Monday 28 February 2022

IPCC issues “bleakest warning yet” on impacts of climate breakdown

Climate breakdown is accelerating rapidly, many of the impacts will be more severe than predicted and there is only a narrow chance left of avoiding its worst ravages, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said in its latest report.


Even at current levels, human actions in heating the climate are causing dangerous and widespread disruption, threatening devastation to swathes of the natural world and rendering many areas unliveable.


The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet” said Hans-Otto PΓΆrtner, a co-chair of working group 2 of the IPCC. “Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future.


The report says:

Everywhere is affected, with no inhabited region escaping dire impacts from rising temperatures and increasingly extreme weather

About half the global population – between 3.3 billion and 3.6 billion people – live in areas “highly vulnerable” to climate change

Millions of people face food and water shortages owing to climate change, even at current levels of heating

Mass die-offs of species, from trees to corals, are already under way

1.5C above pre-industrial levels constitutes a “critical level” beyond which the impacts of the climate crisis accelerate strongly and some become irreversible

Coastal areas around the globe, and small, low-lying islands, face inundation at temperature rises of more than 1.5C

Key ecosystems are losing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, turning them from carbon sinks to carbon sources.

Some countries have agreed to conserve 30% of the Earth’s land, but conserving 50% may be necessary to restore the ability of natural ecosystems to cope with the damage wreaked on them

This is the second part of the IPCC’s latest assessment report, an updated and comprehensive review of global knowledge of the climate, which has been 7 years in the making and draws on the peer-reviewed work of thousands of scientists. The assessment report is the 6th since the IPCC was first convened by the UN in 1988 and it may be the last to be published while there is still some chance of avoiding the worst.


A first instalment, by the IPCC’s working group 1, published in August 2021, on the physical science of climate change, said the climate crisis was “unequivocally” caused by human actions, resulting in changes that were “unprecedented”, with some becoming “irreversible”.


This second part, by working group 2, deals with the impacts of climate breakdown, sets out areas where the world is most vulnerable and details how we can try to adapt and protect against some of the impacts.


A third section, due in April 2022, will cover ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the final part, in October 2022, will summarise these lessons for governments meeting in Egypt for the UN COP27 climate conference in November 2022.


Let us hope that the world finally listens and takes the immediate and radical action necessary to save the planet, humanity and biodiversity.


πŸ’šπŸ¦† πŸ¦‰πŸ¦‹πŸπŸ¦ŠπŸ¦‘🌼 πŸŒ³πŸ’š
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Saturday 26 February 2022

Visit to Gloucester Park – 26th February 2022

Date: 26th February 2022

Time: from 8:45 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 2°C to 8°C

The main purpose of my visit this morning was to hopefully see and photograph a Kingfisher rather than an extended walk around the site as I usually do.

I have seen Kingfishers on several occasions at Gloucester Park but by no means on a regular basis.

On my last visit on 21st January 2022, I saw a Kingfisher flying up and down the main lake and also perched in the lake-side bushes. The quality of my photos from that visit, as per below, left a little to be desired so “must try harder” was definitely the objective πŸ˜€




























Did I see a Kingfisher and photograph itThe short answer is “no” and “no” in respect of both!

I remained at a single location overlooking the area of the main lake where I had last seen a Kingfisher but my lengthy wait proved to be unsuccessful.

However, it did enable me to add my first Common Buzzard record for the site bringing the total number of bird species to 49.

In addition, I added Starling and Jay to my 2022 list for the site bringing the total to date to 31.

My first sighting of a Common Buzzard was of a single bird flying through in a north westerly direction. In fact, if I had remained at home and had been looking out of the window of my flat, I would probably have seen it pass over.

Later on during my unsuccessful Kingfisher vigil, I was alerted to some extremely noisy calling Herring Gulls and, looking up, it became apparent that they were mobbing another Common Buzzard. This bird was quickly joined by a second and the male and female, judging by the difference in size, engaged in some interactive display. Remarkably, whilst watching these 2 birds, yet another Common Buzzard came into view. After several minutes, all 3 birds eventually drifted off out of sight.

