The Sussex Bird Report 2012

The Sussex Bird Report for 2012 has just been published by the Sussex Ornithological Society. This comprehensive survey contains 272 pages and is a chronological summary of the year's weather and the birding highlights including all interesting and unusual records. A total of 271 species was seen in the county during 2012 which is 11 more than in 2011.

The county's first Hooded Merganser, which remained in Pagham Harbour for over two weeks from late October, was probably the highlight of the year for many observers and attracted visitors from many parts of the country.

Other scarce birds that were seen during the year included a Paddyfield Warbler, a Kentish Plover, five Bee-eaters and a Red-footed Falcon.

Less scarce, but no less welcome, were the numbers of Eurasian Bitterns, Great White Egrets and Glossy Ibises seen throughout the county, the unprecedented movements of Great and Arctic Skuas in April, White Storks which toured around in May and June and the number of singing Wood Warblers recorded in the spring. 

The Scourge of Puppy Farms

Every day in the UK a dog is killed every hour in council run pounds. Think about that for a minute. We, the tax payers, are paying local government to kill healthy dogs - dogs who just need a home. Meanwhile, local councils are issuing more and more licenses to puppy factory farmers to breed more and more dogs. It is lunacy. Councils are failing to properly inspect these puppy factories or enforce their license conditions and the animal welfare act. Investigations have shown dogs suffering with hunger and thirst, living in filthy, overcrowded conditions and some dogs needing urgent veterinary help.

Enough is enough. Our companion animals deserve better!

Puppy farms are large scale breeding premises. The aim of puppy farms is to make money, no matter the cost to the dogs who are kept in cramped and cruel conditions. The puppies are sold through pet shops, Internet and newspaper ads.

Puppy farms in the UK have been found to have as many as 200 breeding dogs, most kept locked inside 24 hours a day, often in complete darkness. They are usually located on farms, in barns, disused chicken houses, garages or any disused outbuilding. The dogs are forced to eat, sleep and give birth in the same area that they urinate and defecate. Something they would never do given the choice. In some cases they are treated worse than animals bred for the food chain. And the stupidity is that the general public keep up the demand for puppies and so the cruelty continues, day after miserable day.

Dogs on puppy farms are often neglected; matted coats, infected eyes and ears and rotten teeth are just a few of the painful conditions the dogs suffer. When breeding dogs become too old and exhausted to continue to produce puppies they are killed or a lucky few are given to rescues. The puppies also often have behavioural and psychological problems, such as aggression and fearfulness, because they are not exposed to the outside world.

We must put pressure on those with the power to close down these puppy farms.

And if you are considering getting a puppy:

• Do not buy from a puppy farm
• Do not buy from a pet shop
• Do not buy over the Internet
• Insist on seeing the puppy with its brood mother
• Better still, ADOPT, from an animal rescue

And if you still want a particular breed of dog then your local rescue, particularly Dogs Trust, will be able to put you in touch with a Breed Specific Rescue.

Do your bit to help close the scourge of puppy farms for good.

Semprini Serenades

A little bit of nostalgia for the more senior of my readers. "Old ones, new ones, loved ones, neglected ones" - Alberto Semprini's opening lines to his weekday evening programme, which ran from 1957 to 1982 on the BBC Light programme. My dad loved the music that Semprini played and as a family we listened intently to this wonderful programme on the 'wireless'. This expert concert pianist who graduated from the Verdi Conservatory in Milan in 1928, who played light classics and themes from films and shows that we came to love. "Warsaw Concerto", "Cornish Rhapsody", "The Dream of Olwen" composed by Charles Williams and so many more. But it was Semprini who introduced me to the music of Rachmaninov. In 1957 I was just 12 years of age. In 1957 Semprini played the 2nd Piano Concerto for the first time and in 1957 I fell in love with the music of Rachmaninov. Is there any music more romantic or heartbreakingly beautiful?

As I write this I am listening to Krystian Zimerman playing the 2nd Concerto, accompanied by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa, a favourite conductor of mine. This is one of the best performances I have heard. If I conducted a poll amongst my readers for your favourite Rach Concerto, what would it be I wonder? Popular opinion would probably opt for the 2nd and its association with the 1945 David Lean film 'Brief Encounter' starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. It often tops the Classic FM's Hall of Fame. But for me there is nothing to compare with the 1st Concerto. The 2nd movement is the most beautiful piece of music I know. It moves me to tears every time I listen to it. And I have listened to it many, many times.

