The Birds of Sussex Book

This is the most detailed publication yet on the birdlife of Sussex. This once in a generation book by the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) describes the status and changing fortunes of all the wild birds of Sussex. Over two million bird records and four years of intensive Atlas survey work underpin this compelling book. Due out early 2014.

The Birds of Sussex is published by the SOS in partnership with the BTO and you can pre-order your copy here:  www.bto.org/sussex-birds 

The book is written by a team of the county's finest bird experts and edited by Adrian Thomas of the RSPB. For each of the 397 species on the Sussex list the book reveals:

• What birds are found where
• Why they are there
• 'Winners and losers' - those birds doing well and those in trouble
• What the threats and outlook are for each species

The book contains over 600 pages in full colour and stunning photographs of over 250 species, all taken in Sussex.

The pre-publication price is £20 for SOS members and £25 for non-members.

DEFRA's Smoke and Mirrors Campaign

Mike Rigby is a County Councillor on Somerset County Council. Previously Mike had not held a strong view on the badger cull. His thorough investigations however have uncovered a determine 'smoke and mirrors' campaign by DEFRA in trying to justify the badger cull. Read his blogpost, link below. If you had ambivalent views about the cull this should convince you that it is futile and unjustified:

"Defra is completely incapable of holding the line on the justification for the badger culls....."

I will also be sending a link to Mike's blog to my local MP, Simon Kirby, who signed the motion in favour of the cull. I will be interested to hear his response.

http://mikerigby.org/2013/09/27/badger-cull-2-update/ 

Police Accused of Bias over Culling of Badgers

More disquieting news about the behaviour of the police and their involvement in action against badger cull protesters. Further evidence on the lobbying power of the NFU and the Countryside Alliance and our weak coalition government that decides to ignore genuine scientific evidence that the cull will not work.

The groundswell of public opinion against the cull continues to gain momentum. Long may it continue.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/24/police-accused-bias-culling-badgers

Urban Birds Take a Lie-in

According to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) our urban birds tend to arrive at garden feeders somewhat later than their countryside counterparts. The rationale is that in urban areas the amount of heat loss from the average home is such as to keep the surrounding environment somewhat warmer than country areas. Urban birds then take a 'lie-in' as they have not expended so much energy to keep warm through the night unlike birds in more rural areas.

I am up most weekdays at 6:30am and I notice that my garden birds are at our feeders soon after first light. No lie-in for them it appears. Greedy little so-and-sos!

A Halt in Decline of House Sparrows

Wild gardens seem to have helped to halt the decline in number of House Sparrows Passer domesticus. Monitoring has suggested a severe decline in the UK population with a drop of 71% since 1977, that's a fall from about 12 million pairs in the 1970s to between 6 and 7 million pairs today. However, the latest data from the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) Garden Birdwatch (a survey conducted by birdwatchers and householders across the country) reckons that the decline in gardens has stabilised since 2009.

Male House Sparrow

The report shows that in 1995 the proportion of gardens recording one or more house sparrows was about 80%. This fell steadily to 60% in 2009 and has remained at the same rate since. News to be cautiously welcomed. Clare Simm, BTO's Garden Birdwatch development officer, said: "It is too soon to say that they are increasing but the decline has definitely levelled off since 2009 and hopefully this means they will start to increase again".

The house sparrow is a "Red-listed" conservation species which has been in long-term decline, particularly in urban and suburban environments. Greater London lost 70% of its sparrows between 1994 and 2001. House sparrow populations across Britain have been hit by a loss of nesting sites and food sources, particularly a lack of insects to feed their young. Air pollution and the use of pesticides are also being blamed. 

But we are a nation of wildlife lovers and many of us are now managing our gardens for wildlife, which certainly benefits our house sparrows. A few days ago I was astonished to count no less than twelve juvenile house sparrows perched in my lilac tree, where most of the feeders hang. Astonishing because these twelve were all juveniles.

The BTO has recommended five measures for gardeners to encourage house sparrows:

• Let an area of garden go wild to encourage insects
• Plant species such as hawthorn and ivy which provide thick vegetation
• Provide a house sparrow terrace or a group of nest boxes near the eaves of your property
• If you feed birds, provide them with seed mix that includes large grains
• Regularly clean feeding stations to prevent disease

And one from me: provide clean drinking water daily.

