Climate Change and UK Birds

Today I thought I'd just put on the blog the press release from the BTO and other organisations outlining the changes in birding behaviour with global warming. As it was embargoed before midnight last night I couldn't put anything on the blog until now. It's interesting reading and as a press release gives the salient points. Therefore I shall leave it in it's entirety for you to read at leisure.

Those of you may also not know that separate to this, but linked due to climate change, Cattle Egrets bred in Somerset this year for the first time. They did attempt breeding last year, but without success.

Finally I'm still wavering about going to the Bird Fair this weekend. But if you are going, pop along to the Bird Guides stall, and see Jack Wylson. He's just edited a new video guide to British Birds which is being released there. It's a 130 species beginners version. The full 270 species version we're releasing in the autumn, plus a butterfly DVD of all UK species.

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Press release issued by the RSPB featuring joint work by: The British Trust for Ornithology; the Countryside Council for Wales; Natural England; Northern Ireland Environment Agency; the RSPB; Scottish Natural Heritage; and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Embargo: No publication or broadcast before:00:01am on Friday 15 August, 2008

CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS UK'S BIRDS, SAYS REPORT Climate change is causing a number of widespread British birds to lay their eggs much earlier than 40 years ago, that's just one of the trends revealed in the latest State of the UK's Birds report - an annual publication produced by a coalition of conservation organisations looking at the fortunes of the UK's bird populations.

Information from the British Trust for Ornithology's Nest Record Scheme (incorporated in the State of the UK's Birds report for the first time) shows that birds like the chaffinch are, on average, laying their eggs about a week earlier than they did in the mid 1960s. Information obtained for other species, such as blue and great tits, robins and swallows, shows a similar pattern. The changes in laying dates recorded since the mid 1960s are believed to be in response to increasing temperatures triggered by climate change. In 1966, the average date for chaffinches laying their first egg was May11, but by 2006 this date had moved forward to May 2. For robin, the average dates have moved from April 28 to April 22, in 2006.

Dr David Leech, organiser of the BTO's Nest Record Scheme, said: "Every year a network of 500 BTO volunteers monitor 30,000 nests, providing an enormous wealth of information about the changes in nesting activities of many of our birds. Over time, this body of information reveals a fascinating insight into how wildlife is affected by environmental changes."The report, which is produced by a partnership of organisations, also shows that birds are impacted by climate change in other ways too. Information from the British Trust for Ornithology shows that song thrushes rear fewer young during dry summers [note]. Song thrushes feed their chicks largely on earthworms which are much harder to find in drier ground. A graph combining rainfall in England and Wales with song thrush nesting success showed that the birds reared more young than any year since 2004 - another wet summer. Drier summers are an anticipated feature of climate change in the UK and the data indicates that this bird of conservation concern will struggle in future.

Each winter the UK's food-rich estuaries are vital to the survival of internationally-important numbers of wading birds that arrive from northerly and easterly breeding grounds. Although the overall number of these birds increased by about 50 per cent up to the late 1990s, numbers have since started to decline. The declines have been particularly acute for several key species, including purple sandpipers, ringed plovers and dunlins. These waders have decreased by 59, 13 and 21 per cent respectively between 1979/90 and 2004/05 and this decline is largely thought to be fuelled by birds wintering elsewhere in Europe where conditions are becoming more suitable. The report confirms that the dunlin, which used to be the UK's most numerous wading bird in winter, is now at its lowest level since records began. Volunteers for the Wetland Bird Survey now count more knot than dunlin. However, in colder than average winters, the UK's estuaries will remain crucial for birds escaping harsher conditions in continental Europe.

This year's report also looks at the plight of the Balearic shearwater - the only Critically Endangered bird to regularly visit the UK. A study reveals that one in 10 of the world population of this dove-sized relative of the albatross visits UK inshore waters. Breeding around Majorca and the other Balearic islands, this bird migrates out of the Mediterranean to the Atlantic during the autumn. Research has shown that the birds are having to travel increasingly further north in search of food because of shifts in the distribution of fish driven by climate change.

