My notebook from 1987 (15 years old). Had my first Goosander- I remember the excitement.
The Northern Lake today- a field in 1987
More or less followed a route today that I did on more or less the same day in 1987. Here's a few interesting comparisons of bird numbers seen of birds noted in 1987:
Species 1987 2014
Snipe 6 5
Jack Snipe 0 1
Fieldfare 70 20
Redwing 60 4
Brambling 24 0
Grey Heron 5 10
Teal 60 100
Tufted Duck 5 104
Green Sandpiper 4 2
Lapwing 80 26
Redshank 1 0
Corn Bunting 2 0
Tree Sparrow 200+ 0
Here's a few counts of today of species which were not present in 1987:
Species 1987 2014
Mute Swan 0 11
Shelduck 0 3
Gadwall 0 60
Shoveler 0 25
Pochard 0 10
Little Grebe 0 4
Grt Crest Grebe 0 2
Water Rail 0 2
Mixed Gulls 200+ 6000+
Jackdaw 0 2000+
In many ways a quick snap shot like that reveals the main trends in bird populations over the last few decades; a decline in farmland species due to intensive agriculture and an increase in birds associated with gravel pits and waste so basically the underlying cause is a more intense anthropomorphicization (is that a word?) of the environment. Where is it all heading?? Hopefully to an advanced modern urban nature reserve.
In many ways a quick snap shot like that reveals the main trends in bird populations over the last few decades; a decline in farmland species due to intensive agriculture and an increase in birds associated with gravel pits and waste so basically the underlying cause is a more intense anthropomorphicization (is that a word?) of the environment. Where is it all heading?? Hopefully to an advanced modern urban nature reserve.
Finally got an early spring moth last night.
Hebrew Character- the first early spring moth I've had- named because of the black marks that look like a Hebrew letter
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