Some people really should know better (1 Viewer)

[Jane Turner]

I gather that you might be in danger of seeing your arse. (see further up the thread for the definition)

 

[Jacana]

here's some info for the Dee estuary

SSSI and Ramsar map: http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?m=int_sites

further info: http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/sssi_details.cfm?sssi_id=1000595

Ramsar info for the Dee Estuary: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/RIS/UK11082.pdf

 

[karpman]

Aye sorry to hijack the thread also!

Interesting stuff username all noted and understood!

karpman

 

[Graham S]

Sorry another hijack but any advice would be appreciated.

An estuary I visit in south Wales, an SSSI, shares a boundary with a refuse tip (the fenceline runs along the riverbank). The tip operators (the council, I think) employ falconers to scare gulls off the tip. The birds - Gyrs, Harris Hawks etc - unsurprisingly have the effect of flushing all the waders and wildfowl off the adjacent estuary.

My plan is to write to the local council pointing out that this activity may contravene section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (disturbance of SSSI), also copy the letter to the RSPB and the Countryside Council for Wales (Welsh equivalent of English Nature).

Any other suggestions?

Graham

 

[chowchilla]

It is all quite bizarre....

I'll say!

Perhaps you're better off giving the EU the heave-ho.

I'm still following your main thread topic BTW Jane and I wish you the very best of luck from Down Under. This is one I want to see get resolved for sure!:t:

 

[Jane Turner]

Well the next step is waiting for my colleague to confirm that the tentative IDs I have are the people he saw at the Skylark (as well as match vehicle reg's etc) Unless the people concerned own up before then.

 

[London Birder]

Alas I don't own an air rifle, or a crossbow. Had I been thinking I could have organised some scallies to nick off with their tyres though

Scallies need organising to nick tyres?

 

[Jane Turner]

the right ones - hell yeah

 

[Mike Cross]

The attached photo is from the Times .

"The Ornithological equivalent of Grand Prix racing"? So where's all the Dolly Birds then?

 

[acorn]

With only 14 words I bet you have short conversations Colin.

Neil.

Yes nice and quiet, just the way I like it:eek!:
Regards
Colin

 

[citrinella]

Sometimes you see things that make you despair. As many of you know, I am in the lucky position of living on a beach. The birds come to me and over the last few days there have been fabulous numbers of waders roosting. All year its a constant battle to politely inform beach users of the need to give the roosting birds a bit of a break at high tide, especially in cold weather. Most people don't realise the damage that they are unwittingly doing, and keep away from the water's edge. Some get abusive, but what you don't expect to see is BIRDERS DOING IT

It a high tide today and roosting spaces are at a premium. So imagine my surprise to see two gaggles of birders/photographers out on the beach close to the incoming water's edge, with the remains of the roosting waders (a few hundred Oystercatchers) trapped between them in a pincer movement. I didn't see what happened to the 10k Knot and Dunlin that were out there earlier.

Bad enough I thought.... but then one guy breaks away from the bunch and walks closer to the edge and the birds and the rest join him. At one point a passer by walked out to them and appeared to remonstrate with them (I think he may well be one of the guys I "educated". I didn't see what happened because I saw my arse at this point and came downstairs to get a camera, to capture the field craft skills for posterity. I think they deserve OUTING

I had this several years ago. I was at Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve in the winter, and a twitch was on. I think it was a white rumped sandpiper. Several folk were crowded round the bird, close as they could get. They'd cleared the vast expanse of mudflat of all the other waders which normally would be scattered, feeding : thousands of golden plover, redshank, curlew etc ... not twitchable. Unfortunately the twitch went on for about a fortnight.

I put up a post on the local news group asking folk to think of the other birds. The warden supported me, and then started asking the twitchers to move on. As it was winter, he had no greater power as the reserve was set up in the 1960s with the rules written to take account of the long tradition of wildfowling in the bay.

No doubt I am stupid sometimes too, and far too stupid to see it.

Mike.

 

[Jane Turner]

So do people think I should take this further if I find that the people concerned were previously recipients of national or international photographic awards? Perhaps with the bodies that made the awards

Hypothetically speaking of course?

 

[Jacana]

most certainly

 

[Stephen Fletcher]

I would certainly advocate taking it further, but i fear you will be greeted with apathy from the bodies/organisations concerned. I wrote a lengthy letter to the RSPB concerning one of their contract photographers behaviour, passing off captive pinioned winged birds, taken in a collection, as wild, and also 2 serious incidents in your neck of the woods Jane. Their answer was that they were investigating the incidents. That was probably 2 years ago now, and his images are still on their website, so he is obviously still working for them under contract, leaving me to conclude that they arent in the slightest bit worried about behaviour, bird disturbance, ethics etc, as long as they have images they can post to sell for a profit.

 

[DaveJones]

That was probably 2 years ago now, and his images are still on their website, so he is obviously still working for them under contract, leaving me to conclude that they arent in the slightest bit worried about behaviour, bird disturbance, ethics etc, as long as they have images they can post to sell for a profit.

Theres a famous little "rumour" concerning a fire, Hen-Harriers and why the RSPB decided not to prosecute, due to the name it shared with a certain family.

Ethics and the RSPB?

I think there are many dedicated people that work for that organisation, but ive also met and spoken to quite a few planks who have been an unmitigated disaster. Ask the Peregrines at two sites in Birmingham city centre. On one site the Midlands area office gave permission for the building to be painted during the breeding season and they deserted.

On the second site, they allowed for people to absail down the outside of the building, where they have a live link to the nest site. Again they deserted.

I could go on and on and on and on....and yes, on.

Im breaking out with a nervous twitch again, and the memories and bitterness are flooding back. Best leave this me thinks:C

 

[Jacana]

I would certainly advocate taking it further, but i fear you will be greeted with apathy from the bodies/organisations concerned. I wrote a lengthy letter to the RSPB concerning one of their contract photographers behaviour, passing off captive pinioned winged birds, taken in a collection, as wild, and also 2 serious incidents in your neck of the woods Jane. Their answer was that they were investigating the incidents. That was probably 2 years ago now, and his images are still on their website, so he is obviously still working for them under contract, leaving me to conclude that they arent in the slightest bit worried about behaviour, bird disturbance, ethics etc, as long as they have images they can post to sell for a profit.

I think it would be different with the organisers of the photography competitions

 

[s.g.]

i say yes, take it as far as you can jane.

s.g.

 

[chowchilla]

For sure! :t:

 

[Jane Turner]

Its a complete set of tides on form the incident. I thought it would be instructive to show how the waders choose to spend the tide if not being pushed by photographers. They are spread out in a wide arc, on the beach not in the water and mostly sleeping. There has been a stream of dog walkers and one horse past near the promenade wall.

 

[Formatted]

Close up shots of birds are over rated. What they need is a good quality wide angle.....