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My jays have been busy burying acorns in our garden. It's said that jays remember the location of evey nut they bury. They're smart, but not normally thought of as tame birds. If you wander through St James's Park of a morning you'll often see a man waiting for someone to spot him. Once...
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If you've ever set out to see a kingfisher , the chances are you've returned home disappointed. I hopped on London's Northern Line to Gospel Oak to work at our Date with Nature on Hampstead Heath with no expectations for the day what so ever. What a day it proved to be. There were the usual...
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Unfortunately, a parasite called trichomoniasis has affected some of the birds at the Westonbirt Arboretum feeding station . Following our advice, the Arboretum has removed all food from the feeding area for October and November, to try and prevent the spread of the parasite. This has led us to close...
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What a relief! All three chicks from this year's nest appear to have left Glaslyn for Africa along with their parents, all safe and sound. Local school children were asked to suggest names for the fledglings, and project staff chose 'Glaslyn, Glesni and Gwenlli' suggested by Euon Parry, from...
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.....and we've packed away our telescopes, as the Lake District ospreys that have kept us entertained over summer, have now left us. The Lakes Osprey Project finished on 31 August. And, for the first time during the project, we had no ospreys to show anyone, which goes to show our project timings...
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With cameras set up in the peregrine nestbox at Fort Dunlop , we all had high hopes of witnessing the female peregrine laying eggs, hatching chicks and to see those chicks fledge..... Unfortunately, it was not to be for 2009 as our peregrine had other ideas, and she abandoned her nest. However, we still...
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We breath a sigh of relief at yet another successful season at Malham Cove - four peregrine chicks in the skies, and a host of special moments. But, at the same time, there is sadness that we won't be in the stunning surroundings of the Cove talking to visitors, or seeing the owls , redstarts , flycatchers...
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Wellies, pop-up tents, skaggy jeans and portaloos are not not really my thing, but I've just enjoyed a weekend of festivals. Saturday, I journeyed far to the east of London. Well, just near Ipswich. It was for Harvest at Jimmy's . It's not hardcore festival, more a music and food funtime...
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It's time for us to leave the stars of the Cardiff Peregrines Date with Nature event. Although our pair failed to raise any chicks this year, that didn't stop them entertaining the crowds at City Hall Lawn and National Museum Cardiff with their aerial chases and general awe-inspiring feats. Rebecca...
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With some apprehension I'm sitting waiting to have a trapped nerve resolved by an Osteopath and, looking from the clinic window I spot two peregrines . The pair I've just spotted are plastic decoys on a roof in Hackney's Broadway Market. Presumably put there to scare off pigeons. I seem to...
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Our date in the New Forest came to an end on the August Bank Holiday weekend. And it rounding off our busiest year since the project began in 2007, with a fantastic 22,000 visitors watching the goshawk and hobby nestcams at the Forestry Commission's New Forest Reptile Centre. The non-stop action...
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It's been a wet summer all across Scotland, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of John McGruther, who's been out and about in Glasgow's Pollok Park since June. Meeting loads of people in the park's visitor centre, John has had great fun giving everyone a special insight into the...
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This weekend saw many of our Date with Nature projects come to an end. However, our date with the birds of Ironbridge must be one of the few where there really was a bird to suit all tastes! Sharon Boardman, Midland Region People Engagement Officer, tells us more: 'We've had a great season this...
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As the only chick to hatch from a clutch of two, the New Forest hobby youngster has had it easy up until now - being waited on beak and claw by attentive parents. But that's all about to change now that our youngster has finally left the nest. Having been lavished with food and attention, this lone...
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Every parent knows youngsters can be demanding, especially at this time of year. So, if you're looking for ways to alleviate school holiday boredom, look no further as we invite you to witness some of Kent's wild birds as they wrestle to meet the demands of their own offspring. Waterbirds at...