20 years of Corvo Birding

Check out this month's issue of Birdwatch magazine to read our article on 20 years of Corvo birding HERE 

 

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Natural Capital Investment Update

Early on in the year I normally do a quick update on our journey into natural capital investment which started about five years ago. Background on this HERE and last year's update HERE.

To keep this short, a lot has happened in five years but the main change has been a global pendulum shift to the right and the establishment of several anarcho-capitalist states, including to a large degree the US (although Trumponomics is an odd mix of anarcho-capitalism with tarriffs)  which is currently down sizing it's state (via Musk's DOGE) and transferring more wealth and power to the billionaire oligarchy.  

This is basically pretty bad news for liberals and lefties but also not good news for the Green Transition and Natural Capitalism (right wing environmentalism). The US is not a real billionaire oligarchy (like Russia) because there is still a relative spread of wealth in the US but it's the closest the US has come in modern times to being one which means the only real hope for nature at the moment is if one billionaire is a birder and decides to blow the lot on nature reserves. Considering these billionaires own the equivalent wealth of millions of poeple, one billionaire could out perform the RSPB or Birdlife International or the World Wildlife Fund in a stroke. Fingers crossed someone steps up to the plate.

In the abscence of a billionaire nature mogul it's not looking great out there and from my limited perspective I can't see many investment opportunities. As part as the shift away from neoliberalism and towards right wing anarcho-capitlaist populism there has been a massive retreat from Environmental Social Governance (ESG aka ethical capitalism) in both compliance and a retreat in management funds and ETFs investing in ESG companies. Some ESG funds have adapted by including arms manufactering into their portfolios on the basis of fighting Putin is ethical- a novel definition of the word ethics made fashionable in the Palestinian conflict.  Carbon prices are on the floor on for instance the Californian Carbon Credit exchange (holding up better in Europe) and the voluntary carbon market is just a joke and being exploited by corporations to offset carbon at a few quid a tonne (carbon needs to be about £150 a tonne to have any meaningful impact on markets). Even the UN Biodiveristy COP has resorted to a global nature fund that basically corporations invest in, then that money is invested in global markets, the corporations get part of that profit and a small fraction remaining then goes on nature. Just sounds a bit flawed as the fund could invest in destroying nature and making profit from that. 

Here in the UK what has happened to the laudable proposed changes proposed in the post EU-exit, Agricultural and Environmental Bills? Seems like a lot of the more ambitious objectives have been rolled back and only minimal progress made on the Nature Recovery Network, Sustainabale Farming Initiative and Biodiversity Net Gain framework is pretty flawed too. The latest on the Beddington Farmlands project is that Valencia are trying to use BNG to water down conservation objectives in their new planning application. It's just exhausting what is going on there and simply highlights the fundamental flaws of corporate led nature conservation. Will update soon following the embargo on some strictly confidential developments. 

I've been following the Green Finance Institute over the last few years and after a initial period of optimism and even growth in many areas, it now seems that most Green Finance ideas are turning into fantasies with the Task Force for Nature Related Disclosures being their lead initiative for biodiversity which all seems a bit fuzzy to me (some of their green transport initiatives seems less fanciful). 

So basically, I would certainly welcome any feedback from anyone who knows more about this than I do but as a private natural capital investor I can't see any opportunities at the moment apart from maybe buying carbon credits when they are very cheap? I think any investment is tricky at the moment- a global recession is well overdue and could get triggered by this Trump-Musk-Putin alliance and a global trade war is literally kicking off today, the buy-to-let market is barely profitable, US stock indices are at all time high but looks like are beginning to fall (the Trump bump is already over), crypto looks like its beginning to fall after all time highs too despite the announcement of a crypto reserve by Trump. Who knows we could be on the verge of a global meltdown? One source of optimism for me is a global meltdown that initiatives a global AI reboot that integrates natural capital indices into it's algorithm. 

As I meant to keep this short, I'll wrap this up. As Charlie Munger said, the main thing about investing is not to do anything stupid. I think that's true and seems like doing anything at the moment is pretty stupid so my investment advice to myself this year is do nothing (apart from keeping the projects ticking over and growing slowly HERE). Maybe save any spare cash and wait for an opportunity to appear (interest rates are still high so getting 4-5% in an ISA will probably outcompete US major indices and shift to Treasury Bonds if interest rates keep coming down) or blow it all on birding trips or pay some of the mortgage off if the interest rates don't come down. I like the sound of option two most!

Local listing

The high pressure conditions with clear blue skies continues so I spent today trying to catch up with a few local ticks. I started off joining the dialy seawatch at Selsey with Andrew, Ian and Sarah, highlights included a Slavonian Grebe, 3 Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Diver, 8 Shag and 6 Sandwich Tern. 12 Oystercatchers and 5 vocal Med Gulls may have been migrants. Full log and all local news HERE. I had a few Meds over the garden on the weekend so looks like their Spring migration is just starting up. Presumably the frosty nights are using up the energy of the local waterbirds as there has not been much moving off the Bill since about 10 days ago during a short period of southerlies. It's set to get milder later on in the week so will keep an eye on that. 

