Ash tree fungal infection....a scandal

Ash trees are beautiful. They burst forth from the most unpromising locations with such vitality that they can sometimes become difficult to control, but they shed a light shade that allows the flora beneath to flourish and have delicate, mid-green pinnate leaves that unfold in May. I have watched bullfinches feed on their seeds, clinging to bunches of the dark brown 'keys' in loose groups.
Since the doom-laden news that a fatal fungal infection has been found in Norfolk, I have noticed just how many ash trees there are and what a difference it would make to our landscape were they all to disappear. I am beginning to get very angry at the thought that the infection has been brought to the UK through imported nursery stock from mainland Europe, where the disease has been spreading since at least 2004. Why were import bans not in place? What sort of biosecurity measures had been established? The disease may well have found its own way here, but we now face 'culls' of ash trees to control the disease. I feel that the whole issue has not been handled at all well by DEFRA and we now face losing an integral element of our wooded landscape. More will be said on this matter......

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Leeds United 7:0 Southampton 1972 Passing the Ball/Passing Session

Football`s Hard Men ------ Billy Bremner

Why we should certainly keep an eye on Sandy.......

Every now and then a combination of factors can come together to create geographical events of note and Hurricane Sandy is certainly one to watch. It is its course which causes most concern, heading towards the north east coast of America and its heavily populated and low-lying coastline. Shallow, shelving coastlines cause approaching storm surges to gain height....current estimates are running at approximately 3 metres, which is an incredibly destructive amount of water to hit any urban area.  east London in 1953  suffered because of  low pressure over the North Sea, a very high tide, heavy precipitation in the Thames Basin causing high levels in the Thames itself and the 'funneling' effect caused by the shape of the estuary as well as the land either side of the river being the low-lying, flat north Kent and Essex marshes. It is why we now have the Thames Barrier. London's Underground would be particularly vulnerable if Central London ever flooded and I fear for the subway in New York. I am also anxious for Central Park - where I spent some of the happiest hours of my life birding in the Autumn of 2007 - because rain-sodden leaves on trees that have not fully dropped yet will make them very susceptible to being blown over. Wind and rain are one thing but I hope that the people of the eastern coastline take the storm surge most seriously as it is that which poses the greatest threat to life. I will be listening to Radio 5 tonight around midnight UK time for updates and wish you all well........

Seduced by a stormy sea in Iceland........

It is so easy to be drawn in by the sheer drama of a wave-ravaged shoreline...the wind blowing in your face so powerfully that it makes you feel your lungs are going to burst, salty spray on your skin and lips, the continuous roar of crashing waves... simply the feeling of being so alive as every sense is stimulated.....life that can be snatched in an instant if you stray too close.......

Storms and Floods Hit Europe 1953 Newsreel PublicDomainFootage.com

Lesson 4: Tsunami & Storm Surge ....geography......very good ezplanation

Storm Surges......why they are dangerous and certainly not fun........

Hurricane Sandy: Direct Hit on New York, New Jersey, Delmarva October 29...

Hurricane Sandy, October 28, 2012, Super Rapid Scan

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Fabulous bird photography.......

These fantastic photographs were sent to me by Tony and Brenda Hovell. It is sometimes difficult to appreciate the beauty of birds when they appear as fast-moving, indistinct shapes over the top of a reedbed or along a riverbank, but my goodness the shots of the bearded tits in particular capture their fantastic colours when still and in close-up. Lovely kingfisher shot too, and the subalpine warbler is a great picture, emerging as it is from within a frame of Autumnal leaves. Thanks for sharing these great photographs......

Fieldfare birds defend their young against a raven - David Attenborough ...

Saw my first fieldfare of the Autumn this morning....they are very capable birds and have a very effective way of defending their young......I have been attacked in a similar way by a common gull when I strayed to close to a nest and it certainly made me move......!

Tibetan Sky Burial - teaching the challenge of living in mountainous areas to GCSE students......

I have just been teaching my students about how people adapt to living in harsh mountainous conditions and this topic illustrates some of the issues that they face. It also demonstrates why geography is such a fabulous fusion of culture, natural beauty, wildlife and how living things adapt and survive.

Bird using bread to catch fish

This really seems to be catching on....excellent example of learned behaviour......

Green Heron using my bread as fishing bait !!

This is fascinating. I was just watching a videa of ravens using cars to crack walnuts in Japan and noticed a video of a green heron using bread as bait for fish....it appears that this is actually quite common behaviour and certainly a sign of real intelligence on the part of the individual birds concerned.

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UCL in 4th place in world university rankings

Planes, Trains & Automobiles (2/10) Movie CLIP - Owen (1987) HD

Snowdonia.........

Where is it and what can you see........?

It's what I do.........

Really FUNNY......STOMP NEWSPAPERS........

Cannibalistic pike........

At Wilstone reservoir near Tring this weekend a large pike was washed up dead near the bank with another pike wedged in its jaws. They are incredible hunters and grow to an enormous size. I have watched a young fisherman pull one out of Weston Turville reservoir which was as long as he was tall. They are voracious hunters of other fish but will also take young waterbirds as well as water voles and brown rats. They will think nothing of taking smaller individuals of their own species too, occasionally, as it seems, quite literally biting off more than they can 'chew'. I have eaten pike in a local restaurant and although it was a decent meal it did have an odd muddy after-taste - not surprising I suppose if you consider where they hang out.

Influx of jays.........

Apparently there has been an influx of jays this Autumn from mainland Europe in search of acorns. I watched a large group flying high against a beautiful blue sky a couple of weeks ago at Rainham Marshes in Essex, which is unusual behaviour for a species that tends to keep to well-wooded areas. However, I find jays are always more visible at this time of year as they seek out oak trees and start burying acorns for future consumption, perhaps an important element of the tree's own strategy for seed dispersal. Anyway, keep an eye out for them - they are surprisingly big (most people do not realise they are a type of crow) and have a raucous call - especially if you have oaks nearby.

Pelican eats bird

Peregrine Falcon Sky Dive - Inside the Perfect Predator - BBC

I was in London yesterday afternoon to give a presentation at the IPPR. As I walked down Buckingham Street, I heard a peregrine calling and on looking up saw a bird stoop to take a pigeon from a flock that was circling over Embankment Station. Nobody that I could see noticed the drama that was unfolding above them and that's what I love about urban wildlife....the fact that such a majestic predator can exist largely undetected in the heart of our Capital City.

pishing off a Short-eared Owl

I love short-eared owls...they are so inquisitive and bold. Pishing is effectively making a sound like a baby bird or a squeaking mouse which the bird will then come in to investigate.

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UNDRESS ME NOW - Morcheeba

Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day

Very funny........

Wild Boar in the Forest of Dean........

Unless you surprise them, or they have young and feel threatened, wild boar will usually shun any contact with humans. It is slightly unnerving that such beasts can be found again, through escapes since the Great Storm of 1987 and deliberate releases, in UK woodlands, but they are certainly part of our natural forest ecosystem and they do add a certain 'edge' to a pleasant afternoon stroll in the woods. The only issue may be their lack of natural predators but I am sure the shooting fraternity can and will step in.