The RSPB Community

Photography jnr and RSPB Cymru wildlife photography day 30 May 2013 - something for the kids this half term

Dana Thomas — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:43:05 GMT

Don’t know what to do with the kids this half term? The RSPB and photography jnr have teamed up to inspire your budding naturalists and photographers. Joined by two of Wales best professional wildlife photographers David Bailey and Nick Jenkins children will explore Bute Park, Cardiff taking pictures of birds, mammals, insects and plants. Children are likely to be able to get a snap of Jays, Dippers, Bluebells, Lesser Black back gulls, Beetles, Spiders and Squirrels. If they are lucky they...(read more)

What does a Gannet and a Black Guillemot have to do with the State of Nature - Gareth Cunningham explains

Dana Thomas — Fri, 24 May 2013 08:35:00 GMT

What were a Gannet and a Black Guillemot doing in Cardiff on Wednesday morning? Well on Wednesday 22 may we (that’s RSPB Cymru and 25 other wildlife orgsniations) launched the State of Nature Report in Techniquest, down in Cardiff Bay. For a low down on the evening go to this blog . But to give the day a marine feel and to grab some attention, the two of us made our way to the steps of the Sennedd to hand out personal invites to our AMs, dressed as an oversized Gannet and Black Guillemot! ...(read more)

It is official: Nature’s in trouble in Wales

Bethan Lloyd RSPB — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:12:28 GMT

Blog written by Sean Christian, Head of Conservation RSPB Cymru Experts seldom agree on anything. When they do, it’s usually because the facts are beyond doubt. That was certainly the case yesterday, when experts from all the UK’s wildlife organisations spoke with one voice and a simple, clear message: there’s overwhelming evidence that nature’s in trouble. What's in the report? For the first time ever, 25 nature organisations have joined forces to compile the...(read more)

Adroddiad cyntaf o'i fath yn cael ei lawnsio heddiw - Sefyllfa Byd Natur / The first report of its kind is launched today - State of Nature

Dana Thomas — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:12:20 GMT

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Give and gain Day and Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre - guest blog by Emma Roberts

Dana Thomas — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:02:02 GMT

So the perks of my job mean that I get to spend some days out of the office with some wonderful volunteers. The place in question is Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre and the wonderful volunteers are 20 corporate volunteers from the Office for National Statistics and Wales & West Utilities. These two groups of volunteers had chosen to donate their volunteering time to RSPB Cymru for Give and Gain Day. Give & Gain Day is the UK’s only national day of employee volunteering and this year...(read more)

RSPB Cymru Director speaking at debate in Chapter, Cardiff

Laura — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:37:49 GMT

Katie-jo Luxton, Director of RSPB Cymru, will be speaking at the following Coffee Shop debate organised by the Institute for Welsh Affairs at Chapter next month. Please see below for details about the evening event. If you would like to attend please email emmabrennan@iwa.org.uk or call 029 2066 0820. Hope to see you there! IWA Coffee Shop Debate @ Chapter, Market Street, Canton, Cardiff. 6.30-7.30pm on 4th June 2013 Restoring our wildlife – why investing in our natural capital could...(read more)

Cosmeston Lakes

Anthony Walton — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:03:25 GMT

It is often said we forget what is on our doorstep, or that we don’t appreciate it. One such gem that is only half an hour’s drive from my home is Cosmeston Lakes . I used to visit the country park regularly when I was younger, but somehow fell out of the habit. I have mentioned in these blogs before how I had happened to be there when there was a bit of a mini twitch on for a Firecrest , so I knew it was a good Birdwatching area. Cosmeston Lakes is a country park, situated in Lavernock...(read more)

The Early Worm Catches The Birds

Anthony Walton — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:06:00 GMT

Any birder worth his salt will tell you that to do the best bit of birding you have to literally get up with the larks! I haven’t had an early morning at the Newport Wetlands foreshore for a couple of years now, so I decided to put that right last week. I decided to make the most of the sunshine and roll out of bed and into my car. I was there by 8am, and had the whole reserve to myself it seemed. Fortuitously I had timed my visit with a Spring High tide, with the sea right up to the sea wall...(read more)

