Well, what a good day I've had. As well as enjoying a visit to the lovely Rainham Marshes reserve it was also hosting the annual Hen Harrier day event - and boy, didn't we get the weather? The official event greeter was at the door:
I really felt for her in what had to be a hot and uncomfortable costume. Looks adorable, though!
This is Peregrine EnChantica. They were singing a most appropriate song for the occasion.
There were lots of these and other banners and placards about.
Mark Avery obligingly pulls on an official T-shirt over his shirt in between signing copies of his book, Inglorious.
Whatever did Mike Clarke say to Chris Packham?
Mark Avery gets the event started. Up first is Charlie Moores of BAWC:
He doesn't like microphones.
All smiles as he gets it sorted! He was a nervous but sincere speaker who earned several spontaneous rounds of applause with the points he made.
The next speaker was Mike Clarke, who revealed he'd grown up in Kent and regularly seen hen harriers in the area in his youth. That's what I call lucky.
They saved the best for last. What a great speaker Chris Packham is - it was a world away from his Springwatch style as he spoke seriously about the plight of the hen harriers as well as the tactics of those individuals who clearly prefer the status quo. He even pointed out that it was pointless to try to upset him as, being autistic, he officially doesn't care what they think! I think that point got him the most applause.
This placard was regularly updated.
He shows off the increase with his 'I'm going to get this to 100,000 if it kills me' expression.
'Henry' gears up for action again. It was really hot by this point.
He actually stayed for quite some time - chatting to people and signing copies of his autobiography for anyone who asked. What a nice bloke.
The lovely Howard Vaughan of Rainham. Gotcha, Howard!
A good day was had by all and the numbers were well in excess of expectations. I'm looking forward to next year....let's all hope we've got more than 3 pairs of hen harriers breeding in England in a year's time.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Second new link of the evening! 96,034 now.
Clare Bailey said: I'm probably off my trolley.
I'm probably off my trolley.
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
99,970!!!!!
99,999!!!!!
A done deed ... 100,018 & still rising!!!
Thanks for the link Clare, hope you are watching!
Yes, it has been reached. Thanks for starting this Calre, now to the next stage and I really hope that those concerned sit up and read and listen and act on this!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Unknown said: There's an online poll in a certain newspaper on who do the public support in this argument. Christ Packham was winning easily until early this evening and sadly Ian Botham has now taken over the lead at present on who the public support in this argument. At present when I last checked approx 15 minutes ago, Ian Botham had 51% of the vote, while Chris Packham had 49% of the vote. I voted of course for Chris Packham. But one must not forget not everyone who reads newspapers has the same interest of wildlife as we all do on this forum. So it is very worrying that Ian Botham is getting slightly more support than Chris Packham at present in this online poll. I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to mention the newspaper that the online poll is taken place on this forum.
There's an online poll in a certain newspaper on who do the public support in this argument. Christ Packham was winning easily until early this evening and sadly Ian Botham has now taken over the lead at present on who the public support in this argument. At present when I last checked approx 15 minutes ago, Ian Botham had 51% of the vote, while Chris Packham had 49% of the vote. I voted of course for Chris Packham. But one must not forget not everyone who reads newspapers has the same interest of wildlife as we all do on this forum. So it is very worrying that Ian Botham is getting slightly more support than Chris Packham at present in this online poll. I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to mention the newspaper that the online poll is taken place on this forum.
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
The only poll which matters: up to 105,525.
107,624 now. Still heading steadily upwards.
Good morning, all. I thought I'd share another petition which the excellent Alan Petrie has been highlighting on the osprey threads - this one is to ask that the licence granted by Natural England to remove up to ten buzzards to protect pheasants be suspended. The numbers have a long way to go - it's currently at 7,988.