European Beavers at Wild Ken Hill

On 17th September 2022, I spent the entire day at the eagerly anticipated inaugural Gathering at Wild Ken Hill in north west Norfolk.

Wild Ken Hill is adjacent to Snettisham Coastal Park which I visited on 15th June 2022 …. see SS15 wildlife watching: Trip away from SS15 – Norfolk. Immediately to the south lies RSPB Snettisham.

It is also close to that well-known hotspot of wildlife crime, namely the royal estate of Sandringham …. see SS15 wildlife watching: “Serious wildlife incidents” revealed at Queen’s Sandringham estate .... what a surprise (not!)

Wild Ken Hill itself is an immensely inspiring project combining rewilding, traditional wildlife conservation, profitable regenerative agriculture and eco-tourism …. see here.

Like many other sites in the country now, Wild Ken Hill has European Beavers, albeit still in a fenced enclosure and awaiting regulatory approval to re-introduce them to the wild.

Unbelievably, given their huge benefits as eco-system engineers, there are still certain groups in the UK that are resistant to the re-introduction of European Beavers to the UK although the campaign to allow wild re-introductions is becoming ever stronger and even the Westminster Government is inching forward to a position consistent with that long held by the more progressive Scottish Government ….

SS15 wildlife watching: New legal protections edge England closer towards wild Beaver return

Here is a short film of the European Beavers at Wild Ken Hill ....

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Eurasian Lynx

Unbelievably, given their huge benefits as eco-system engineers, there are still certain groups in the UK that are resistant to the re-introduction of European Beavers to the UK although the campaign to allow wild re-introductions is becoming ever stronger and even the Westminster Government is inching forward to a position consistent with that long held by the more progressive Scottish Government ….

SS15 wildlife watching: New legal protections edge England closer towards wild Beaver return

Unfortunately, I can’t see the re-introduction of Eurasian Lynx to the UK any time soon, let alone Eurasian Brown Bear and Eurasian Wolf, as much as the UK needs its apex predators back following their extermination by us centuries ago.

The re-introduction of Eurasian Brown Bear and Eurasian Wolf will be particularly challenging, if not impossible, to achieve.

However, the re-introduction of the Eurasian Lynx could be implemented relatively easily with appropriate planning and consultation and could bring enormous benefits.

Here are a couple of short films on this magnificent and beautiful cat ....

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Response from the BBC to my complaint

On 16th September 2022, I submitted my first ever complaint to the BBC regarding the totally excessive and biased coverage of the monarchy and the royal family following the queen’s death.

SS15 wildlife watching: I have had enough of this …. I am going to complain

I have now received an e-mail response from the BBC which is quite frankly unacceptable and which continues to peddle factual inaccuracies. 

This is no great surprise.

The BBC said ....

Thanks for contacting us and for sharing your concerns about our recent news coverage.

The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is an event of national and international significance which has been reflected in our output. Our coverage has reflected the strength of feeling this has generated from across the country and around the world; we have featured tributes from world leaders, politicians from across the political spectrum and members of the public.

It is important that our reporting includes a range of perspectives, so we have also heard from those who do not believe in the institution of monarchy, their reasons for this, and their views on the accession of the King Charles. We have offered detailed analysis on what this transition means for the future of the monarchy.

We believe our reporting has been fair and duly impartial, reflecting the impact Queen Elizabeth II has had on public life and the historic nature of the end of the reign of the longest serving monarch in British history. However, we appreciate you may continue to be unhappy and have shared your views with senior editors at BBC News.

Many thanks, again, for taking the time to get in touch.

The foot of the e-mail said .... Please note: this email is sent from an unmonitored address so please don’t reply. .... so I don't even get a right of reply.

Utterly appalling journalism in a so-called democracy where the expression of an alternative view is actively supressed.

So ....  SS15 wildlife watching: I have joined Republic

Slava Ukraini! …. Glory to Ukraine!

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Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Landowners to urge Environment Secretary to stick with rewilding pledges

This was a common theme for discussion at a number of events at The Gathering at Wild Ken Hill which I attended on 17th September 2022.

There is genuine concern amongst numerous organisations and campaigning groups that the new Government intends to roll back nature recovery schemes put in place by the previous administration in which landowners and farmers are paid for improving nature.

Helena Horton, the author of this report in The Guardian was also present at The Gathering .... The Guardian - Landowners to urge Environment Secretary to stick with rewilding pledges

We must not backpedal on vital schemes to support nature recovery, carbon sequestration and tackling climate change.

We all stand to benefit from rewilding in a myriad of ways. Let's grasp this opportunity with both hands!#rewilding #naturerecovery https://t.co/N9JoQOygRB

— Knepp Wilding (@KneppWilding) September 20, 2022

Slava Ukraini! …. Glory to Ukraine!

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Pine Marten spotted in London for first time in more than a century

I recently watched an excellent webinar hosted by the Devon Wildlife Trust in respect of the exciting proposal to reintroduce Pine Martens to Devon.

This followed my post on this very subject earlier in the summer .... SS15 wildlife watching: Bringing back Pine Martens

Now comes the frankly incredible news of a Pine Marten being recorded in London for the first time in more than a century .... The Guardian - Pine Marten spotted in London for first time in more than a century

However, I think it is still going to be some time before Pine Marten can be safely added to the mammal lists for both my local patches!