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's Conservation Director, said: "This year's report shows that climate change is with us already and from our gardens to our seas, birds are having to respond rapidly to climate change simply to survive. As often before - birds are acting like the canaries in a mine shaft and giving us early warning of dangerous change.

"Dr Tom Tew, Chief Scientist for Natural England, said: "The consistent declines in specialist bird species highlighted by this year's report indicate that the variety and richness of our countryside is being lost. This reflects the findings of Natural England's own State of the Natural Environment report. This loss is affecting many plants and animals. We urgently need to act to reverse the loss and fragmentation of important habitats if our wildlife is to stand any chance of adapting to climate change"

Richard Hearn, Waterbird Monitoring Programme Manager at the Wildfowl &Wetlands Trust, said: "The rate of redistribution of some waterbirds has been dramatic in recent years, but for some species we still know little about the extent to which decreases in numbers in the UK are due to redistribution to other parts of their range or real decreases in overall numbers. It is vital that we learn more about the extent and consequences of redistribution in order to ensure that these species are effectively conserved".

Andy Douse, senior ornithologist with Scottish Natural Heritage, said: "This report highlights continuing problems for Scottish seabirds, such as guillemots, puffins and kittiwakes. There have been further declines in breeding success in 2007, as shown by the new Scottish seabird indicator."We know that this is almost certainly due to lower food availability, principally sandeels. We are also aware that changes in sandeel abundance are probably linked to climate change in the seas around the Scottish coastline. Sadly these changes in productivity are likely to mean fewer breeding birds and therefore continued decline in some key species that are so emblematic of Scotland's marine environment.

"Matt Murphy, Ornithologist for the Countryside Council for Wales, said: "This decrease of certain waders such as dunlin and ringed plover is also reflected in the Welsh wintering populations. Both have declined in our major estuaries such as the Severn and the Dee. Another effect of climate change is thought to be the spread of little egrets north along the Welsh coast over the last ten years. "Climate change also seems to be affecting the pied flycatcher - anarchetypal bird of Welsh oak woodlands. They appear to be breeding earlier across a number of sites and the worry is they may eventually breed so early, they are out of sync with their major food source of caterpillars.

"Professor Howard Platt, Chief Scientist with Northern Ireland Environment Agency said: "We are concerned about the dramatic reduction in overall duck numbers wintering on Lough Neagh - the UK's largest lake. We are funding some research to see if certain species are 'shortstopping' in Europe because there are ice-free water bodies that would have been ice-bound before climate change."

The State of the UK's Birds 2007 report is produced by a coalition of three NGOs - the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust - and the UK Government's four statutory nature conservation agencies - the Countryside Council for Wales,Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage. The State of the UK's Birds series of reports was first published in 2000.

Walking in the rain - why?

This morning, I popped down to Sand Bay to have a pre-work walk. After torrential rain overnight the morning was that wonderful clean feeling one gets after heavy rain has almost scoured the air. It was glorious and fresh in other words, dark clouds scudding over but well broken with blue sky.

As I got out of the car, a flock of starlings in Hitchcockesque mode flew to and rested on a wire. Not menacing as such but I should have known. Walking over the path and onto the beach, in front of me was a developing rainbow. I stood for a few moments admiring the rainbow, and of course taking this photo, and then off I set for my walk. I'd still not registered, Rainbow = Sun + Rain.

But less than 2 minutes into my walk the reality of the advancing Monsoon hit me, literally. It was like a tap had been turned on and I was drenched from head to foot. My Nomad kept the top half dry, but the trouble was the rain hit it and was shed off onto trousers and shoes like a waterfall. The moisture then travelled north to more delicate areas. Being on mudflats, in driving rain is not something I'd recommend, quite desolate but strangely uplifting. Today I didn't mind, but I was soaked.

Eventually though the rain eased and the morning returned to it's glorious self, leaving wonderful wet sand and mud and photogenic pictures to be taken.

Bird life is slowly increasing too. My guess is about 150 Dublin are now on the mud, couple of Redshank, Lesser Black Backed and Black Headed gull of course, and at one point a Little Gull struggled past. I didn't count but a handful of Curlew too. And of course the resident Linnet and summer Swallows and House Martins.

