, as Chris wrote, vague and evasive, and they should not be allowed to get away with it. Getting lots of letters from MPs, including from yours, may make them think again. Thank you.

 

We'll be promoting the petition hard over the coming months - this is an important issue and a very simple, cheap and effective thing for Defra to do. Remember, in theory Defra is on the side of wildlife!

 

MORE FROM LEGAL JUSTICE

 I AM FLYING UNDER THE WILD JUSTICE LOGO YET AGAIN.

Their post follows on after my comments. I wish I could do more. But I know we are up against a system that has been there for centuries and, as per normal, the powers and monies lie within that system. Without sounding revolutionary and anti-monarchal it is CLASS one that is difficult to break down. I rejoice in the fact that many people care and there are different factions opposing the criminality against wildlife. These are my thoughts only.

From Legal Justice

“Good morning!  It's taken a while to dry out after Hen Harrier Fest - but it was a great day. It was good to see about 900 people (a revised estimate) at Adlington Hall. It started dry but finished very wet - but a good time was had by all as best we could make out. See a photo gallery - click here.

 

We are already looking to hold a Hen Harrier Fest in 2024 - that'll be 10 years after the first Hen Harrier Day in 2014.  We're talking to our friends in Hen Harrier Action about how we can help with smaller events dotted around the country for 2023. Watch this space.”

Please follow their website and RaptorPersecution UK - Thankyou From JE

WALK FOR THE HEN HARRIERS IN SCOTLAND