For the foreseeable future, further trips to the Scottish Highlands will be required to see this wonderful mammal.

Slava Ukraini! …. Glory to Ukraine!

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Record from my flat - Common Buzzard

Following yesterday's sighting, I had yet another record of a single Common Buzzard this morning at 11.10 a.m.

Again, I first heard the distinctive “mewing” call and I quickly located the bird flying high and slowly in a southerly direction over the wooded area beyond the houses. Presumably, it was the same bird that I then saw at 11.30 a.m. returning although it then soared briefly and again flew off in a southerly direction.

I had my first Common Buzzard record from my flat for the year (a single bird) on 7th March 2022.

This has been followed by further sightings on ....

March: 10th (2 birds), 14th (2 birds), 15th (3 birds), 18th (2 birds), 27th (a single bird)

April: 3rd (a single bird), 12th (a single bird), 16th (2 birds), 28th (2 birds)

June: 18th (2 birds), 19th (3 birds), 20th (a single bird)

July: 4th (a single bird), 9th (a single bird), 13th (2 birds), 22nd (a single bird), 26th (a single bird), 30th (a single bird)

August: 26th (a single bird)

September: 3rd (2 birds), 12th (2 birds), 21st (a single bird)

Total 2022 records to date …. 24 dates involving 36 birds.

During 2021, I saw Common Buzzard from my flat on 11 dates with those records involving 13 birds.

Slava Ukraini! …. Glory to Ukraine!

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

Record from my flat - Common Buzzard

I had another record of Common Buzzard from my flat this afternoon.

At 1.20 p.m., I heard the distinctive “mewing” call although it took some time to locate the bird soaring extremely high and almost out of eyesight to the north.

I had my first Common Buzzard record from my flat for the year (a single bird) on 7th March 2022.

This has been followed by further sightings on ....

March: 10th (2 birds), 14th (2 birds), 15th (3 birds), 18th (2 birds), 27th (a single bird)

April: 3rd (a single bird), 12th (a single bird), 16th (2 birds), 28th (2 birds)

June: 18th (2 birds), 19th (3 birds), 20th (a single bird)

July: 4th (a single bird), 9th (a single bird), 13th (2 birds), 22nd (a single bird), 26th (a single bird), 30th (a single bird)

August: 26th (a single bird)

September: 3rd (2 birds), 12th (2 birds)

Total 2022 records to date …. 23 dates involving 35 birds.

During 2021, I saw Common Buzzard from my flat on 11 dates with those records involving 13 birds.

Slava Ukraini! …. Glory to Ukraine!

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature

I have joined Republic

I have joined Republic since quite frankly I have had enough of what has occurred since the death of the queen.

I am pleased and proud to show solidarity with the steadily increasing 25% to 30% of the population who wish to abolish the archaic and anachronistic hereditary monarchy and replace it with a republic with a democratically elected head of state. 

I have been a Republican since I was at school and when I first studied the British Constitution and politics. It is now time to step up and show my support for the campaign.

If a self-entitled, over-privileged, mega-rich and unelected head of state with a grossly dysfunctional family who supposedly “rules” over us all thanks to an accident of birth is the "best of Britain", we really are lost as a nation.

I outlined my entirely logical and well-argued reasons for abolishing the monarchy during the jubilee …. SS15 wildlife watching: Stuff the jubilee!!!

During the last few weeks following the queen's death, I have written several posts due to my ever-increasing frustration and anger at what is occurring and how it is being reported ….

SS15 wildlife watching: Not my king!

SS15 wildlife watching: Have you heard the one about ....

SS15 wildlife watching: More thoughts on the last few days

SS15 wildlife watching: The entire UK will be closed on Monday 19th September

SS15 wildlife watching: I have had enough of this …. I am going to complain

SS15 wildlife watching: Democracy? What democracy?

SS15 wildlife watching: Waiting for the Thought Police

SS15 wildlife watching: Why did the Queen’s death receive saturation media coveragewhile the future of the Earth goes largely ignored?

SS15 wildlife watching: “The queue”

SS15 wildlife watching: The funeral

Republic quite rightly suspended campaigning in the period up to the queen’s funeral although they did legitimately report on the totally biased media coverage and the totally outrageous arrests of people daring to express an alternative point of view in our so-called democracy.

However, during this period, Republic have had a surge in interest, support and new memberships since the death of the queen. The accession and coronation of a new king, a purely political act, can not go unchallenged and will be met with vigorous campaigning and protests in the coming months.

Here are some articles that actually provide some balanced and factual reporting beyond the all too common media bias ....

The Guardian - Republican campaign groups claim surge in interest since death of Queen

The Guardian - British republicans hold back for Queen’s funeral but plan future protests

The Guardian - ‘I have felt this week I can’t say what I think’ – young republicans speak out

The Guardian - King Charles enjoys surge in support but backing for monarchy is at all-time low

The Guardian - Britain may look united in grief – but polling shows a growing generational divide

Slava Ukraini! …. Glory to Ukraine!

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature