Friday, July 27, 2012

No natural connections: so here are a few items from the internet:

• After the first nesting of a pair of Great White Egrets at Shapwick Heath, Somerset earlier this year, a second pair has also been found breeding at the site.
• Genetic studies have shown that the three Choughs which appeared in Cornwall in 2001 probably originated from the Irish population, and not from France as was originally assumed. The original population has grown to five successful pairs (2012), and the presence of Welsh birds in north Devon offers the hope of a future injection of diversity into the population.
• The UK Firecrest population continues to increase with at least 800 pairs (and possibly more than 1,000) in 2010 (all in England and Wales).
• The core population of Dartford Warblers in England dropped from nearly 1,000 pairs in 2004 to just 50 pairs in 2010. The good news is that the outlying populations appear to have survived.
• No Golden Orioles nested in the UK in 2010, for the first time in 37 years 

(All information from Birdguides and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel Report 2010).

Nearly forgot - a "taxi run" to Callander allowed a brief stop at Flanders Moss (below):