But when you're on mudfalts don't look at the birds, look down at your feet at the real powerhouse. If the mud is unpolluted I can guarentee you'll see thousands and thousands of these, Hydrobia ulvae Laver spire shell. These are between 2-5mm in size and are one of the most important components of an Estuary food chain, along with bi-valves.

Spire shells = waders and other invertebrate grazers of the Estuary. It's all going on out there, unseen, day in day out and is why Esturine habitats are vital and must be preserved. Lets hope the Severn Barrage never goes ahead, if it does, we can say goodbye to these creatures. As a group Spire Shells can occur in huge densities (300,000 per square metre), of which the most common Hydrobia ulvae may comprise up to 75 % of the total. Hopefully you'll not overlook them again, next time you're down on the beach.

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Finally a bit of admin and news. I've decided to delete my gardening blog, after much thought. It was a good idea at the time, but three blogs is much too much to cope with. Thank you to those of you who commented there, but I hope you'll understand. 2 blogs is actually too much, but I'll keep my art blog going as an occasional blog.

All of Life's Past, All of Life's Future, meet here in the Present.

The Speckled Wood Saga

Or as it should be called, juggling jelly, in a gale, whilst riding a uni-cycle. The tale of a wildlife blogger.

Let me explain. Yesterday morning a freshening wind was skirting the garden. The child Reiver was ironing his socks and pants, and all was well with the world as he listened to Will and Ed's sibling squabbles in the Archers.

But being a true wildlife buff, as I put the crease along the middle of a left sock, a Large White butterfly flitted past the window. Too good an opportunity to miss, the ever present camera was out and I was poised. No Large White to be seen. Camera down, pick up iron, crease down right sock, Red Admiral now. Into the garden, off the Red Admiral went. This went on for about 5 minutes, with both the Large White and Red Admiral flying into and out of the garden, but never landing long enough to have a photo taken. Meanwhile my under apparel remained creaseless. But then! A Specked Wood decided to join in the fun, in fact 2 SW's.

Taking a liking for the strap like leaves of an Iris, I snapped this shot. Good rule that, take photo from distance then at least you have a record. But I had to get closer. I moved, it flew off. It landed, I moved, off it flew again. This was becoming a farce, this man of iron will was being mocked by a butterfly. How come in all these glossy Butterfly Books, a pin sharp double page photo of butterflies look fabulous? BR in a small back garden couldn't even get a half descent shot, and the wind was blowing the leaves. These two were taken at x24 and hand held, don't think David Bailey has anything to worry about.

But it was fun, but not as good a photo as I got in June at Sand Point below.

And finally in my last blog entry, I mentioned Julie in the photo was with child. Well last night that child was without. Alexander Christopher, 8lb 10oz, was born at 23.45. Mum and baby doing well apparently. No mention of dad Craig, presumably he's down the pub having a rest. A welcome addition to the Cambois population in the fair county of Northumberland. Congratulations to them.

Bloggers Block

I don't know. Is it the weather? Is it re-reading Broke through Britain ?, or hearing on Radio 4's Excess Baggage programme about another odyssey book, which I'll begin today? Or is it being 44? Mid-life crisis anyone? But what it is, is a bloggers block. I hope it passes soon. Rarely does a moment pass when I'm not thinking "I'll write about this" or "that's a good story for the blog", but this last few weeks the sponge like receptive brain of Border Reiver, hasn't soaked up more than a gnats tear of inspiration. And a dull witted gnats tear of inspiration at that.

August is of course the silly season. In the sun kissed media world of TV Production, Executives have re-located to their Tuscany Villas to recharge the batteries. August is therefore the no-mans land of work in TV land. Not this year though for the management team, which I laughingly seem to be a part of, we seem to be busier than ever. Graphs-Charts-Forward planning is the name of the game, providing more Excel spreadsheets than is good for anyone to read. Frantic, rush and bustle. I see a cul-de-sac coming up where all this information will be log jammed against the inertia of constant reorganisation. But that's not my problem. What is my problem is all of this has had the effect of stifling the creative juices and stopping me going wildlife watching.