The Red-backed Shrike

Hard to imagine a world without birds, isn't it? We take their presence for granted as the most obvious and permanent manifestation of nature in our lives. But we should never be complacent, for our birds and the rest of our wildlife are under threat as never before. I appreciate the number and variety of birds I see and hear, many in my own garden, helped along by my own modest efforts to keep them well nourished.

The Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio is one of many birds on the Red List, with its dramatic decline to virtual extinction as a UK breeding species. This species is best looked for on passage in Spring and Autumn. But it is also good to know and welcome news that in the past few years the red-backed shrike has gained a toe-hold here once again, with several pairs breeding on Dartmoor.

Lanius collurio

These birds are under 24 hour guard against the menace of egg-collectors, whose mindless vandalism threatens to nip this recolonisation attempt in the bud. I can only hope that this little gem of a bird will make a permanent return to our shores.

The Big Issue Seller

I buy a copy of 'The Big Issue' every week from a street vendor at one of the locations in Brighton. Robert is 62 years old and lives on the streets. Not because he wants to but because of circumstances that caused his dilemma, like so many other of our homeless folk.

Selling The Big Issue is a business. The vendor has to buy his copies for £1.25 each and sells them for £2.50. You need to sell many copies each week just to keep yourself fed. But, it's a leg up, not a hand-out. I always spend at least five minutes talking with Robert and discussing his welfare and his love of cats. Today I gave him my copy of the book about Dewey, the cat that lived in a library in the USA and touched everyone's heart who came to know him. Robert loves to talk about A CAT NAMED BOB, the book that tells the remarkable story of a cat and the street person who came to 'adopt' him and certainly the most heartwarming story of love and redemption that I have read in a long while.

Big Issue vendors are human like you and me. Don't pass them by in the street or worse still, cross the road to avoid them. All vendors that I have come across are friendly, polite and love to chat. And buy a copy of the publication. You might be surprised to learn that it is full of excellent journalism and you will be helping someone to regain their self esteem, which just might help towards their securing somewhere to live.

A small act of kindness can work wonders.

Starlings Gulp, Goldfinches Sip...

Being retired has enormous benefits, not the least that I am able to spend considerable time watching the antics of birds in my garden (without feeling guilty that I have nothing better to do!) I have a number of strategically placed feeders and two bird baths - one hangs in the lilac tree and the other stands on a pedestal. I replace the water regularly.

Watching birds take a bath can be highly amusing, particularly the Starlings Sturnus vulgaris, who can empty a bird bath with their enthusiastic ablutions. Their drinking habits are noticeably different to other birds. Stick their head in the water, throw their neck back, beaks open - and gulp.

Sturnus vulgaris

The Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis on the other hand is rather more dainty, taking gentle sips. And strangely enough I have not yet seen a Goldfinch taking a bath.

Carduelis carduelis

It has been a pleasure this year to see a significant increase in the number of juvenile birds visiting the baths and feeders. Mind you, it's a costly pastime keeping the feeders replenished!

The Amber Listed Red Kite

The Red Kite Milvus milvus is a magnificent raptor. I was lucky enough to see a pair of these birds in May 2013 whilst on holiday in the Dordogne region of France. In the UK this bird is Amber listed in terms of conservation importance, just a step down from Red status. (See RSPB for Amber list criteria)  http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/status_explained.aspx

The recently published paper by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel indicates that the Red Kite has become less scarce in the UK with a 5 year mean population of 1,191 breeding pairs. News to be cautiously welcomed. Territory coverage is listed as 'moderate'. In 2011 records show confirmed and/or probable 1,234 breeding pairs across the UK and Northern Ireland.

The Red Kite

For those of us living in the South East of England the following numbers of breeding pairs were included in the record: Bedfordshire 4, Berkshire 31, Buckinghamshire 52, Hertfordshire 31, Oxfordshire 42 and Sussex 3. (Perhaps a visit to Buckinghamshire would prove worthwhile...)

the figure of 1,234 pairs for 2011 is the highest total every recorded by the RBBP.

Short-haired Bumblebee Reintroduced to UK

The Short-haired Bumblebee Bombus subterraneus has been unseen in the UK for 25 years so a successful reintroduction is welcome news. Over the last two years conservationists have made two releases of short-haired bumblebee queens at the RSPB Reserve in Dungeness, Kent - about 90 minutes by car from Brighton. This has been an attempt to establish a viable breeding population and seven young worker bees have been recorded this year in a 4 sq km area.

Bombus subterraneus

Dr Nikki Gammans leads the project. She said recently: "This is a milestone...and a real victory for conservation. We now have proof that this bumblebee has nested and hatched young and we hope it is on the way to becoming a self-supporting wild species in the UK once again."

The short-haired bumblebee has not been seen in the UK since 1988 and was declared extinct in 2000. The species was once widespread across the south of England, feeding on wildflowers such as white dead-nettle and red clover. The short-haired bumblebee numbers declined in the second half of the 20th century as wildflower-rich grassland was lost to intensively farmed land.

In 2009 scientists tried to transport queens from New Zealand but the colony lacked genetic diversity and many of the queens died in quarantine. The bees that have been released under this new project were collected from southern Sweden where the species is doing much better as fewer people live there and farming practices are more bee-friendly.

Conservationists have spent the last three years preparing the land at Dungeness. They collected locally grown clover seed and spread it across the grasslands. This was followed by grazing the area sensitively with cattle and sheep. It appears that the work is also helping other endangered bee species in the local area such as the Shrill Carder Bee.

Long may this successful project continue.

Hour After Hour of Living Hell...

I have just read another report from Compassion In World Farming about a typical long distance journey involving live sheep being exported to Turkey. I use the term 'live' advisedly as many of these wretched animals arrive already dead. These journeys can mean days or even weeks of hell for the animals involved. Here is an extract from the report of a CIWF undercover investigator:

"Some of the things you see are cruel beyond belief. Animals crammed into lorries with temperatures rising as high as a blistering 58℃... An overpowering stench of ammonia from poorly ventilated lorries... Lambs so crowded they can't move without standing on each other... Animals so hungry they are forced to eat their filthy bedding and so thirsty they lick the walls of the trucks, desperate for any droplets of condensation... Injured animals being forced onto trucks with sharp prods from metal rods and repeated kicks to their bodies."

At the end of their long journey many animals may be too exhausted or ill to move. Compassion in World Farming's Investigations Team has witnessed weak or injured animals being beaten and kicked, or simply left to die in the dirt.

I support Compassion in World Farming as does Joanna Lumley OBE, CIWF Patron. CIWF is doing all it can to eliminate cruelty from the food production chain. Every year in Europe and around the world, millions of sheep, pigs, cattle and horses are crammed into lorries and ships; their final destination could be hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Many animals die before they get there. It's inhumane, it's unnecessary and it has to stop.

Farm animals are now recognised in European law as sentient beings - capable of feeling pain and suffering. But European animal transport laws need strengthening and proper enforcement. You can help Compassion in World Farming to continue exposing the truth about these appalling cases of cruelty by making a donation. Visit ciwf.org/stopit  

Call To Kill The Cull

Yet another damning article on the needless massacre of our badgers driven by the NFU and politicians. Take the time to read this and contact your own Member of Parliament to voice your strong opposition to the cull.

http://www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/news/letters/call-to-kill-the-cull-1-5483752

Rare Bird Alerts

News from the rare bird alert service today. If you fancy a twitch then how about:

A mega rare Great Snipe recorded at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire or another mega rare Barolo Shearwater recorded in County Kerry, Ireland and for good measure a Elegant Tern still being seen in County Kerry.

September continues to experience some incredible rarities and I just hope that some of them find their way to Sussex....

Great Snipe

I hope to be out and about next week to see what I can find. It's always 'hope springs eternal' in the life of a birder....

Shooting Themselves in the Foot

My friend Jenny Dunn tweeted this link a few minutes ago.  If you want to read more pertinent news about this outrageous badger cull, then click here  http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Shooting-foot/story-19787500-detail/story.html#axzz2exLviyGJ

The Chailey Beer Festival

It was sunny when we left Brighton. We crossed the South Downs into cloud cover and arrived at our friends' house to be met with a blustery wind and a sprinkling of rain. It did not bode well. Graeme's wife, Anne, drove Graeme, Graham and me to the Beer Festival location - a large open sport field in North Chailey. We surrendered our tickets, received a wrist band to exit and enter again (wishful thinking on the part of the organisers) and looked around this very large open space. Four portaloos, a bouncy castle (at a beer festival?!), two stages for the bands appearing, a hog-roast, a burger bar and one beer tent, open on all sides... There must have been around fifty stalwart people on this large sport-field!

