El Annie
Phew..............
Choughs hatch chicks for second year running
The first wild choughs to breed in England for 50 years have hatched more chicks. The chough, which is the emblem of Cornwall, had not bred in the county for five decades until last summer when three chicks were born. The RSPB today confirmed that England's only pair of wild breeding choughs have successfully nested again at a remote spot on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. RSPB spokesman Peter Exley said it was hoped the birds would start a new colony in the county. "We are pretty sure there are three or possibly four more chicks hatched this year. For them to nest twice in two years is a huge success," he said. The birds have been under round-the-clock watch since last month to prevent egg hunters raiding their nesting site.
More information - Ananova
Rescued hedgehogs seem to be thriving
The Uist Hedgehog Rescue group claimed yesterday that most of the first batch of animals to be relocated on the Scottish mainland from Uist and Benbecula four weeks ago had survived and appeared to be thriving. Rescuers have captured 110 hedgehogs on South Uist and Benbecula, 78 of which have been moved to the mainland by ferry. All have gone initially to Hessilhead Animal Rescue Centre near Beith, Ayrshire, and 32 from the original batch were distributed to gardens of sympathisers in and around Glasgow and down to Kirkcudbright.
More information - Herald
Badger baiting evidence part of a string of cases
New evidence of badger baiting in Midlothian was revealed this week by staff at Scottish Natural Heritage, the latest in a series of cases in Scotland during the past year. The sett, located between Gorebridge and Bonnyrigg, showed clear signs of having been dug out, an indication that baiters were attempting to trap a live animal to be transported elsewhere for the illegal and cruel sport. Badger baiting in Scotland is thought to draw crowds of up to 40 people, who gather to watch on while a badger is attacked by terriers. The badger is often shot or beaten with a spade to prolong the fight and the dogs themselves also sustain horrific injuries.
More information - Scottish Natural Heritage
Land deal for rare butterflies
Two of Wales' rarest butterflies have been the motive behind a groundbreaking land agreement. Allt Dolanog, near Lake Vyrnwy in the north of Powys, is the only site in Wales which is home to the threatened high-brown fritillary and pearl-bordered fritillary species. A land agreement has ensured the 100-acre site is the first in the UK to safeguard a species and habitat outside a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The agreement between groups who use the common at Allt Dolanog will ensure the future of the butterflies, which have seen a 90% decline in numbers during the last 50 years.
More information - BBC
Mighty moth scares off the predators
The Emperor moth is one of our heftiest moths and is a fast and powerful daytime flier. Emperors have magnificent, almost owl-like eye spots, that startle and intimidate potential predators, which include small birds like meadow pipits. Our smallest falcon, the Merlin, which itself preys on meadow pipits, is fast enough to catch Emperor moths on the wing. They also catch other large moorland moths like Northern Eggar and Fox moth. All these moths provide good feeding as, never feeding as adults, they carry rich fat reserves.
More information - Strathspey and Badenoch Herald
Algal blooms spotted off Cornish coast
Seasonal algal blooms have been identified along stretches of the North Cornwall coast, the Environment Agency confirmed today. Algae has been seen off the coast between Newquay and Port Isaac. Water samples taken by Environment Agency staff confirm that it is the most common type of marine algae: Phaeocystis - often known as ‘May Bloom’. Despite its name this algal bloom doesn’t often start to form until later in the summer, usually in June or July.
More information - Environment Agency
Reserve in danger after dump mistake
Flintshire County Council has been forced to take emergency action to clear a nature reserve after its contractors mistook it for a rubbish dump. Rare birds, amphibians and badgers were at risk after building rubble from the new playground at King George Street, Shotton, ended up dumped on Taliesin Nature Reserve. This move angered residents who approached environmental campaigners and Shotton councillors Elwyn Jones and Bill Barton for help. 'This has upset a lot of people,' said Cllr Jones. 'The Taliesin Nature Reserve was a landfill at one stage but it has taken 30 years of work to get it to the stage it is at now."
More information - ic NorthWales
Wildlife Trust calls for helpers
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers to help over the busy summer months. The trust needs helpers at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre on Brandon Lane, just outside Coventry, to welcome guests to its visitor centre. Chief executive Andy Tasker said: "We are looking for volunteers to make a pledge to help the trust's work. Instead of our usual outdoor conservation volunteers, this time we want people to help indoors at our visitor centre."
More information - ic Coventry
River 'threatened by off-roaders'
Drivers of four-wheel drive vehicles are damaging the site of a Roman settlement in the River Avon, heritage campaigners say. Some visitors to Easton Grey, near Malmesbury, swerve off paths and drive through the river for fun. But they are driving over an ancient site, where almost 2,000 years ago traders with pack horses and messengers on business would stop to rest. English Heritage said the drivers were breaking the law, making deep ruts, and could destroy rare remains likely to be under the river banks.
