Roy Kelly

Operation Turtle Dove’s view on the release of captive-bred Turtle Doves as a conservation measure - Operation Turtle Dove Operation Turtle Dove is a science-led conservation partnership working to reverse the decline of Turtle Doves in the UK by restoring habitat and addressing key threats. Learn why captive-bred release...

This has received no publicity but is damning. A clear explanation of why this type of reintroduction is not just a distraction and a waste of resources but is ACTIVELY HARMFUL to conservation. Environmental journalists please note and please publicise.

operationturtledove.org/captive-rele...

Still high water level at Durleigh reservoir, singles of GW Egret and Greenshank #somersetbirding

Flock of 37 Cattle Egrets around cattle ! On Curry Moor #somersetbirds

Wood Sandpiper this morning at Cheddar Reservoir.

A short notice detailing the tens of thousands of birds, birds' eggs and nest destroyed annually in farming villages around the country just over a century ago. Re-reading chunks of 'The House Sparrow' New Naturalist monograph last night -one still known to be operating in Kent in 1963 (Elham)

I do like going rogue and getting lost among the backstreets and alleyways in old towns:
What I found in Whitstable yesterday #2:

An in the window pop-up display on the sad history of 'Sparrow Clubs'. Still some when I was young, but had forgotten about them, had me reading up lots last night.

“Screaming “ flock of c40 Swifts over my Wellington garden , plus Red Kite just drifted N, and four different Woodpigeons carrying nesting material - all seem to be enjoying the fine weather !

Rare bird spotted in Somerset country park A photographer managed to snap a picture of rare bird described as a “scarce visitor” to Britain.

www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2523877... I presume this is “old news “ , even though it’s on the Somerset Gazette website today !

Dartford Warbler in the Sampford Point area, unfortunately just over the border in Devon , just my 2nd sighting here in 15 years #somersetbirding

Still no sign of any House Martins at traditional nesting sites in Wellington #somersetbirding

Cogden Beach, looking west. Fine shingle, liberally peppered with flowering Sea Kale. In the background: cliffs, sea, blue sky with fluffy clouds, sloping fields.

Perhaps oddly, birders sometimes talk of time in the field as being 'a slog' or 'hard work '...
Well, like most people I am familiar with hard work, and this - despite total lack of migrants - is not it. 😄
Cogden Beach.
#DorsetBirds

Counted 15 singing Sedge Warblers on Curry Moor today ,must be many more away from paths .

Curry Moor-5 Cattle Egrets inbreeding plumage - still very scarce here !, otherwise just a single Red Kite + usual sp. #somersetbirding

Homepage blog for @lundybirds.bsky.social updated with an account and photos of the dark-morph Booted Eagle that graced the island earlier this week, together with Golden Oriole & Woodchat Shrike, here: www.lundybirdobs.org.uk #UKBirding

Great to see this technology working, will be interesting to see what the battery life is and what further data is received.

Dunster beach - singles of Yellow and White Wagtail, 4 Wheatear, 1 Common Sand, singing Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler ,also two Jay flying west #somersetbirding

Adult Red kite circling over my Wellington garden #somersetbirding

First juvenile Woodpigeon of the year in garden , presumably means egg laid mid February .

Gratuitous video clip of the Wheatear from East Cliffs just now.
Think this is our second earliest ever Wheatear

The waterfront in Buenos Aires ,just a few minutes from hotel ,birds galore !- Limpkin, Rufescent Tiger Heron ,Southern Screamer,Rosy -billed Pochard,White-tufted Grebe ,various hawks and caracaras plus numerous orioles ,flycatchers and parrots

Durleigh reservoir-3 Goldeneye -2 M/1 F #somersetbirds

Eastern Stonechat...DNA results back from the Stonechat that was found at Trimley Marshes early Nov, confirmed it to be Siberian Stonechat rather than Amur Stonechat that we all led to be believed it to be! #UKBirding #SuffolkBiridng

2 Great Northern Divers fishing (successfully) this afternoon at Clatworthy reservoir. Arrived yesterday and seen by walkers, thanks to Roger Sedgbeer for passing it on. #somersetbirding

Tawny Owl - roadkill victim, Monkton Heathfield #somersetbirds

Curry Moor - nothing unusual amongst 84 Mutes,224 Canada Geese+ Pintail,Shoveler ,9 Shelduck , Green Sand and Chiffchaff by dung heap near closed floodgates

Two Peregrines at Tonedale sewage works,Wellington #Somersetbirding

A flock of c500 Fieldfares feeding on fallen apples at Rumwell Farm shop orchard, between Taunton and Wellington . This seems to contradict the numerous reports online, with regard to Fieldfares being scarce this winter . Only a handful of Redwing noted there #Somersetbirding

Curry Moor-extensive flooding again, 2 Green Sand, 70 Mutes and 200 Canada Geese by floodgates

Hawkridge reservoir- drake Goldeneye #Somersetbirding

Curry Moor-widespread shallow flooding- 1 Ruff + 30 Golden Plover , 3 Great White and 22 Cattle Egrets , no sign of Whooper among 110 Mutes +5000 BH Gulls+ Kingfisher #somersetbirding