We made our way to the beer tent expecting a large selection of real ales. There were five... We ordered three pints of Harveys Best Bitter (4.0%) brewed by Harveys in Lewes and sat at one of the few tables on offer.

Graham and Graeme

Yours truly

We sat and listened to Lady M & the Mr Men pumping out rock arias at high volume. Strewth! Time to move on to three pints of St Austell Tribute (4.2%) brought all the way from Cornwall and returned to our seats in time for John McDevitt, a particularly talented folk/rock singer accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. Much better.

The next pint was Long Man Golden Tipple (5.0%) from a brewery in Littlington, East Sussex - so certainly 'local'. I sat and contemplated the new Brasher boots - at least they kept my feet warm, apart from the rest of me that was slowly icing up in the cold weather!

Brasher boots - comfy and warm...

The next band, Newick Folk, came on at 5:00pm (dull as ditchwater!) and helped us to make the decision to make a hurried departure and retire across the road to The Kings Head public house.  The pub was warm and welcoming. We ordered our food and had a thoroughly enjoyable meal accompanied by further 'refreshments'.

At 7:00pm a quick 'phone call to Anne secured our transport back home to the warmth of 'Swan Cottage' and some Saturday night TV.

The Festival was disappointing, which had much to do with the inclement weather. I expect that the organisers had much to regret. A shame. 

On The Road...

Not exactly an homage to Jack Kerouac but I am off to the Sussex countryside for an enjoyable afternoon and evening at the Chailey Beer Festival with good mates Graeme and Graham (yes, it gets confusing) particularly after a few pints of real ale...

More later.

Birds ID Insights

Birds: ID Insights is ideal for birders of all levels. I am continually trying to improve my ID skills and this addition to my library will be of tremendous help. Its unique layout, comparing the plumages of similar pairs and groups of species, makes it perfect for identifying the more difficult birds found in Britain and other parts of north-west Europe. It also has more images showing how to age birds than any other comparable guide.

For example, pages 124 - 128 compare Skuas, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua and Long-tailed Skua with superb illustrations of juveniles, adults in Spring and 2nd Autumn birds and illustrated from various angles.

It is a hard back, just about pocket sized, so is practical for taking out into the field. The book is based on a long-running series of identification features in Bird Watching magazine. Author Dominic Couzens and artist David Nurney have done a superb job. In total the book covers more than 230 species including the likes of Subalpine Warbler, Short-toed Lark and Red-rumped Swallow.

I will certainly be carrying Birds ID Insights with me on my next field trip.

RSPB Issues First Objections to Fracking in UK

The RSPB charity has lodged a letter of objection with Lancashire County Council to a proposal by Cuadrilla at Singleton near Blackpool. The charity is concerned that the controversial drilling technique will harm wildlife and the climate. The drilling site is close to an internationally important protected area for Pink Footed Geese and Whooper Swans and could cause disturbance to the birds.

The RSPB is also officially objecting to the contentious plans to explore for oil and gas at Balcombe in Sussex on the grounds that no Environmental Impact Assessment has been carried out and because increasing oil and gas use will scupper our chances of meeting climate targets.

Harry Huyton, RSPB head of climate and energy policy, said: "Balcombe has hit the headlines as the battleground in the debate over fracking. The public there are rightly concerned about the impact this new technology will have on their countryside. These are not just nimbys worried about house prices - there is a very real public disquiet about fracking. We have looked closely at the rules in place to police drilling for shale gas and oil and they are simply not robust enough to ensure that our water, our landscapes and our wildlife are safe.... There may not be as many local residents in the Singleton area as in Sussex, but this area is protected by European law because it is so valuable for wildlife and Cuadrilla has done nothing to investigate what damage their activities could do to it.

The RSPB has joined with other wildlife and environmental groups to call on the Government to rethink its shale gas policies. Mr Huyton added: "Figures suggest that in the north of England there is potential for 5,000 sites and a total of up to 100,000 wells. the idea that these will not have an impact on the countryside is very difficult to believe. Fracking is technology largely untested in the UK and we really have no idea what the impact will be on our wildlife. We do know, however, that concentrating our resources on extracting fossil fuel from the ground instead of investing in renewable energy threatens to undermine our commitment to avoiding dangerous levels of climate change."