More information - BBC
Visit the website at - http://www.habitat.org.uk/news1.htm
The first wild choughs to breed in England for 50 years have hatched more chicks. The chough, which is the emblem of Cornwall, had not bred in the county for five decades until last summer when three chicks were born. The RSPB today confirmed that England's only pair of wild breeding choughs have successfully nested again at a remote spot on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. RSPB spokesman Peter Exley said it was hoped the birds would start a new colony in the county. "We are pretty sure there are three or possibly four more chicks hatched this year. For them to nest twice in two years is a huge success," he said. The birds have been under round-the-clock watch since last month to prevent egg hunters raiding their nesting site.
More information - Ananova
Rescued hedgehogs seem to be thriving
The Uist Hedgehog Rescue group claimed yesterday that most of the first batch of animals to be relocated on the Scottish mainland from Uist and Benbecula four weeks ago had survived and appeared to be thriving. Rescuers have captured 110 hedgehogs on South Uist and Benbecula, 78 of which have been moved to the mainland by ferry. All have gone initially to Hessilhead Animal Rescue Centre near Beith, Ayrshire, and 32 from the original batch were distributed to gardens of sympathisers in and around Glasgow and down to Kirkcudbright.
More information - Herald
Badger baiting evidence part of a string of cases
New evidence of badger baiting in Midlothian was revealed this week by staff at Scottish Natural Heritage, the latest in a series of cases in Scotland during the past year. The sett, located between Gorebridge and Bonnyrigg, showed clear signs of having been dug out, an indication that baiters were attempting to trap a live animal to be transported elsewhere for the illegal and cruel sport. Badger baiting in Scotland is thought to draw crowds of up to 40 people, who gather to watch on while a badger is attacked by terriers. The badger is often shot or beaten with a spade to prolong the fight and the dogs themselves also sustain horrific injuries.
More information - Scottish Natural Heritage
Land deal for rare butterflies
Two of Wales' rarest butterflies have been the motive behind a groundbreaking land agreement. Allt Dolanog, near Lake Vyrnwy in the north of Powys, is the only site in Wales which is home to the threatened high-brown fritillary and pearl-bordered fritillary species. A land agreement has ensured the 100-acre site is the first in the UK to safeguard a species and habitat outside a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The agreement between groups who use the common at Allt Dolanog will ensure the future of the butterflies, which have seen a 90% decline in numbers during the last 50 years.
More information - BBC
Mighty moth scares off the predators
The Emperor moth is one of our heftiest moths and is a fast and powerful daytime flier. Emperors have magnificent, almost owl-like eye spots, that startle and intimidate potential predators, which include small birds like meadow pipits. Our smallest falcon, the Merlin, which itself preys on meadow pipits, is fast enough to catch Emperor moths on the wing. They also catch other large moorland moths like Northern Eggar and Fox moth. All these moths provide good feeding as, never feeding as adults, they carry rich fat reserves.
More information - Strathspey and Badenoch Herald
Algal blooms spotted off Cornish coast
Seasonal algal blooms have been identified along stretches of the North Cornwall coast, the Environment Agency confirmed today. Algae has been seen off the coast between Newquay and Port Isaac. Water samples taken by Environment Agency staff confirm that it is the most common type of marine algae: Phaeocystis - often known as ‘May Bloom’. Despite its name this algal bloom doesn’t often start to form until later in the summer, usually in June or July.
More information - Environment Agency
Reserve in danger after dump mistake
Flintshire County Council has been forced to take emergency action to clear a nature reserve after its contractors mistook it for a rubbish dump. Rare birds, amphibians and badgers were at risk after building rubble from the new playground at King George Street, Shotton, ended up dumped on Taliesin Nature Reserve. This move angered residents who approached environmental campaigners and Shotton councillors Elwyn Jones and Bill Barton for help. 'This has upset a lot of people,' said Cllr Jones. 'The Taliesin Nature Reserve was a landfill at one stage but it has taken 30 years of work to get it to the stage it is at now."
More information - ic NorthWales
Wildlife Trust calls for helpers
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers to help over the busy summer months. The trust needs helpers at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre on Brandon Lane, just outside Coventry, to welcome guests to its visitor centre. Chief executive Andy Tasker said: "We are looking for volunteers to make a pledge to help the trust's work. Instead of our usual outdoor conservation volunteers, this time we want people to help indoors at our visitor centre."
More information - ic Coventry
River 'threatened by off-roaders'
Drivers of four-wheel drive vehicles are damaging the site of a Roman settlement in the River Avon, heritage campaigners say. Some visitors to Easton Grey, near Malmesbury, swerve off paths and drive through the river for fun. But they are driving over an ancient site, where almost 2,000 years ago traders with pack horses and messengers on business would stop to rest. English Heritage said the drivers were breaking the law, making deep ruts, and could destroy rare remains likely to be under the river banks.
More information - BBC
Visit the website at - http://www.habitat.org.uk/news1.htm
