Peregrine Falcon

Last week I had a great opportunity to visit one of my local quarry's, and the saying round thez yer partz (local dialect) is "pick a quarry old or working and you will find Peregrines". These Peregrines did not let me down and it was great to spend a couple of hours with them. I should state, I was on a mission as with me were 2 great people from Quantock AONB. What they wanted to see was just how much disturbance a pair of Peregrines could put up with. These 2 are not the exception its probably more the case that they have got used to peoples coming and goings. What is important without doubt is that the people visiting know the Falcons are there and living in these more public quarry's because in that way it creates a respect on both sides. The problem again for these public quarry's is when people are not told about the Falcons and stumble into them, and this is where major disturbances takes place.

Another local quarry has now come forward to ask me to look at ways that people could be introduced to a quarry for the enjoyment of watching these magnificent Falcons. Now that's a real fun project to get my teeth into, mainly because bringing people and wildlife together is going to be so important in the future. Clearly there will be some species that this idea will not for, however the Peregrine is not one of those and providing its planned properly there is no reason why people should not be able to watch these birds at close quarters without the Falcons ever feeling threatened at all. People and wildlife is the key here, get the people interested in wildlife by giving them access to it, then when it is threatened and on their door step they are more likely to action to protect it.

This week is a planning week as the big Long-eared Owl survey begins in January, so if you have been involved before stand by for an e mail informing of the dates for some very late and very cold nights out.

BFN

Update News Aut Watch Webcam + BWRC Conference

As most people know by now, I helped out with the Autumn Watch webcams last week and did some audio commentary also I interviewed 2 guests and did some live bits to camera.
It was all great fun and very creative. I have had some great feedback via mail and the webcams message boards with some of you not believing it was not scripted or rehearsed. Honest folks nothing was scripted or rehearsed. In the control cabin was Phil, Jo and Kirstine all of whom were incredibly professional with literally their fingers on the controls bringing the live images of wildlife in Goblin Combe to you sat at your computers. That side of it was beyond me, however I think it was fair to say we struck up a good team feeling straight away, that is more to do with them than me. I took some pictures and here is one of the real stars of the show a Nuthatch or as I call them bandit Bird.

There are more pictures, but not many as when I was at the live webcam site it was pretty well full on, so not much time for pictures. Today I have just come back from the BWRC (British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council) conference. My lecture was about wild Owls and their behaviour and needs such as habitat etc, and of course using this information to help when we have to deal with releasing Owls. My thanks to the BWRC for inviting me, and I hope everyone present enjoyed the day. I certainly did as it was so good to meet so many other wildlife rehabilitators from the U.K and also other European countries. I do wonder however what the future of wildlife rehabilitation really is, as one point was made quite a few times, and that was that main stream Conservation does not appear to except its importance. But as I have seen with some our projects we can affect a positive difference for species in areas were certain species populations have dwindled, but of course this after checking thoroughly that the habitat is OK and that there is sufficient food for your target species. Some really good facts were brought out during the morning sessions this was based on good science, and for my own part I will now be writing a paper on the releasing of Owls that we have done, this will including survival rates and the monitoring methods we use. I will leave this blog entry with a picture of a Tawny Owl we released back in late August which we have followed on distribution still doing well and totally self supporting.

This picture was taken in almost darkness ISO 3200, spot the owl?
BFN I will try to blog more often.

Autumn Watch Webcasting

I have started webcasting for Autumn Watch here is the link to the site www.bbc.co.uk./autumnwatch/webcams/ the live cam is on now, and I will be live again Tuesday from about 1300hrs, then Wednesday from 1600hrs until 2100hrs, and lastly we are doing an early morning stint from 0700hrs on Thursdays.

Sign in to the message boards and make comments and join in the fun of watching wildlife live.

Today went really well, lots of birds, and Grey Squirrels. Took one picture with the camera

Testing Canon EOS 7D

I took the plunge. Goodbye my fabulous eos 30D you have served well been everywhere and taken most things. Welcome eos 7D, here's a test picture of Otus I took today in cloudy conditions.

Second picture is a Blue Tit in the garden, this taken during the height of the wind and rain storms so the light was awful. I used 2000 ISO, which on the 30D would have been very grainy, I'm very pleased with this result, now I can't wait for the sun to shine again.

From Monday to Thursday at various times I should be doing some live webcasting for Autumn Watch, the exact times I don't know yet but will update the blog and twitter when I do.
I will take the camera with me and publish on the blog anything of interest.
BFN

Update News

First of the wintering Redwings are now here, also this week whilst walking through a local woodland I watched in awe as I found a Goshawk (female) plucking at a wood pigeon on the path, it was a momentary observation as the Goss saw me then took off, but what a great sight (don't even ask where the camera was :( They are now breeding locally which is great news I'm keeping in close touch with one private landowner who really does like them, and doing well at protecting them. .