Whatever your views about fracking I find the lack of Environmental Impact Assessment both alarming and foolhardy. I shall be signing the e-petition to Make Hydraulic fracturing/fracking Illegal in the UK  
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40905

Seabird Deaths Caused by Chemicals at Sea

The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB and RSPCA, have asked the International Maritime Organisation to review the classification of a hazardous chemical after two pollution incidents, resulting in more than 4,000 dead and dying seabirds being washed up along the coast of southwest England. The birds including Razorbills, Puffins, Gannets and Guillemots were coated in a sticky substance which interferes with plumage, preventing diving and feeding.

A dead Guillemot on Wembury Beach, Devon

The substance was identified as polyisobutene (PIB), a chemical used in the manufacture of lubricants, chewing gum and other products. Under certain circumstances it is legal for ships to discharge PIB into the sea when washing out their tanks.

Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts said: "Dead and dying seabirds may be the most visible victims of our mismanagement. But impacts on other parts of marine life support systems may be just as widespread and more serious. Firm controls must be implemented to minimise the risk of future disasters". 

PIB is extremely hazardous to seabirds, who dive underwater to feed and become covered in the sticky substance. This leads to immobilisation, hyperthermia, starvation and eventually death.

Just another example of how we are polluting our world and continuing to destroy wildlife in the process.

Green Hairstreak Butterfly Making a Recovery

The Green Hairstreak Butterfly Callophrys rubi appears to be making a recovery in the South Downs. In 2012 only 38 sightings were recorded across both East and West Sussex as the species suffered a huge drop in numbers due to the bad weather.

The Green Hairstreak Butterfly

But in May 2013, 63 of these bright green, iridescent butterflies were recorded near Storrington, West Sussex in just one day.

The site where the butterflies are thriving has recently been cleared of invasive scrub as part of a project to improve and increase chalk grassland across the South Downs National Park, which is vital to the survival of species such as the green hairstreak. Chalk grassland is an internationally important but endangered habitat often described as being as rich and diverse as tropical rainforest. But less than five percent of the National Park remains as chalk grassland.

The Truth about Bovine Tb

The current badger cull in Somerset and Gloucestershire has divided the nation. On one side the powerful National Farmers Union (NFU), DEFRA, our Environment Minister, Owen Paterson, our Prime Minister, David Cameron and our elected dictatorship and on the other the like minded members of the National Trust, the Wildlife Trust,  the RSPB, the Badger Trust, Nature Conservation and such well informed people as Dr Brian May, Lord Krebs and Dominic Dyer.

And me.

For the TRUTH about Bovine Tb please watch this informed video of Dominic Dyer talking at the Badger March on 7th September in Taunton, Somerset. Listen to his compelling evidence that this cull is not only wrong, it is futile and ill-informed and is driven by the greed of the NFU that has completely distorted the facts surrounding the origin of this disease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1mxVO4-U3EU

The badger cull is now likely to be rolled out to take in East and West Sussex. Mike Weatherley, the conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has signed a Parliamentary Motion to call on the government to allow a vote in the Commons to decide on the further badger cull. Mike said: "This badger cull is entirely unnecessary......" We, the people, agree. It is time for the stench of the NFU and its supporters to be shown for what it is. A package of lies to hide the fact that Bovine Tb originated in cattle and not badgers. And yet these people want to virtually wipe out an animal that is supposed to be protected in this country of ours.

Join your local Badger Protection Group and take a stand for our wildlife. Owen Paterson cares nothing for badgers. Indeed, he wants farmers to be given the right to shoot any badger on sight. What a contemptible man he is - and he is our Environment Minister. He should be ashamed for ignoring popular opinion, but then isn't that typical of this coalition government in general?

Write to your MPs and urge them to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 299 Pilot Badger Cull Parliamentary Assessment and Vote. Make your own MP accountable for the views of his/her constituents and not the demands of the government whips.

United, we can put a stop to this massacre of our wildlife.

Dinner in Hove Actually

"Hove actually" is one of life's whimseys. Someone asked if they live in Brighton will often respond with: "No, I live in Hove, actually" expressing a desire to distance him/herself from the more raffish end of our city - Brighton & Hove. For the record I live in Brighton... unlike our great friends John and Françoise who we see all too infrequently, mainly because they reside for nine months of the year in Cromwell, New Zealand and spend just three months in their beautiful apartment in Hove (actually).

