Monthly Archives: January 2013

The case of the disturbed goshawk (Part 1)

Posted on January 31, 2013 by wildlifedetective

As part of my continuing reflection on wildlife crimes, I repeat here the first part of a story as told to me by Sgt Pete Charleston, North Wales Police (now retired), for my book The Thin Green Line. It was … Continue reading →

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An early blackbird sings

Posted on January 28, 2013 by wildlifedetective

I was just about to begin one of my least favourite jobs this morning – washing the car – when I heard a blackbird singing. I was in the garage fixing the hose to the pipe, and stopped while I … Continue reading →

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My survey – Part 2 – flock of crossbills

Posted on January 27, 2013 by wildlifedetective

I walked right to the very top of the Grey Craigs track to see if there was a better way round the back of the hill since I was at quite a high point anyway, rather than going downhill and … Continue reading →

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My survey – Part 1 – hen harrier and roe casualty

Posted on January 26, 2013 by wildlifedetective

  Continuing with excerpts from my wildlife survey of 2011/2012 Saturday 28 January 2012.  Weather: Cold (-2 degrees) with white frost, but sunny and mostly blue sky. Very light wind. I started with a quick look down to the estate … Continue reading →

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Police wildlife crime officer training

Posted on January 25, 2013 by wildlifedetective

I gave a presentation on the new general licence conditions to the annual training course for police wildlife crime officers on Wednesday. This one-day course is held at the Scottish Police College and was attended by nearly 50 wildlife crime … Continue reading →

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Early mallard ducklings

Posted on January 21, 2013 by wildlifedetective

  A revelation on Twitter that a mallard duck at Slimbridge has already laid five eggs in this wintry weather reminded me of one that visited us. The tale begins probably 15 years ago when I put a clutch of … Continue reading →

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Wildlife crime education for schools – funny out-takes from stories

Posted on January 20, 2013 by wildlifedetective

I noted in the excellent website of Kate Macrae  http://www.wildlifekate.co.uk/ who is a lover of all things to do with nature, that she teaches primary school children in Warwickshire 2 days a week. Whatever the subject she teaches, I have … Continue reading →

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The Brechin freezer (Part 3)

Posted on January 19, 2013 by wildlifedetective

I received the report from Andrew Kitchener within a few days. He had made a comparison of ‘my’ wildcat against a set of points that must be able to be ticked off to conclude that a cat is indeed a … Continue reading →

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The Brechin freezer (Part 2)

Posted on January 18, 2013 by wildlifedetective

At the finish, I had a pile in front of me comprising a pine marten, red squirrel, wildcat, a badger’s head, kestrel, short-eared owl, barn owl, buzzard, lapwing, three swallows, house martin, skylark, greenfinch, wren and song thrush. The suspect … Continue reading →

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The Brechin freezer – Part 1

Posted on January 17, 2013 by wildlifedetective

The cold weather we are experiencing just now made me think of a case I dealt with in 2006 that had its origins in the contents of a freezer kept, surprisingly, in the garden. It is one of my longer … Continue reading →

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