If you’ve ever stood in the reeds of Chat Moss, the wet sheep-pastures of the Ribble estuary, the peat-bogs of Bowland or the rushy fields around Martin Mere on a still April evening, you might have heard a weird, somewhat spooky, sound that you couldn’t quite put your finger on; a bleating, almost goat-like humming that seemed to come from the sky itself, and you may have wondered what made it.
Tag Archives: #Birds
The Spindle Tree
The spindle tree, Euonymus europaeus, is an attractive-looking deciduous shrub, or small tree, that graces hedgerows, woods and wasteland throughout the British isles.
Buntings in Bowland
Snow Buntings are true Arctic specialists, thriving in barren, open habitats with sparse vegetation. They breed in high-latitude tundras but undertake impressively long migrations southward during winter to avoid the perpetual darkness and sub-zero temperatures.
The Effects of Fireworks on Migrating Birds
Fireworks, while a staple of celebrations around the world, from New Year’s Eve to national holidays like Diwali and Bonfire Night, are increasingly coming under scrutiny for their enormous environmental impacts.
Beyond the visual spectacle and auditory booms that we enjoy, these pyrotechnic displays release noise, light, and chemical pollutants that can profoundly affect wildlife.
Among the most vulnerable are migrating bird species, which rely on precise navigation, energy conservation, and undisturbed rest during their arduous journeys.
The Common Redshank
Regarding the Redshank, Tringa totanus, its Ecology, Conservation and Occurrence on the Coasts of Northwest England
The Knots of Morecambe Bay
The vast tidal estuary of Morecambe Bay is one of the most significant sites for birdlife in the British Isles, supporting over 240,000 birds annually. Among its most iconic avian visitors is the Knot, Calidris canutus, a small, stocky wading bird known for its remarkable migrations and mesmerising flock displays. A holarctic species, breeding inContinue reading “The Knots of Morecambe Bay”
A Troubling Trend; Fly-Camping in Britain’s National Parks
All across the United Kingdom, from Dartmoor to the Dark Peak, a troubling trend is emerging; the destructive, disruptive and disrespectful activity known as fly-camping. Often confused with the responsible pastime of ‘wild-camping’, fly-camping refers to unauthorised, irresponsible overnight stays where groups pitch large tents by roadsides or in beauty spots, bringing in items suchContinue reading “A Troubling Trend; Fly-Camping in Britain’s National Parks”
The Ecological Importance of Urban Gardens
Introduction Our street is much like any other in the UK, it’s in the middle of a largish housing estate, built in the 70’s and situated between boxy brick council houses built in the 50’s and a grey, rabbit-warren like concrete council estate built in the 80’s, known locally as ‘Lego-land’. Along our street sitsContinue reading “The Ecological Importance of Urban Gardens”
Northwest Nature and History 