Here are some heavily cropped record photos of the Common Buzzards plus a few non-cropped photos of the interaction between the 2 birds ....








































Here are some other photos taken from my Kingfisher watchpoint .... 
















Photo: Moorhen
















Photo: Moorhens















Photo: Moorhens
















Photo: Cormorant
















Photo: Cormorant
















Photo: Black-headed Gull















Photo: Black-headed Gull
















Photo: Black-headed Gull















Photo: Black-headed Gull
















Photo: Black-headed Gull















Photo: Collared Dove
















Photo: Collared Dove















Photo: Collared Dove

Site totals to date (2022 totals in brackets):

Birds = 49  (31)
Mammals = 2  (1)
Butterflies = 1  (0)
Dragonflies and damselflies = 0  (0)
Reptiles = 0  (0)
Amphibians = 0  (0)

πŸ’šπŸ¦† πŸ¦‰πŸ¦‹πŸπŸ¦ŠπŸ¦‘🌼 πŸŒ³πŸ’š
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Friday 25 February 2022

Trip away from SS15 - EWT Blue House Farm, North Fambridge, Essex - 25th February 2022

Today I had a visit to EWT Blue House Farm, a 242.8 hectare nature reserve and farm in North Fambridge on the north bank of the River Crouch between Burnham-on-Crouch and South Woodham Ferrers in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.

Most of Blue House Farm was originally saltmarsh until sea walls were constructed to capture land from the sea. It was then used as grazing pasture for cows and sheep and this practice continues today. Some of the higher, drier fields were used for crops but have now reverted to grassland. The site includes marshland, ponds, creeks and ditches, reedbeds and a 20 hectare field is flooded during the winter to provide feeding grounds for large numbers of wildfowl and wading birds

 

Its wildlife is internationally important, particularly over-wintering birds (most notably around 2000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese) but also breeding Skylarks, Meadow PipitsYellow Wagtails and Avocets and passage waders plus Water Voles, Brown Hares, butterflies, insects and coastal plants.

 

It is a working farm, managed by maintaining high water levels and balancing livestock farming with wildlife conservation.


Access is only available via a permissive footpath through the farm, which has 3 bird hides along it, or along the sea wall.


Having arrived at North Fambridge railway station, I walked for about a mile down to the historic Ferry Boat Inn which was established in the 16th century.

 

After an excellent home-made steak and kidney pie and 2 pints of one of my favourite real ales, Woodforde Wherry, I took the footpath from the rear of the pub towards Blue House Farm and the entrance to the reserve.


One of the first birds that I spotted was a large bird of prey soaring overhead which turned out to be not the expected Marsh Harrier but a Red Kite.


I quickly found the flock of c.2000 grazing Dark-bellied Brent Geese but unfortunately, due to looking straight in to the very bright sun, it was impossible to locate the regularly reported Red-breasted Goose. However, I was not particularly disappointed since I had previously had excellent views of this rare wintering goose when it had been present at South Woodham Ferrers for a few days in January …. see here.

 

I did not complete the lengthy circular route around EWT Blue House Farm but instead walked out to the first hide when I remained for around 2 hours. Surprisingly, the large wetland area in front of the hide was largely dry with only isolated patches of open water.

 

Nonetheless, I did manage to record a large variety of bird species including 2 additions to my 2022 year list: Green Sandpiper (2) and Reed Bunting (1 male). I also saw a distant Red Fox.