An Evening With Iolo Williams

Anthony Walton — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:02:00 GMT

I was lucky enough to spend a pleasant evening in the company of BBC Wales and Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams last week. Iolo Williams worked for the RSPB from 1985 until 1998 as the Species Officer for Wales, his main duties monitoring endangered species such as Red Kite , Black Grouse and Chough . He admitted he only left as he was threatened with a desk job, but his appearances on television as an unofficial spokesman on all matter Welsh wildlife brought him to the attention of program...(read more)

A – Z of Fun free ways to connect children with nature in the garden

Bethan Lloyd RSPB — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:03:00 GMT

At the Royal Horticultural Show in Cardiff this weekend our Education and Youth Officer gave a talk about how we can reconnect children with nature in our gardens, allotments or local green spaces. We whizzed through an A – Z of fun and free activities you can do with young people that will connect both children and adults with the nature on their doorstep. Here they are for you to enjoy. A – Acorn People – In autumn get out and gather seeds and nuts just a like squirrel would...(read more)

MCZs - the story continues

Gareth C — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:43:34 GMT

Its been a busy few weeks in regards to MCZs across the UK and in Wales! - so here’s a quick summary to keep you up to speed The House of commons Science and Technology Committee released a report last week, which in short said UK Marine Conservation Zones are vital. you can read the full report here http://tinyurl.com/dxrvo6a This was picked up by a number of MPs (given the house of commons focus) and gained quite a bit of media attention: "MPs warn: UK government is stalling...(read more)

High Tide

Anthony Walton — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:39:00 GMT

There seems to be a natural world spectacular for each season. Autumn is all about the Starling Murmurations, winter brings in Waxwings and huge skeins of geese, summer heralds long hot days (we hope!) and dragonflies hawking insects at the edges of our ponds. Spring brings in some of the highest tides of the year, so now is a good time to head down to a wetland near you. I did just that last week. What makes high tide worth the effort to get up early and see? The answer is quite logical really...(read more)

Guest blog from Robyn, our work experience student / Blog gwadd - Robyn, ein myfyrwraig profiad gwaith

Dana Thomas — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:48:17 GMT

Helo, Robyn ydw i! Dwi'n 15 mlwydd oed ac yn mynd i Ysgol Gyfun St. Julian's yng Nghasnewydd. Dwi'n hoffi darllen a gwrando ar gerddoriaeth yn fy amser hamdden. Yn amlwg dwi'n caru anifeiliaid! Fy hoff aderyn yw’r robin goch! Roeddwn i ar brofiad gwaith ym mis Chwefror, dau ddiwrnod yn Gwlypdiroedd Casnewydd a tri diwrnod yn swyddfa RSPB Cymru yng Nghaerdydd. Roedd yr wythnos yna yn brofiad da iawn, roeddwn i wedi ymarfer llawer o sgiliau gwaith a hefyd dysgu llawer. Dw'i...(read more)

Traffic Lights

Anthony Walton — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:59:38 GMT

I have been writing these blogs here for fifteen months now, and in that time I have indebted to various members of staff at RSPB Cymru HQ, Sutherland House, for their help from time to time in filling in the blanks. Every so often you get a piece of information that makes you stop and think. Something you think so common place is actually under threat. A bird you thought was above all the pressures that are put on it by our activity, something that’s not even a farmland bird, the usual species...(read more)

They’re back! Ospreys return to celebrate their 10th anniversary

Bethan Lloyd RSPB — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:34:14 GMT

Glaslyn Valley was filled with excitement on Sunday morning as the Osprey pair returned to their usual nest site near Pont Croesor, Porthmadog, for the 10 th year! Arriving few days later than recent years, the female Osprey was spotted on the nest at 8am and her partner for the last 10 years appeared a couple of hours later, with a fish in his claws. Geraint Williams, Osprey Project Officer said: “We’re delighted to see them back, looking so well and healthy. Our Ospreys are usually...(read more)

Red Letter Day

Anthony Walton — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:10:00 GMT

A red letter day and that letter was most certainly the letter K. A few weeks back I had the pleasure of visiting the Red Kite feeding station at Llanddeusant at the western edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. I had been hoping to visit since I had discovered there was a feeding station there when I attended the Welsh Ornithological Societies annual conference at nearby Myddfai. I had always thought that our nearest feeding station was Gigrin Farm, Rhayader. I had been patiently waiting...(read more)

Did you know its National Science and Engineering Week - here is some trivia to celebrate