Next stop was Wilson's Farm at Medmerry looking for Corn Bunting where I managed to glimpse one amongst the 60-70 Yellowhammers. There was still a flock of about 350 Golden Plover on the reserve but I didn't see a single Lapwing today so presumably they moved out of the area now. A Marsh Harrier was displaying high over the reserve.

The final stop of the day was Itchenor where I got Coal Tit for the year and the main target was Treecreeper in the Oak Wood where I managed to track down a couple of them. Treecreeper was a Peninsula tick and Coal Tit and Corn Bunting were year ticks (now on 120 for the year). So a nice little day making the most of the sun and the quiet time catching up with a few of the locals. 

Coal Tit (above and below) singing in the Itchenor car park 

Treecreeper in the Oak Wood

Firecrest - one of two along the car park track. Also 2-3 Chiffchaff along there feeding in the willows which are budding catkins

Male (above) and female (below) Yellowhammer at Medmerry 

Oystercatchers- maybe on the move

Brents- most of these will clear out during this month apparantely 

The week that was

It was a busy week with work catching up after last week away. I managed to get out in the field today for a few hours and checked out East side and North Wall. 60 species in 2.5 hours the highlights being finally catching up with Spotted Redshank this year, an influx of Common Snipe (about 55 in the salt marsh) and the Long-eared Owls were still present. The most noteable thing was the reduction in wintering birds with only 300 Brents, a few Lapwings and I didn't see a single Golden Plover. Ebird list HERE .

The days have been pleasant and sunny with a high pressure in place but it does mean cold nights this time of year so still no uptick in the moths here (seems like I missed the first wave when away last week).  I had Dotted Border and Common Flatbody attracted to the garden office lights but haven't bothered putting the moth trap out as getting to nearly zero during the night. 

The first Wheatear arrived at Portland on Wednesday and there have been a few other summer migrants elsewhere. The only sign of that sort of thing round here was a Chiffchaff in the garden in the week (the first one this year). I've also had a couple of Med Gulls flying over which could indicate the beginning of their Spring passage. A garden watch on 26th was the most interesting day this year with 43 species including Shelduck flying round. Ebird list HERE.

With March approaching there is a lot to do on the next stages of the wildlife garden plant up. Matt and I planted up the fruit beds this week (with strawberries, redcurrants and raspberries) and we've also planted some more trees including a dwarf Willow and a Magnolia in the front garden, a Liquidamber and Purple Plum in the back garden and Cherry and Cotoneaster in the visitor's garden. The sweetcorn has been seeded in the propogator and I'm waiting for a big delivery of compost on Monday to get the potatoes in and compost up the mixed hedge that we planted in the winter. Kyle got us 18 duck eggs today so they are now in the incubator so hoping Jimmy gets the animal fencing done in the next 28 days before they hatch. 

Spotted Redshank 

One of the Snipe flocks flying around White's Creek

Long-eared Owl- presumably won't be long before they move to their breeding areas

The front garden is taking shape with the new trees and climbers on the house. Needs a bit of work in the front to soften the socialist architecture

The seven planet alignment has been occurring this month with tonight the best night to see it. Jacob and I had a look and managed to see Mars, Jupiter (above with its' moons) and Venus and also possibly Uranus and Saturn. 

PRC, plastic and pilchards

It was the Portuguese Rarities Committee AGM HERE this weekend in Lisbon. I haven't attended in person for a few years so I thought it would be a good idea to see everyone for a proper catch up. We had a marathon 10 hour work session on Saturday, covered some fascinating issues and got everything done so on Sunday I met up wtih Pedro Nicolau and we did a bit of birding in Lisbon.

One of the agenda items was assessing the status of Blue-crowned Parakeet in Portugal which we decided should be elevated to Category C following over 250 pairs currently breeding in Lisbon, following a rapid colonisation, a category elevation from E to C resulting in a new species added to the Western Palearctic list.

So on Sunday I wasted no time and went to see them with Pedro at their stronghold at Parque da Quinta das Conchas and we also popped in to Forte de Sao Juliao da Berra, a well known site for Crested Myna which is also naturalised in Portugal. Both species were world lifers. I'm now on 3363 for the World, 745 for the WP (78th on Netfugl ranking) and 957 for the False WP (41st in Nefugl ranking). 

As I was in Lisbon an obligatory visit to a tinned Sardine shop also occurred and I had lunch at Sol e Pesca which is a restuarant that bizarelly specialises in tinned fish. Aparrantely there is no species called a Sardine and the term refers to several small species in the Herring family, most commonly the Common Pilchard. 

I more or less had to get off the plane from Iceland and then onto another to Lisbon (a bit confusing for my phenology) but back home now for a few weeks to watch early Spring unfold. While I was away the first Brents and other wildfowl had started moving east off Selsey Bill. It has begun and after what I saw in Lisbon this weekend too, the sub-Saharan migrants have already reached Southern Europe and heading our way too. 