 

Birds of prey (in addition to Red Kite): Marsh Harrier (3), Common Buzzard (2), Sparrowhawk (3), Kestrel (2)

 

Geese (in addition to Dark-bellied Brent Goose): Canada Goose (c.100), Greylag Goose (1)

 

Ducks: Teal (22), Mallard (2), Shelduck (12)

 

Waders (in addition to Green Sandpiper): Common Snipe (4), Ruff (1), Lapwing (c.200), Black-tailed Godwit (possible c.10 seen very briefly and distantly)

 

Other water birds: Little Egret (1), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1), Mute Swan (2), Coot (6)

 

Other notable records: Linnet (c.50), Skylark (7), Meadow Pipit (2), Fieldfare (5), Pied Wagtail (c.20), Starling (c.200), Stock Dove (25), Pheasant (1)

 

Unfortunately, I failed to see either Barn Owl or Hen Harrier as the afternoon progressed.


πŸ’šπŸ¦† πŸ¦‰πŸ¦‹πŸπŸ¦ŠπŸ¦‘🌼 πŸŒ³πŸ’š
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Wednesday 23 February 2022

Visit to St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas – 23rd February 2022

Date: 23rd February 2022

Time: from 8:30 a.m.

Weather: dry, sunny, moderate wind, 4°C to 8°C

I had an excellent visit this morning which proved to be the best of the year to date with 20 species of birds recorded, including a new record for the site and 5 additions to my 2022 list for the site, plus 2 mammal species.

My last visit on 9th February 2022 provided some early signs of spring including the emergence of Snowdrops and Daffodils in St. Nicholas Church cemetery and increased bird song.

That theme continued this morning with the first emergence of white Blackthorn blossom visible plus the songs of Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blue Tits and Great Tits heard across the site. However, unlike my previous visits this year, there were no Song Thrushes singing. 
















The most notable sighting during my visit was 4 Linnets flying over the field in the north of the site. This was my first record for the site bringing the total number of bird species to 56.

In addition, I added a further 5 species to my 2022 list for the site bringing the total to date to 27: Sparrowhawk (a single bird seen flying high over the south west corner of the site), Jackdaw (5 seen flying over the field in the north of the site), Greenfinch (a male seen in the top of the oak tree bordering the field in the north of the site) and Goldfinch (several heard calling at several locations but none seen).

Woodpeckers were conspicuous around the site including 3 Green Woodpeckers (1 heard calling near the church, 1 heard calling in the eastern section of the cemetery and 1 seen flying across the field in the north of the site) and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (1 heard calling from the track from Larkins Tyres and 1 seen flying across the field in the north of the site).

During my visit, I had an excellent view of a single Red Fox. When I arrived on site via the track from Larkins Tyres, I spent around 30 minutes at my usual watchpoint overlooking the rough grass field bordered by scrub, hedges and trees. Within 10 minutes of arriving, a Red Fox appeared from the left.

It stopped to have a scratch ….


















…. and then a yawn ….
















.... and another scratch ....















.... and then another yawn ....



…. before walking towards the scrub to the left of the large oak tree ….



…. when it sat down and tried to stare me out ….  

.... before being distracted by something far more interesting ....
















In addition to the Red Fox, I saw 2 Grey Squirrels, both of which were foraging on the ground along the track from Larkins Tyres.

Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):

Blue Tit
Great Tit
Robin
Dunnock
Wren
Blackbird
Linnet
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Sparrowhawk
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Woodpigeon
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull

Red Fox
Grey Squirrel

Here are some other photos from my visit: 




























Photo: Robin




























Photo: Robin




























Photo: male Blackbird




























Photo: Carrion Crow





























Photo: Carrion Crow



























Photo: Magpies




























Photo: Magpie




























Photo: Herring Gull
































Site totals to date (2022 totals in brackets):
Birds = 56  (27)
Mammals = 6  (3)
Butterflies = 21  (0)
Dragonflies and damselflies = 7  (0)
Reptiles = 1  (0)
Amphibians = 0  (0)

πŸ’šπŸ¦† πŸ¦‰πŸ¦‹πŸπŸ¦ŠπŸ¦‘🌼 πŸŒ³πŸ’š
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature