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...

The squirrels were getting out of hand wrecking feeders so action was needed

I bought a free standing feeding station and fitted a baffle which up to now works a treat. As well as stopping the squirrels it's attracted some new birds to the garden ie. a couple of collared doves which are hilarious to watch and a nuthatch as well as bringing the woodpecker back so I'm really pleased with the purchase....

"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...

I have been intending to get to Leighton Moss over the last week or so but a mixture of work and night duty-induced knackerdness has been getting in the way.

I was determined to go today, so set my alarm for 5am and struggled out of my pit at ten to six! I got a shift on and thanks to a reliable local taxi company, made it to the station on time and woke up on the train en route.

I arrived at 8am and ambled about the feeder stations to see what was about and decide my...