Monthly Archives: April 2013

An early spotted flycatcher, and wrap-around birdsong

Posted on April 26, 2013 by wildlifedetective

I’ve just had a lovely morning in the garden. The fact that six drills of second earlies are now in the ground (Charlotte and Kestrel for those interested) was secondary to the enjoyment of working among wrap-around bird song. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blackbird, carrion crow, chaffinch, Charlotte potatoes, collared dove, dunnock, Kestrel potatoes, mallard, robin, spotted flycatcher, whitethroat, woodpigeon, wren | Leave a comment

Signs of spring, and a mystery plucking post

Posted on April 24, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Continuing my 2011/12 wildlife survey of a Highland Perthshire estate Weather-wise, Saturday 28 April was a fine sunny day with no wind, and I was pleased to see when I parked at the farm that nine or … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged black rabbit, bullfinch, bumble bee, buzzard, buzzard nest, carrion crow, coal tit, fallow deer, goshawk, great tit, great-spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, hooded crow, house martin, jay, juniper, lapwing, oystercatcher, plucking post, red squirrel, redshank, sparrowhawk, swallow, tree creeper, willow warbler | Leave a comment

A hard trek in the country

Posted on April 23, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Continuing the reports on my 2011/2012 wildlife survey on a Highland Perthshire estate, this time a visit to part of the estate I’d rather have missed out. Monday 23 April 2012. Weather: A mix of cloud, showers … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged buzzard, buzzard attacking, buzzard nest, Canada goose, carrion crow, crow cage trap, hen harrier, hooded crow, kestrel, lapwing, mallard, meadow pipit, mute swan, pheasant, pied wagtail, primroses, red-legged partridge, roe buck, wren | Leave a comment

Seminar on general licences in Scotland

Posted on April 21, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Representing the National Wildlife Crime Unit, and with my colleague, PC Charlie Everitt, I attended an interesting seminar on Wednesday past, consulting on the best wording and most appropriate conditions for the general licences in Scotland from 2014 onward. Though … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Charlie Everitt, clam trap, game manager, general licence, golden eagle, land manager, Larsen trap, multi-catch crow cage trap, National Wildlife Crime Unit, Scottish Natural Heritage | 2 Comments

Reporting wildlife crime

Posted on April 16, 2013 by wildlifedetective

This is a chapter from my book Wildlife and the Law. Though the book covers wildlife crime in Scotland the principles of reporting it will be similar elsewhere Police have a duty to investigate crime and all forces have an … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged crime scene, Lord Carloway, not proven verdict, obtaining and preserving evidence, police wildlife crime officer, power to enter and search land, procurator fiscal, reporting wildlife crime, RSPB, single witness evidence, Wildlife and Countryside Act | 1 Comment

Wild bird egg thieves – the police response

Posted on April 14, 2013 by wildlifedetective

The taking and collecting of wild birds’ eggs in the 21st century is an indulgence of fanatics. No long do schoolboys collect eggs of common birds, though in fairness in the days before the fascinating and informative wildlife TV productions … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged egg thieves, falconry, golden eagle, Isle of Rum, manx shearwater, Matthew Gonshaw, meadow pipit, National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit, Operation Easter, RSPB Investigations, Schedule 1 birds, Tayside Police, UK Border Force, willow warbler | Leave a comment

An amazing estate for juniper

Posted on April 10, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Continuing my walk during the wildlife survey of a Highland Perthshire estate in 2011/2012 Monday 9 April 2012. Weather: Dull with a few light showers I’d only a short time available this morning but returned on Thursday 12 April to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blackbird, blue tit, buzzard, buzzard nest, carrion crow, crow trap, daytime tawny owl, dunnock, goosander, great-spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, lapwings, long-tailed tit, molehill, oystercatcher, pink-footed geese, rabbit, rabbit warren, red kite, red-legged partridge, tawny owl, woodpigeon nest, wren | Leave a comment

On the loch again

Posted on April 9, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Continuing my 2011/2012 wildlife survey on a north Highland estate- Part 1 Monday 9 April 2012. Weather: Dull with a few light showers Easter Monday, and I decided to have a boat trip round the estate loch since Mondays are … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cormorant, great-crested grebe, mallard, moorhen, mute swan, osprey, pike, sand martin, Tufted duck, yellow skunk cabbage | Leave a comment

A spring walk in a snow shower

Posted on April 7, 2013 by wildlifedetective

After such a lovely dry and sunny week, the only day I managed to go for a walk was today. It was a misty day with snow falling the whole of the time after I reached ‘my’ Highland Perthshire … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blue tit, buzzard, Canada goose, chaffinch, coal tit, dipper, goshawk, great tit, great-spotted woodpecker, grey wagtail, hen pheasant, jackdaw, Lady, mallard, mistle thrush, osprey, red squirrel, robin, siskin, snipe, swan, tawny owl, woodcock | Leave a comment

The first golden eagle prosecution in Scotland

Posted on April 6, 2013 by wildlifedetective

An excerpt from a chapter in my book, Wildlife Detective, where I describe a number of poisoning incidents – In another of the 1998 poisonings, a hill walker was on West Glenalmond Estate in Perthshire in October of that year … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged carbofuran, carcass of mountain hare, peregrine, Perthshire Sheriff Court, poisoned grouse bait, poisoniong, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Badgers, West Glenalmond; golden eagle | Leave a comment