Blue-crowned Parakeet- a South American species thriving in the Eucalyptus trees in Lisbon. These are outcompeting Rose-ringed Parakeets in Lisbon. A bizzare novel-ecosystem. 

Short-toed Treecreeper- did actually see some 'real' birds in the park too. There were plenty of Chiffchaffs, some singing too and what with a few hirnundines around Lisbon too it certainly felt like the first Spring day 

Crested Myna (above and below)- more plastic. These originate from China. 

View from the hotel window over Lisbon. The first summer migrants had arrived with House Martins and Barn Swallows flying around and there were singing Serins and Black Redstarts too. 

Tinned fish including Tuna from the Azores. Has to be done when in Lisbon. 

Iceland day six

Unfortunately we had an early flight back to London but I was keeping an eye out for a Gyr until the last minute. Gyr is getting harder on Iceland although there have been a couple of sightings this year already in the area we visited so they are still around but in smaller numbers. My chances were much reduced on a family holiday but it will be a good excuse to visit the Arctic again- I still need Polar Bear after dipping them in Svalbard after our boat broke down so definitely want to return to the Arctic anyway.

The return flight took us over Iceland in relatively clear conditions so the view over the Arctic landscape was sensational. 

Final Trip Report HERE.

Here's a few extra pics from the week. 

Adult Glaucous Gull at Husavik

Presumed 2nd cycle Herring x Glaucous Gull or pale Herring Gull (top bird) being photo bombed by a 2nd cycle Kumlien's

Adult Kumlien's- another adult , seven in total at Husavik

Winter scenes at Husavik 

Adult winter (left) and first-winter (right) Black Guillemot

Northern Eiders male (above) and female (below) 

Northern Eiders 

Variation in first-winter male Eider (above and below)

Views from the plane window 

Iceland Day Five

Sadly our last full day in Iceland today and it was back to Akuryeri for a visit to the famous bakery, a whale watching session and then a visit to the Christmas garden before dinner at the Aurora. 

Ebird trip report HERE. Only 29 bird species but some good quality in there. 

Humpback Whale (above) 

Harbour Porpoise and Iceland Gulls. We had a single Humpback Whale and a few Harbour Porpoise on the whale watching trip.

Adult Iceland Gulls (above and below) - great to see these shearing over the sea rather than on a rubbish dump somewhere. Certainly an aptly name species out here considering we've seen over 100 of them. 

Adult Iceland Gull 

Adult males, first-winter males and female Northern Eiders and what looks like a nominate Common Eider (below) lacking the mustard coloured bill and instead being yellow-greenish. 

Whooper Swans on Lake Myvatn on the way back to Akuryeri this morning 

This Merlin was outside the Hotel this morning- not the falcon we were looking for. We've basically hit all our targets except for Gyr. 

Happy mini whale watcher

Iceland Day Four

Today we spent the day at Husavik, the coastal town where the film Eurovision, the Story of Fire Saga was set. It was a family day so I had to sneak in a few snippets of birding. It would have been great to go through all the gulls and seaducks properly but I did pretty well with a few minutes in between visiting the Whale Museum, the Eurovision Exhibition and Lunch at the Gamli Baukur and shopping. 

The drive from Myvatn to Husavik was stunning, we were the only car on the road crossing wild tundra. 

Managed to score another main target of the trip- Harlequin Duck. Pretty good scope views but no good for photos unfortunately.

Ebird list from today HERE

Male and female Harlequin Ducks and Eider

3rd-winter 'Kumlien’s ' Gull

2nd-winter 'Kumlien’s  Gull'

Adult Kumlien's Gull

A nice little selection of  adult and first-winter Iceland and Kumlien's Gull. The first-winter in top right appears to have a dark wash at the base of the primaries suggesting 'Kumlien's'.

Adult Iceland Gull- About 45 Iceland Gulls and 6 'Kumlien’s Gulls'

Adult Glaucous Gull (front bird) 

Adult Glaucous Gull x Herring Gull aka ‘Viking Gull’  (hybrid as some dark streaks in outer primaries and small size ) with Herring Gulls 

Black Guillemot

Male Long-tailed Duck

Female Long-tailed Duck

Purple Sandpipers

Adult and 2nd-winter Kumlien’s Gulls, Iceland Gulls and Herring Gull

2nd-winter Kumlien’s  Gulls (above and below)

2nd-winter 'Kumlien’s Gull' 

Adult Iceland Gull

First-winter 'Viking Gull' - at least two of  these

Herring Gulls in Iceland are argenteus but many show several features associated with American Herring Gull smithsonianus suggesting there might be some historical introgression. The bird on the left could actually be an American Herring Gull from that view with contrasting pale head and rather concolourous dark underparts, retained juvenile scapulars and a largely dark tail from what can be seen. However in other views the bird showed coarsely marked undertail coverts indicating it is one of these smith-like  'Icelandic Herring Gulls'.

Husavik- a stunning place

The drive across the frozen tundra- a mad place. Great that there are so few tourists out here this time of year