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Northumbrian Birding (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter Stewart J.
- Start date
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
Invasion
How far are you willing to travel from Bamburgh and by what means?
How far are you willing to travel from Bamburgh and by what means?
Bill@dwp
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
well lets say 30 miles in a radius with the exception of the bits in the North Sea. I am thinking about Kielder as i want to see crossbills unless there is something closer and will probably have a wander down the coast as well. Dont want to spend too much time in the car as that increases my chances of getting lost!!!
cometrider
Just Looking
Marsh Harrier
Sub adult Marsh Harrier over the Waggonway near Brierdene Farm, Whitley this evening. I think this is a 2cy female but would welcome some help as the last time I saw one of these was years ago!
Pics on blog:
http://wildupnorth.blogspot.com/2010/05/bay-watch-1605-starring-circus.html
Sub adult Marsh Harrier over the Waggonway near Brierdene Farm, Whitley this evening. I think this is a 2cy female but would welcome some help as the last time I saw one of these was years ago!
Pics on blog:
http://wildupnorth.blogspot.com/2010/05/bay-watch-1605-starring-circus.html
Vipers
Brunswick Birder
Hi Bill
Kielder is a bit of a hike from Bamburgh. Thrunton Wood, west of Alnwick may be worth a look for Crossbill.
Adam W
Well-known member
Harwood Forrest near Rothbury is good for Crossbill, I saw them right next to the carpark at the very north end of the forrest at the weekend.
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
Beacon Hill Wood
Was there yesterday afternoon. What I saw appears on my blog. A good two hours if not a little frustrating in terms of a sparsity of Spotty Flycatchers.
Was there yesterday afternoon. What I saw appears on my blog. A good two hours if not a little frustrating in terms of a sparsity of Spotty Flycatchers.
Andy Atkinson
Druridge Bayer
Allen Banks
Had a trip to this area on Sunday and got the following:
Blackcap
Spotted Fly
Grey Wag
Dipper
Wood Warbler (singing and showing well in woods between the 2 bridges)
Didn't really get into the right areas for Pied Fly as we stopped short of
Briarwood Banks where they are normally found.
Had a trip to this area on Sunday and got the following:
Blackcap
Spotted Fly
Grey Wag
Dipper
Wood Warbler (singing and showing well in woods between the 2 bridges)
Didn't really get into the right areas for Pied Fly as we stopped short of
Briarwood Banks where they are normally found.
The Liverbirder
Well-known member
Bungee Birding
Back at Beacon Hill Wood this pm. Better than yesterday, as my blog will show.
Back at Beacon Hill Wood this pm. Better than yesterday, as my blog will show.
Vipers
Brunswick Birder
You did better than me. I didn't see any spot flies when I was there.
Davy Tee
Well-known member
Found this information
Although banned in their country of origin because they are viewed as inhumane, Larsen traps are still legal in the UK. It uses a live wild “decoy bird” to attract and trap crows, magpies, jays, jackdaws and rooks. The decoy bird suffers a most terrible existance. Close to the ground it is terrorised by predators, these intelligent birds see its fellow birds brutally killed in front of it. A number end up being found dead through neglect. Mostly used by gamekeepers
Although banned in their country of origin because they are viewed as inhumane, Larsen traps are still legal in the UK. It uses a live wild “decoy bird” to attract and trap crows, magpies, jays, jackdaws and rooks. The decoy bird suffers a most terrible existance. Close to the ground it is terrorised by predators, these intelligent birds see its fellow birds brutally killed in front of it. A number end up being found dead through neglect. Mostly used by gamekeepers
Adam W
Well-known member
A little harsh there I think, I dont think they suffer a terrible existance they have to be provided with food and water and checked regulary, rarley if ever are the caught birds killed infront of the decoy bird and leaving them to die due to neglect would be counterproductive anyway as they need to be emptied on a regular basis to be able to catch more birds.
As for how effective they are given the millions of Corvids well you might be suprised just how many they catch.I know of one farmer who has caught several hundred in one trap this year already.
Alan Tilmouth
Well-known member
Adam the Game Conservancy advice to farmers/gamekeepers/landowners etc for killing trapped corvids quite openly contradicts your suggestion that they are rarely killed in front of the decoy bird.
"If you are right-handed, hold the bird as described above in your left hand. Withyour right hand, grip the legs, tail, and wingtips together. In one movement, draw the bird out of your left hand, so that it doesn’t have time to bite you, and strike the back of its head very hard against the
edge of the trap/Land Rover/etc. It takes a surprising force to kill one of these birds.Do all you can to make death instant. Breaking its neck after this makes sure that you have not just stunned it."
They also recommend providing food and water once a day but I'm guessing not too many people are employed by any organisation to check the welfare of a bird that is on death row anyway.
Having said all that Larsen Traps are legal....
Adam W
Well-known member
Well thats slightly strange advice its not how I'd dispatch and in know many others dont do it that way.
It should also be remembered that even if they are killed infront of the decoy bird this shouldnt be compared to how we would feel in that situation as many things we would consider to be life changingly horrendous are part of every day life for most wild animals, Yes i wouldnt like to have a friend mudered infront of me but I also wouldnt want a giant Crow to kidnapp, murder and eat my children but that happens day in day out to many wild animals.
No i dont suppose anybody is likely to check that food, water etc is being checked every 24 hours but thats no reason at all to then assume the keepers must be breaking the law just because they could probably get away with it.I'm sure most birdwatchers could get away with being egg thieves but we arent just because we could be.
It should also be remembered that even if they are killed infront of the decoy bird this shouldnt be compared to how we would feel in that situation as many things we would consider to be life changingly horrendous are part of every day life for most wild animals, Yes i wouldnt like to have a friend mudered infront of me but I also wouldnt want a giant Crow to kidnapp, murder and eat my children but that happens day in day out to many wild animals.
No i dont suppose anybody is likely to check that food, water etc is being checked every 24 hours but thats no reason at all to then assume the keepers must be breaking the law just because they could probably get away with it.I'm sure most birdwatchers could get away with being egg thieves but we arent just because we could be.
Alan Tilmouth
Well-known member
I agree Adam there are far too many situations where we (humans) place our own human emotions onto animals/birds when it shouldn't be done. You only have to read a few of the comments posted on national news websites whenever Sparrowhawks are mentioned to see references to wicked and evil raptors and Magpies killing our cherished and innocent songbirds.
I also agree that just because no one is checking is a reason to assume that some gamekeepers break the law. However given the complete disregard that is afforded to our laws when it comes to use of poisons, persecution of schedule 1 breeding raptors etc, I think it is fairly safe to asssume that some gamekeepers, possibly dont hold the prinicipal of caring for corvids in high esteem.
In rural communities the indoctrination of hate against corvids and raptors starts young and is unrelenting. The pressure for profit by commercial shooting interests further adds to the demonising of certain species as vermin to be got rid of by whatever means possible.
Again having said all of that our mismanagement of the environment is such that some predator control of some species, is probably a necessity in order to tip the scales back in favour of those species that have been driven in many instances to localised extinctions.
I've read many of your posts over the weeks on Birdforum regarding shooting etc and we may not find much common ground so I wouldn't want to hijack the Northumberland thread with a protracted debate so feel free to PM me if this begins to head that way.