• Latest news from Wildlife Enquiries

    ValO
     

    Parakeets

    Animal Aid’s latest newsletter seemed to imply that the RSPB is supporting a cull of ring-necked parakeets and Canada geese.  We haven’t managed to see this particular item but it clearly refers to Natural England’s inclusion of parakeets and non-native geese to certain general licences.   We were able to assure enquirers that no cull has been proposed and people will still need legitimate…

  • latest hot topics from the RSPB wildlife enquiries team

    LloydScott
    Birds and windows
    Lots of birds attacking, pecking and unfortunately crashing into windows at the moment. Some of the birds that seem to be most aggressive to their reflections include pied and grey wagtails, carrion crows and blue tits. The influx of woodcock over the last few weeks has resulted in many of these low flying migrants crashing into buildings, many in towns and cities resulting in baffled urban folk finding…

  • Wildlife Enquires update..

    LloydScott

    Yes, it's actually a goshawk
    We have been sent hundreds of pictures of "goshawks" in gardens. These all turn out to be sparrowhawks, which are much more common. However, we were sent a photo of an actual male goshawk in a garden. This was is Wales and the area looked quite wooded so seemed suitable. It made a welcome change to say, "yes it is a goshawk"

    Birds and windows
    We received lots of reports…

  • Update from RSPB Mersehead reserve!

    LloydScott

    We received this update from Ben Mitchell, assistant warden at the RSPB Mersehead reserve..      

    "We now have a staggering 12,210 Barnacle geese (this is the second highest count ever and rising!) and a whopping 2,200 Pink-footed geese (highest EVER count!) Due to the good coverage that the barnacle geese are receiving on Autumnwatch (live feeds from Caerlaverock WWT reserve just across the Nith from us) you might be…

  • Arrivals and departures

    Richard J

    Winter arrivals
    The past few days have seen droves of redwings and fieldfares moving into the country for the winter months, generating a few calls reporting "loads of thrushes eating the fruit off my trees!". The winter migrant starlings have also started to arrive. These will join with our resident breeding birds and form huge roosting flocks. Large numbers of geese will spend the winter in the UK so watch out for…

  • Malta 100 birds found

    LloydScott


    More than 100 rare birds have been found dead in Malta by conservationists. The 137 protected birds, including marsh harriers and herons, were found on a rubbish heap in an operation involving 40 autumn migration birdwatchers from BirdLife Malta, which is an international partner of the RSPB on the islands.
    Millions of migratory birds are ruthlessly slaughtered on their way to their breeding grounds in Europe. More than…

  • Autumn is upon us

    LloydScott

    Sadly, not just the leaves are falling –
    We have taken numerous calls from the public with concerns about tree cutting work happening in different localities. Trees give the main structure to a garden and attract a wide range of wildlife. Trees provide wildlife with shelter, food and nesting sites. Therefore, RSPB recommend felling should only ever be done if deemed essential or on the grounds of public health and…

  • What's making the phones ring this week?

    LRB

    House martins and swallows
    Lots of reports of these two species still using their nests. They can both have up to three broods over the season so these are cutting it fine and squeezing the last out of summer(?). Swallows and martins can remain in the UK until October or November.

    Finch disease - Trichomoniasis
    Still lots of reports coming in of sick and dead finches. More information can be seen here - Please help us keep…

  • Whats hot with wildlife enquiries!?

    LloydScott

    Baby Pigeons
    Although the breeding season is now over for the vast majority of birds. We continue to have calls from concerned folk who have come across pigeons and doves including one found in a toilet bowl? Its perfectly normal for them to spend a few days sitting around looking very sorry for themselves whilst they learn to grasp their surroundings. The parents continue to feed them for a short while and encourage them…

  • Where have all the birds gone?

    LloydScott
    If you listen out and look for the birds regularly its clearly noticeable that there appears to be a distinct lack of birds at the moment. Is this the result of the reported declines in many species or is something equally sinister? In short the answer is no, its part of the annual cycle of birds, there is no single explanation but several factors are at play here.
     
    For one, the birds have no reason to sing in the same…

  • Beeing helpful!

    LloydScott
    In response to the declines in numbers of bees within the UK the RSPB has made a press release which suggests a mix of two tablespoons of white granulated sugar and a tablespoon of water, placed in a small container such as an egg cup, among the bees' favourite flowers, should help give them a much needed energy boost!

    It is unclear why bees are struggling, but bad weather may have played a role.

    Bees fly less…

  • Recent hot topics with the RSPB

    LloydScott

    Cranes
    The Crane project has generated a few queries. It involves taking chicks from Germany and eventually releasing them in Somerset. There have been some concerns about resources being diverted to a bird which is already breeding in the UK but it is also a flagship species for wider wetland conservation.

    Other feather abnormalities
    We have had a few unusual looking birds reported this week. A couple of albino starlings…

  • Moulting and aberrant blackbirds

    Darren Oakley-Martin

    A popular enquiry recently has been about 'odd' looking blackbirds; either missing feathers through being in moult (when they can look very scruffy and give the false impression of disease), or having 'unusual' colouring - usually patches of white where the normal pigment would occur. Reports of suspected ring ouzels in gardens are rarely so - unless you happen to live on a mountain or moor, or at a coastal migration…