Photographer Ken Lewis called me yesterday after seeing two red kites on the Upper Dee while on a fishing expedition on Sunday.
Ken, from Wirral, had the kites circling by Llandderfel Byrgoed in north Wales, and kindly sent this super-duper red kite shot (taken in the more traditional kite haunt of mid-Wales) to celebrate his reds.
You can see see more of his pictures at www.kelimages.com
Derek Williams has had two goshawks on the south west Lancs mosses in the last few weeks _ the latest in a long line of excellent records from his prolonged observations of the legendary "migration corridor" on Downholland Moss.
8 buzzards, 4 marsh harriers, 3 sparrowhawk, hobby, peregrine, greenshank, 2 whimbrel, willow tit, yellow wags, 114 alba wags (September 1st) and 11 sand martins have been logged by Derek among more expected species since the end of August...
Okay, here comes the latest press release on the campaign to ethnically cleanse Merseyside of grey squirrels.
Thanks to Fiona for the gen!
Red Alert for Red Squirrels
Red Alert is launching the 'Sefton Coast Woodlands as a National Red Squirrel Refuge' during red squirrel week on Saturday September 10 this year.
Red squirrel conservation experts across the country have agreed on a strategy to ensure the survival of the red squirrel in Britain through the establishment of refuges and buffer zones. Refuges have been selected in areas where there is suitable red squirrel habitat with plentiful food and shelter and a lack of grey squirrels.
A total of 16 refuge sites are to be designated in the north of England, nine of which are in the North-West. The Sefton coast refuge and buffer zone is the only site proposed on Merseyside/ West Lancashire. The Sefton Coast is a unique area and is home to many rare species, its isolated location has allowed its red squirrel population
to thrive and due to its urban nature has been taken to the heart of the people who live here. The Sefton coast woodlands have met all the
designation criteria and has received endorsement from the England Squirrel Forum.
This launch is set to bring together the landowners, managers, statutory agencies and conservation bodies in this area, many of whom
have already expressed their support and who already carry out red squirrel conservation work on their land and to loudly announce that the Sefton Coast is a 'Nationally important Red Squirrel Refuge.'
Red squirrel conservation is a key priority for both the Red Alert Regional Action Plan and the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan and whilst much red squirrel conservation work is carried out in this area this national designation will give added protection and strengthen the effect that conservation measures have on the red squirrel population of Merseyside and West Lancashire.
Fiona Robertson of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust says 'We have a strong network of support for Red Squirrel conservation in this area, this designation will strengthen our resolve to maintain a red squirrel population for the future.'
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I love your ginger hair...
Just to confuse/clarify matters, there are TWO birders called John Dempsey in the North West _ this allows us to claim each others birds, so doubling our hit rate! (only joking!)
Nice to hear from you John!
Good evening John, I have manged to to put your website on my links page thanks your for help.
Best Ken
Ps Cool hair cut.
John
Your column is a pleasure to read on a Saturday, can you expand so it that there is one to read mid week aswell? Keep up the good work.
Best wishes
Arthur Walsh