So, where am I going with this? I still remember those family evenings when we gathered around the 'wireless' and listened to Alberto Semprini. He brought to me the joy of classical pianoforté music that has stayed with me all my life. Whenever I listen to the music of Rachmaninov it reminds me of my mum and dad. I have Semprini to thank for that...

Alberto Fernanco Riccardo Semprini

Garden Birds - Changing diseases

With increasing numbers of bird species visiting gardens it is possible that there might be negative implications for disease transmission. Species that would not normally meet in close proximity are now mixing at garden feeding stations, offering opportunities for diseases to diversify. For example, it is likely that the sudden appearance of finch trichomonosis in 2005 resulted from the mixing of finch and pigeon species. The increase in numbers of birds congregating in gardens might also provide opportunities for diseases to spread more rapidly. The new strain of avian pox virus causing severe skin lesions in Great Tits can be spread via biting insects or through direct and indirect contact that could occur at garden feeding stations.

Washing garden feeding equipment regularly with disinfectant or dilute bleach solution is essential to help prevent the spread of diseases. Some are spread by direct contact between birds and others can be transmitted from bird to surface to bird. I use a feeder hygiene brush produced by ChapelWood. It is ideal for removing stubborn stains on wild bird products, has an extra long handle and extra strong bristles and well worth the £2.99 cost.

The ubiquitous Woodpigeon

Peter May on Entry Island

Have you read The Lewis Trilogy by Peter May? One of the best crime series it has been my pleasure to enjoy over the past five years. Peter May's new book 'Entry Island' will be published at the end of the month and I have pre-ordered my copy.

Here is Peter talking about it.

Seabird Death Chemical to be banned

Wildlife charities have welcomed the International Maritime Organisation's swift action to ban ships across the world from discharging all forms of high-viscosity polyisobutylene (PIB) into the sea during tank cleaning operations. PIB was the chemical responsible for the deaths of over 4,000 seabirds on the coast of southwest England earlier this year, the largest marine pollution incident of its kind in the region.

Alec Taylor, Marine Policy Officer for the RSPB, said: "We are delighted with the action taken by the IMO. The global trade in PIB products is increasing and with it the risks to our precious marine environment. The global ban on the deliberate discharge of high-viscosity PIBs into our seas is a real step forward and one that we hope will end this particular pollution threat to seabirds and other marine life".

Between February and April this year over 4,000 seabirds of at least 18 species, mainly Common Guillemots, Uria aalge, were washed up on beaches from Cornwall to Dorset in two separate incidents. The majority were dead but some were alive and taken for treatment by the RSPCA at their West Hatch Centre in Somerset. The subsequent Maritime and Coastguard Agency investigation revealed that the birds had been smothered with high-viscosity PIB. The same substance was also responsible for the deaths of hundreds of seabirds off the Dutch coast in March 2010.

Peter Burgess, Devon Wildlife Trust's Conservation Advocacy Manager, said: "This is an important decision for wildlife. It's pleasing to see how quickly the IMO has acted and heartening to hear that local people's concerns have helped build momentum towards achieving this. However, we do see the PIB incidents of 2013 as a wake-up call. Dead and dying seabirds washed up on some of the southwest's most popular beaches were hard to ignore. But how many unseen and unreported activities are damaging our precious marine wildlife in undersea habitats that are almost completely unprotected by law?"

Nevertheless, this is a significant development in helping to prevent the reoccurrence of such environmental disasters.

Late Autumn Garden Birds

Sunrise was at 7:42am today. It will set again at 3:57pm. A daytime of little more than 8 hours. The temperature hovers around 8℃ with a humidity level of 81% and a gentle Northeasterly of 6mph. Not much of a day to be out and about. The garden birds however are very active. Their need for food increases exponentially during these cold, short days.

The local Robin becomes more aggressive, chasing every Dunnock in sight. He is a feisty little so-and-so, determined to keep other birds out of 'his' garden. The Goldfinches devour feeders full of sunflower seeds and drink copiously. Water is just as important for survival. The Starlings are back in force and love the fruit suet pellets. Their antics as they hang onto the feeder is amusing to watch. Last week a small flock of Long-tailed Tits dropped into the lilac tree. These gorgeous humbugs are a joy to see, although an all too infrequent occurrence in my garden.

Over the weekend I dug over some ground at the bottom of the garden which resulted in a considerable number of earthworms coming to the surface. The Blackbirds thought that Christmas had come early.

The bird-table attracts the larger birds including Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Jackdaws and Feral Pigeons resplendent in iridescent plumage colours. Blue-tits make foraging visits to feeders and the bird-table.

They all brighten up a dull, late Autumn day.

Starling

Jackdaw

Goldfinches