A small step for the RSPB ...oh, and a rare bird.

Feeling frustrated by the silence of the RSPB around driven grouse shooting and the looming debate - so checked Martin Harper's ( conservation director ) blog yesterday and found that two months ago it mentioned their intention to ask supporters ( aren't all members supporters ? ) to write to their MPs about joining the debate.
Having heard nothing, I emailed Martin ( and copied in Mike Clarke, RSPB chief exec. ) asking for clarification.  Today a tweet from RSPB Skydancer briefly said - ask your MP to join the debate.  The attached link was more enthusiastic - but buried so deep !  Only those already committed would find it.

When some RSPB staff from The Lodge, along with a BBC team, visited the Geltsdale Hen Harrier nest site there was great positive feeling and a sense of joint enterprise between the RSPB Lodge staff and the team who had provided protection for the nest.

Guy Anderson (RSPB) with 'Gordon' ( a.k.a.Bonny ) the juvenile Hen Harrier.

It seems that there is a similar gulf between the workers on the ground and upper management within the Wildlife Trusts - more on that later....

It was a good chance to chat with Andrew Bomford and the rest of the BBC team about moorland management practices carried out on the Driven Grouse Moors so uncomfortably close to Geltsdale.

With the easterly winds continuing, more Siberian vagrants appeared on our shores.  About a week ago a Siberian Accentor appeared on Shetland - the first for Britain.  A few days later another appeared at Easington, East Yorkshire and fed on a mossy tarmac area, easily viewable.

Sometimes a Dunnock fed along side it.

The whole area from there towards Kilnsea and Spurn Point was alive with migrants.

Continental race Robin

Redwing

Goldcrest

Shorelark

Female Blackcap in elder.