Ros and I enjoyed an entertaining Saturday evening with them. Françoise is French and a cordon bleu chef so we are always assured of a fabulous meal when we get together and this occasion was no exception. John spent the early part of his life in the Intelligence Corps achieving the rank of major and spending much of the Cold War years in Germany. This was followed by postings to Hong Kong and British Honduras (now Belize). He speaks fluent Russian and French (as one would expect) and spent the rest of his career in human resources. He and Françoise run language courses in New Zealand alongside translating various documents for government agencies.

I have known John for 42 years and always look forward to spending an evening in his company. In all these years he has seldom repeated the same anecdote and those about his work in intelligence are often highly amusing. A great character with a very chequered life.

We finished the evening in classic style, doing justice to a bottle of Bowmore single malt sat on the apartment balcony and sharing many memories.

Happy days....

Lunch at The Black Swan

The Black Swan is a Hall & Woodhouse Inn located just off the A23 at Pease Pottage (just south of Crawley). Yesterday I joined four old business colleagues here for lunch. With a combined age of 348 we have stood the test of time, haven't really changed much and still know how to party!

The Black Swan, Pease Pottage

Cosy interior view

The inn has been completely refurbished and offers a really warm welcome. Being a Hall & Woodhouse property the full range of Badger ales is on offer. I had a distinct feeling of deja-vu as Ros and I stayed in a Hall & Woodhouse inn only last week - The Lulworth Cove Inn in Dorset. And the menu was exactly the same. Three of us opted for hand battered fish and chips, the fish coated in a wonderful light and crisp Tanglefoot ale batter, and the other two went for Chargrilled Gammon Steak. Plenty of Rioja and Sauvignon Blanc was used to wash the meal down. For dessert the Treacle & Stem Ginger tart is a tangy delight.

The inn interior is cosy and very well furnished and the staff are friendly and attentive. If you are ever in the area then the Black Swan is well worth a visit.

Tweetstorm for Owen Paterson

Yesterday, 4th September, marked the first anniversary of Owen Paterson's appointment as Environment Secretary. In this role he is expected to support any action that has a direct benefit for our fragile environment. Instead, he chose to:

• Push for the introduction of GM foods to the UK
• Start the massacre of England's badgers without scientific evidence
• Fight against the ban on bee killing pesticides
• Back fracking and fight against a clean energy policy

The Tweetstorm conducted under the hashtag #industrylapdog became the top UK trend. But how much I wonder did it achieve? According to @DefraKate, not much:

yesterday was incredibly busy, with all the excitement of the Boss's anniversary. He had a marvellous day - by the way! #industrylapdog

Others felt differently:

@DefraGovUK expecting gunmen to report wounded badgers. As likely as Praterson adjudging the cull to be inhumane #industrylapdog

 Any one seen Owen 2nite? Heard he's sulking in his bedroom. Really chaps a bit harsh? #industrylapdog #stopthecull

openDemocracy.net posted this yesterday http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/heidi-stephenson/war-on-wildlife-truth-about-badger-culling#.UicFpGiFdCY.twitter

"The decision to initiate the badger culling scheme is not only ill-informed, but deliberately shallow. It is time to consider a positive and viable solution rather than scapegoating a species".

Hoverflies Thriving

In these balmy days of early September I have noticed a significant increase in the number of hoverflies in my garden. Like the Bumblebee they are particularly attracted to the large Perennial Anemone 'Serenade'.

Semi-double, deep pink flowers

Hoverflies feed on pollen and nectar, which the anemone has in abundance. The largest number present in my garden is represented by Episyrphus balteatus, a medium sized hoverfly with a rather narrow body and broad yellow bands on the abdomen.

Episyrphus balteatus

Second in numbers present is the Melanostoma scalare, a smaller hoverfly, with a very narrow body. The yellow marks on the abdomen are not complete bands and a black line runs down the middle of the back.

Melanostoma scalare

I am always pleased to see hoverflies in the garden as many hoverfly larvae are important predators of aphids, so chemical control of aphids should be avoided. The African marigold is another good flower to attract adult hoverflies. 

The Rutland Water Ospreys

If like me you enjoy reading about successful wildlife projects then treat yourself to this fabulous book by Tim Mackrill entitled "The Rutland Water Ospreys".

This new book is a celebration of the Rutland Osprey Project and discusses the team's efforts to re-establish these magnificent birds in England and also details the Ospreys' incredible journeys as they migrate to Africa or Southern Spain. The project is managed by Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. 