Tuesday night I did my first real wild talk which went down really well, this talk is a bit controversial and asks the question what is real wild? Also goes into how we manage nature reserves, the question is asked is it for wildlife or people? Climate change and the real cost on wildlife rears its head, and also discussed is the predation issue which leads very well into how we all seem to have lost our connectivity with the natural world, it was only supposed to be 45 minutes long, but I went on for an hour and half, but no one complained. My, lay off the Bramble Bush speech, also seemed to hit the spot especially when backed up with a species list that Bramble can contain. I met a really interesting man after the talk who has written a book about climate change and agreed with my stance on the issue, in fact if you are that person please get in touch as I do want to buy a copy of your book.

Indeed someone else after the talk did say I should write a book about the talk. Yea like I have the time.

This weekend is a busy one, starting Friday night is the Hawk and Owl Trust annual members conference, this year its in Somerset at Shapwick. I'm chairing the sessions and Friday night sees the first speaker and what a great start we have this year with Jemima Parry-Jones talking about Vulture decline, will be good to see Mima again. Saturday morning is more lectures then in the afternoon walks around the reserves on the levels, such as our own Shapwick Moor, and Natural Eng lands Shapwick Heath and the RSPB's magnificent Ham Wall. In the afternoon I have to slop off to Dillington House to join up with the Somerset Wildlife Trust this because its the Wildlife Trusts AGM and I'm one of its Trustees. I will be back with Hawk and Owl Trust by 1800hrs to welcome everyone back and to also welcome Fred Domeloff from Cotliegh Brewery.

Fred will be bringing with him the new Long-eared Owl Beer and I will do the first tasting (just to make sure its OK) After which is the members social evening.

Sunday is the local members groups round up, or what they have done in the last year, followed by Hawk and Owl Trust AGM.

Sunday night back home and bed.

Hornets the last word

OK unless they all start doing Shakespeare in the garden, this is the last Hornet item I'm doing this season. Its all proved very popular with lots of e mails still to answer and lots of confusion because the UK press have put out a big splash about the invasion in France by the Asian Giant Hornet. Because of this lots of harmless European and recently back from the brink Hornets are being squashed, smashed and nests destroyed. The best bit from this came from the British Museum who's very balanced approach was that there are in fact no reports of Giant Hornets in the UK, indeed they state that they probably won't be able to live here because of the wet and cold weather. If you do see what you think is a Giant Hornet, then just use the Google search box and write in Giant Hornet you will get lots of pictures and videos, then do the same for European Hornet and then compare the two. Interesting that in Germany the European Hornet has been protected for sometime with hefty fines given if they are destroyed, well good one you Germany, and yet again it seems we in the UK lag far behind with our wildlife education and legislation.

Full protection for the European Hornet in the UK. Where's Bug Life in all this? Comment please!

Owl surveys and re-hab monitoring next.

BFN

A New Beer For The Conservation of The Long eared Owl

Here it is and I do know its been a wait for all those volunteers that helped with the last 2 Long-eared Owl surveys. The latest news from Fred Domellof Director of Cotleigh Brewery is that Long eared Owl Beer will join the likes of Barn Owl bitter (named by me) Tawny and Snowy Owl ale. There is talk of a possible PR launch day with yours truly doing a tasting :) being accompanied by Otus the captive bred Long-eared Owl (hooo's tee total) Otus also features here on the pump clip label, picture taken by me.

I have been working with Cotleigh Brewery since the 80s, so before I became full time Hawk and Owl Trust Conservation Officer. Its a great partnership and an interesting way of highlighting the conservation effort in much wider circles. Imagine this, you are in a pub and some berk suddenly gets up and starts talking about Owl conservation. Actually its proved very popular and led to many farmers and other landowners creating great wildlife habitat that we may have never reached. Cotleigh Brewery brew real ales and they are very good indeed, don't take it from me try it for yourself the Brewery website is http://www.cotleighbrewery.com/ and you can now purchase Barn Owl Bitter in the bottle which includes my phone number on the bottle, from the likes of Asda and Tesco's. Fred also told me today that if you are Hawk and Owl Trust member and going to the members weekend from the 15th to the 17th of October then he will be delivering the first batch of Long-eared Owl Beer for the Saturday social evening and Fred himself will do a quick introduction, with once again yours truly doing the first tasting :)

There is more very exciting news to come on Long-eared Owls but this is a great start from Cotleigh Brewery thanks to Fred and gang in Wiveliscombe this is the brewery's 30th and this is also the Hawk and Owl Trust's 40th, if you are a member of the Hawk and Owl Trust and need more information on the members weekend conference go to http://www.hawkandowl.org/

If the boys from Sweden are reading this, then you should be proud, as Fred is from your country, now how about Owl beers in Sweden? You have 10 species, come on boys!

Lastly here is a copy of Fred's tasting notes.

LONG EARED OWL PREMIUM ALE - DARK COPPER COLOUR
ABV 4.9 %
A rich and bright darker copper coloured ale. Full flavoured with a rich floral aroma from first gold hops. Smooth on the palate with a long lasting bitter sweet finish.

Ingredients: Pale, Crystal and Chocolate Malt; Goldings, Fuggles, Northern Brewery and First Gold hops.