The year of the Waxwings

It looks like it's going to be another fantastic year for waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus), the majority of which are being observed in Northern and Eastern Britain but I've been fortunate to have them on my local 'patch'. I therefore treasured the opportunity to photograph them.

Observant waxwing

Flock of Waxwings

Waxwing on 'look out'

The Waxwing gets its name from 'bombycilla' meaning silk tail, and 'garrulus' meaning chattering, babbling and noisy. The meaning of garrulus came from (BOU, 1915) who states: "applied by Linnaeus to the Waxing because of its fancied likeness to a Jay".

Help Save out Seas: Petition Fish

To those of you who are aware of the petition created by the Wildlife Trust's, and have signed their petition thank you, to those of you that aren't aware I will explain.

The Wildlife Trust's are trying to put pressure on the UK Governments to create Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) and they're calling on us to try and help with this and to make it happen. The sea life around the UK is amazing, people think that you have to go abroad to see colourful reefs, turtles, and whales but this simply isn't the case, they can be found here, around the British Isles.

2013 is when the first MPA's should be established under the Marine Act of 2009 but this cannot happen without the help of you and I. The Wildlife Trust are asking the Government to place the MPA's correctly and to therefore help where nature conservation is required, to support the declining species and to mange our seas with adequate regulations and controls. 

To make sure the Government are taking note the Wildlife Trust has set up this petition: Petition Fish. 

If you think our seas should be protected sign the petition and make sure the Government listen! 

Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus)

Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus

Spent an evening at the local 'insect patch', if you've not already gathered, this reserve is fantastic for insects. The photograph above is of the Helophilus pendulus hoverfly. This hoverfly is one of the 4 commonest hoverflies which are all related. They can be distinguised by having a yellow and black striped thorax and their pale hind tibia.

Palm oil flowchart

Those of you who follow my blog on a regular basis know my views on palm oil, those of you that don't, well.... palm oil has big impacts on the environment and is unfortunately in most products that we use on a daily basis and I do all I can do to reduce my intake of it. The flowchart below caught my eye and sums up where palm oil comes from and where it ends up!

Spring displays

To my readers: I'm spent a bit of time drawing this while watching Wimbledon the other day, I hope it is of use to you. I took the design from RSPB's Birds magazine and thought it was quite useful.

The drawings are of breeding displays of the 5 breeding species of larks and pipits that can be seen in the UK.

Pipits have a parachuting display where the bird rises to the air and then descends rapidly back to the ground whereas larks have a more elaborate and looping display and tend to fly higher than pipits.