Dana Thomas — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:33:00 GMT

Did you know? Ever wondered why icebergs fizz? Or how a worm's heart works? To celebrate National Science and Engineering Week from 15-24 March we will share some interesting bits of trivia with you, so today’s is.....the mute swan is not mute, to find it what it sounds like go to our info pages http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/muteswan/index.aspx For more information about how you can join in with National Science and Engineering Week click on this link...(read more)

Pine marten project launched by the Vincent Wildlife Trust - guest blog from David Bavin

Dana Thomas — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:22:00 GMT

The Vincent Wildlife Trust has recently launched its latest project, ‘People and Pine Marten in Wales’, funded by the Co-Operative. Firstly, I would like to thank the Co-operative and its members, without which the project would not have been conceived. The broad aim of the project is to raise awareness of the plight of the pine marten here in Wales, to take practical measures to locate the animals, to advocate marten friendly habitat enhancement, and to engage the public opinion on...(read more)

Eastern Promise (Part Three)

Anthony Walton — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:04:29 GMT

In this final part of my visit report to the far flung and bitterly cold eastern coast of the UK I am heading further south into North Norfolk. There are a number of reserves within driving distance from South Lincolnshire if you don’t mind circumnavigating around The Wash. The RSPB Reserve at Snettisham is on our hit list for another visit, we have been there before. WWT Welney is about an hour away, and again, I would like to return there at some point. Our destination this time was the old...(read more)

Another chance to see RSPB Ramsey Island's art exhibition by artist Rhian Field

Dana Thomas — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:05:00 GMT

The Torch Theatre in Milford Haven is currently exhibiting the RSPB Ramsey Island Commissioned Collection by Pembrokeshire artist Rhian Field from 4 March until 26 April 2013. A percentage of the proceeds from sales will be donated to RSPB Cymru to help them with their conservation work on the island. More information is available at www.torchtheatre.co.uk...(read more)

RSPB Cymru joins other Welsh organisations to call for ‘radical changes’ to flagship sustainability law

Dana Thomas — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:54:49 GMT

We’ve joined other high-profile organisations to call for substantial changes to the Welsh Government’s proposed sustainability law, amid concerns that the latest Government proposals are too weak to deliver on bold promises made by Ministers. For more info go to WWF Cymru’s website http://wales.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/changing_the_way_we_live/sustainable_development_bill/our_response_to_the_first_consultation/...(read more)

Eastern Promise (Part Two)

Anthony Walton — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:30:13 GMT

In part one of this blog I told you about my quest to get a Goldeneye photo from Freiston Shore . I don’t really set myself any targets at the start of the year. I see people saying they want to see 300 species of bird this season, or top the year listings. I am not into all that. I keep lists, but they are really only for my own curiosity rather than in any competitiveness. Having said all that, I do have personal goals that I would like to achieve whilst out watching the wonder of nature...(read more)

Eastern Promise (Part One)

Anthony Walton — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:15:44 GMT

I have been off on my travels again, hence the lack of blog last week. It was time to visit the in-laws again over on Lincolnshire side of The Wash. For the new readers of this blog, The Wash is the migrating bird equivalent of the Roscoe P Coltrane speed trap in the Dukes of Hazard (showing my age here!). This salt marsh inlet on the east coast of southern Britain acts as a stopover point for large number of wintering wildfowl. Why travel further south when you have some of the best salt marsh feeding...(read more)

If you're on half term this week with the kids, have a look at this useful blog to keep the little ones amused!

Dana Thomas — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:08:01 GMT

BON APPETIT BIRDS - hours of fun for the whole family and you also help your garden birds! http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/getinvolved/learning/b/learning-blog/archive/2013/02/20/bon-appetit-birds-the-perfect-half-term-activity.aspx...(read more)

Help us find Wales' wildlife friendliest farmer

Dana Thomas — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:15:04 GMT

This week we’ve launched the annual search to find Wales’s most wildlife-friendly farmer. The Nature of Farming Award celebrates farmers who work hardest to help threatened countryside wildlife, such as lapwing , brown hares, bees, butterflies and plants. It’s run by the RSPB, supported by Butterfly Conservation and Plantlife, and sponsored by The Telegraph. All the details on how to enter can be found on the RSPB website at – www.rspb.org.uk/natureoffarming...(read more)