Read the amazing stories behind the Rutland Osprey Project.

Rutland Ospreys Satellite Tracking

I was fortunate to visit Rutland Water two weeks ago for the 25th Annual Birdfair. The area is now well known for its breeding Ospreys and their migratory journeys are tracked each year with satellite tracking. It is a heartwarming story of conservation, faith and, above all, hope - that these magnificent birds will make it safely to their winter quarters (well, winter for us). I can tell it no better than the news posted on the official site, in particular concerning Osprey number 30(05) and her journey south.

http://www.ospreys.org.uk/africa-calling-or-will-it-be-a-spanish-winter/

Amidst all the sorrowful world news this story is something to gladden the heart...

Wild Purbeck

There are few locations where I have enjoyed walking more than the Purbeck coast in Dorset. Miles of rolling grassland peppered with gorse and other scrub and an abundance of wild flowers. The coastal path west of Lulworth is a haven for wildlife.

The west arm of Lulworth Cove

The coastal path just east of Durdle Door

I saw several species of butterflies as I wandered along the path. A single Adonis Blue Lysandra bellargus landed close by, the most brilliant blue colour and the rarest of our downland blues. A privilege to see this beauty. Several silvery-blue Chalkhill Blues Lysandra corridon drifted over grass no doubt looking for the few knapweeds and scabiouses still evident. Small Whites Pieris rapae showed in abundance as too did Small Tortoiseshells Aglais urticae and a single Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus.

As I watched the butterflies something entered my peripheral vision and I looked skyward just in time to lock my binoculars on a magnificent Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus drifting effortlessly on thermals as he flew by west to east. Following his flightpath brought a hovering Kestrel Falco tinnunculus into view. Further along the track I met up with one of the local rangers and asked the usual "Seen anything?" He pointed out a number of Yellow Wagtails Motacilla lava resting on nearby fence-posts, summer visitors no doubt thinking about their return journey south. Further along the fence we spotted a single Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, another summer visitor. We parted company and I wandered on past an area of low scrub and was lucky to see a skulking Stonechat Saxicola torquata. But the highlight had to be a pair of Ravens Corvus corax, the largest by far of the black crows, big-headed and wedge-tailed.

In February 2012 the Wild Purbeck area was designated as one of 12 Nature Improvement Areas across the country. It is an area of outstanding beauty that provides the naturist with a wealth of wildlife to see. Keep your eyes peeled and remember to keep looking up; you never know what might be passing overhead! 

The Lulworth Cove Inn, Dorset

"Along the varying road of life, In calm content, in toil or strife, At morn or noon, by night or day, As time conducts him on his way, How oft doth man, by care oppressed, find an Inn a place of rest". So said William Coombe and it wholeheartedly fits the Lulworth Cove Inn, where Ros and I have just spent five days of perfect bliss enjoying the fabulous weather and this perfect Inn.

Right on the doorstep of Lulworth Cove, boasting stunning coastal views and scenic Jurassic footpaths, this wonderful Inn is an idyllic location for pleasure seekers. It starts and ends with friendliness and hospitality.

The Lulworth Cove Inn

The view from our room (number 9)

The ancient code of hospitality demands that a host must provide his guest with food, shelter and safety - all the best a house can offer. You get it in spades here. The friendliest of staff, always a cheery welcome, nothing too much trouble and service with a genuine smile. The Inn serves award-winning Badger cask ales (a pint is never enough), lagers from around the world and a menu full of fresh, unpretentious seasonal dishes. The 'Home Breakfast' provided the perfect start to the day: sausage, back or streaky bacon, eggs fried, poached or scrambled, mushrooms, baked beans, sauté potatoes, tomato and black pudding. Wow! And the most delicious cafetiere coffee.

The inn offers 12 en-suite rooms with Wi-Fi access (unfortunately not working during our stay) and stunning sea views. The decor is shabby, seaside chic with plenty of driftwood paraphernalia - the feel of the sea is always with you.

The 'wardrobe' ;)

Everything is spotlessly clean, the bed linen is changed every second day as are the lovely fluffy towels. The beds are just so comfortable with the same mattresses as those allegedly supplied to the White House. And it is so quiet at night, guaranteeing a good night's sleep.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Dorset you will love this Inn. Highly recommended.