I peered out of the back door and a warm breeze and the dome of a clear blue sky made me smile...today was the Newcastle RSPB Group coach trip out to one of my favourite RSPB reserves- Saltholme. Feeling pretty enthused, I went upstairs pulled on my shorts and slammed the draw shut on my waterproofs and thermal g-string! I won't be needing those I thought.

En route we stopped off at Hartlepool to see what was on the headland, the sun was still shining and it was a joy to see ructions...

It is typical, the local council tried to sneak through planning approval for 600 (luxury) new houses on a very significant green belt area of Gosforth in Newcastle. In the course of the protests local activists have been told that petitions are not allowed! It is slap bang in the centre of the last urban population of red squirrals in Britain (or the world?). It will put even more pressure on this fragile colony and will seriously threaten colonies of rare noctrule bats along with other species...

"It's bird watching Jim, but not as we know it"

Actually the mission for the day had a more blubbery smack to it, as it was seals that were on the agenda - Grey Seals to be precise. I am more inclined to watch birds than mammals but it seemed a golden opportunity to get close and personal with some of the UK's largest mammals, whilst under the informed tutalage of a couple of Island Wardens.

As a rather dense and very inexperienced bird watcher, my ignorance...

Field Trip Holy Island October 17th 2011

Perhaps I am biased but surely we have some of the finest birding territory in England but also some of the most abysmal weather.

It is always observed that the British are obsessed with the weather, but the bird watchers of Britain are all surely secretly practised in the art of the sun dance or earnest prayers… anything to stop the wind blowing the birds into the heavens or into thickets of the densest gorse. Anyway whatever...

Last night's offerings from the turn of the century are a lovely reminder of a golden age of bird illustration... and perhaps now we can see the pictures in a new light, with new eyes, as we no longer need an illustration to aid us when ID-ing eggs stolen from nests.

Tonights illustrations are taken from a wonderful tome acquired at a jumle sale. Birds of Australian Gardens by Peter Trusler (Text by Tess Kloot). - the book is so large and heavy it would not be amiss as a murder weapon...