Though yesterday in a moment of deviation, a Vapourer moth rested on the outside of the office window. I stood looking at it for a few minutes, wondering what it was thinking as it rested on a plate glass window. Maybe it was, what are all those humans doing staring into a cube and looking so happy !! I doubt it. Then it was off to fly free through the air, while I returned to the project of the day, Contract Headcount Projection. Great!!

So what's the best way of sorting out order from the chaos? Of course. A Brainstorm session involving pink and yellow post-its. In a wine fuelled evening, this was produced on my conservatory window. It must have been me who did this, as it was still there in the morning. Either that or some Pixies and Faeries have conspired with the hedgehogs, to raid my stationary drawer. What did this frenzy of sticking things to the window produce? A colourful window? A hangover? Indeed, but precious little else. So much for blue sky management brainstorming techniques I've learnt over the years, next time it's a tried and tested method. A long walk (see book above) over a lonely hill, maybe take in a sheep or two, at least then I could photo a daffodil or a sheep for the blog. As I wrote this, a Chaffinch has begun to "Pink Pink" outside the bedroom window. One is never down, when with wildlife. I feel better already.

And then when hunting for a felt pen (life doesn't get more interesting than this) I re-found this photo. Can this really be 18 years ago? The boy Reiver is second from the right, sun glinting off his head. Would you want to visit Cragside if you'd been met by this motley crew in 1990? It looks more like Crimewatch photo-fit with the announcer saying "have you seen this gang, terrorising the public in Northumberland".

John the head warden retired not long after, Dave is still there wardening and felling trees, Damian is in Germany being a graphic designer or something and Julie still lives in Northumberland and as a write is imminent with child. Great days though. This was taken at the end of a frantic Bank Holiday Monday. Soon after we had a round of ice creams. Just weeks later I was about to head off to Newcastle University, a degree if you please Sir in Countryside Management. I have that degree. The future was a wide horizon, and the Natural History Unit, living in Somerset, writing a blog and being 44 weren't even a thought in my mind.

I will reframe this photo and hang it on the wall - a focus to who I am, not what I am, when tackling yet another tedious Excel Spreadsheet. I told you it was the silly season, and it seems the writers block has been unblocked..........

London's Green and Pleasant Land

I've pretty much travelled the whole of England these last 2 weeks in a sort of triangle from Cornwall to Northumberland, to Bristol to ....well can you guess where I've just come back from??

I didn't really have much time to take any descent photos, most came from sitting inside a building or bus, but London always surprises me at how green it is for such a huge City. Look even at that shot of Parliament and the Eye, trees each side of the river. Every little park, nook and cranny has it's trees and greenery, the most important of which is obviously the London Plane. Look at the bark on that Madam? These magnificent trees stand all day soaking up the polluted air without a single moan or groan. In return they give the observant viewer wonderful bark to behold, and a shady crown to protect from the sun. Hats off to the London Plane I say, though not without applying factor 50 sun-cream of course.

London has many parks of course, favourite haunts of the good inhabitants of the City. But it's the unexpected wildlife which appeals to me. Many a balcony of a flat has a bird table or feeder, roof tops have gardens and house boats on the river have not only feeders and gardens, but resident gulls using their boats as makeshift islands. Everywhere nature is taking back the urban landscape.

And even though not spectacular in terms of Nature Conservation, small initiatives such as this part of the London Metropolitan River Thames Conservation Scheme, protect vital green spaces from development in Chelsea

Not that this blackbird in the Victoria and Albert Museum cafe area was worried about green development. Tea and cake was more on her mind.

Even heading into the moneyed square mile, any available space, such as this triangle between congested roads is now planted with exotica

But lets not forget the old buildings which for centuries have stood here waiting for nature to pop by. These ferns seem happy to cling onto the walls of the Tower of London, presumably Queen Victoria would not be amused. Sadly as we didn't go in, I never saw my beloved Ravens, but a lot of Carrion Crows are in the City these days scavenging in the parks. I've resisted a pigeon shot by the way, much too passe.

And as for Buddliea, was ever a plant more adapted to the urban environment? It seemed every roof and chimney, every railway arch was a home to this competitive plant. And a welcome splash of lilac into the cityscape; even if their roots are probably causing havoc with the masonry.

But my final piece of the London Wildlife Jigsaw was here, at the O2 Dome, much changed from my last visit in 2000 to see the Millennium Exhibition that year. It is (for me) a glorious building, all the more so in the bright sunlight. Though not known for it's wildlife, overhead Swifts screamed. However yesterday on the way to the entrance a line of clipped trees sheltered this East End bird. This is the only descent shot I got of it, not great, and I'm a bit stumped as to what it is. A soft repetitive seep seep call and skulking behaviour suggested leaf warbler to me, but the speckled breast is confusing. I feel as though I should know this but no doubt it's the camera angle making it seem difficult to identify, that's my excuse anyway. Presumably it's a juvenile something, but in the absence of a better view, does anyone have any ideas?

Postscript (Wednesday morning) to the birdy Id issue above - top money from the birders is a newly fledged Chiffchaff. You heard it here first!! Whereas I heard the bird of course and didn't know what it was - the shame, the shame!

The Native Returns..... part 2

This is what it's all about. The Boy Reiver had another of his flying visits to Northumberland this weekend, to recharge the batteries. Not many would say an 800 mile drive in the UK over 3 days would recharge the batteries, but I love the travelling. The final destination doesn't really matter, it's being on the move which fizzles the excitement in me. Mind you Cornwall last weekend, London next, the boy does travel a bit. I may need to buy a new car soon!

 

So why am I standing in my pyjamas and looking at a view? Well dear reader this is Borders most favouritist view in Northumberland. There are more spectacular ones, there are more dramatic ones, but this view remind me of childhood, messing about in rivers, bird nesting and being a little scamp in the Coquet Valley. Somewhere in that view is a tree with my name carved on it. Tut tut. I've taken many photos from here over the years, and when the dark moods envelope me in Somerset, half an hour looking at this view in a photo, while munching on a sweetmeat get the humour restored.

 

But this is a wildlife blog. So here's a Wheatear sunning himself on a rock in the upper Coquet Valley. I also spotted a Whinchat, not a million miles from here, which gets my year total to 150. Below are Swallows, who seemed to be ominously preparing to fly further south, presumably somewhere near Darlington.

 

 

But I must have some views of the Upper Coquet Valley. Those from Northumberland will know what I mean, but there's nothing like it, photographs never do it real justice, but it was hot, sunny, not a breath of wind, so Border Reiver whipped off his socks and went for a paddle in the River Coquet watching the fish and looking at aquatic insects. I was in heaven, mind you, fish lept onto the bank, the homes of the Caddis Fly laval cases collapsed and the Environment Agency put out a pollution alert, purely because my feet were in the clean water of the Coquet.

 

Haymaking was in full swing on the steep slopes of the valley

 

 

And sheep were well, being just sheep really. In the hot weather they were panting a bit, mind you so was I.

 

 

But as I write this in Somerset, House Martins flying overhead, let me leave you with the view from Barrow Scar back down the valley towards Alwinton. Anyone going to the border shepherds show in October? See you there for a ham and pease pudding stottie in the tin shed, a warm pint from the Rose and Crown and watch the Rothbury Highland Pipe Band bring up colours.... cracking stuff. There's nowhere like it

 

The Return of the Natives

No, this is not a quote from a famous Thomas Hardy tome, but the feel that the early bird's are on the wing, and returning to the Bay. This morning, a swift perambulation along the beach before work. On first getting there it looked a bit desolate, tide was right out, but usual small flock of Starlings messing about on the strand line, Linnets on the wing, and about 100 Black Headed Gulls just loafing about. So I just walked the mile and a half along the sand. Few warbling Curlew and a Carrion Crow with 2 offspring pestering for food were all that was of note. Then I spotted 2 Oystercatchers, first I'd seen for about 3 months, a nice diversion.

Then at the marsh end, a Redshank was faffing about reeds, but that was about it apart from a few more Curlew. Quite disappointing. So with time pressing headed back. Nearly back at the car park, 4 fast flying waders came in from the sea... Dunlin!! One Swallow doesn't make a summer, 4 Dunlins don't make an Autumn, but it's not far away.

Note to self, polish and check telescope.

Unrelated photo of Sand Bay, taken in April, just because I like it