Monthly Archives: September 2013

Daytime hooting of tawny owls

Posted on September 29, 2013 by wildlifedetective

A record of the last day of my 2011/12 wildlife survey on a Highland Perthshire estate. Wednesday 25 July 2012. Weather: Dry, sunny and only a light breeze – perfect for walking What a surprise – another daytime-hooting owl. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged black rabbit, buzzard, crossbill, daytime hooting tawny owl, fallow deer, junipers, lapwing, large tortoiseshell butterfly, mallard ducklings, oystercatcher, pearl bordered fritillary, pheasant poult, red kite, red-legged partridge, roe buck, small-leaved lime tree, white fallow deer, white-tailed eagle, whitethroat, willow warblers | 2 Comments

Blatant cruelty

Posted on September 28, 2013 by wildlifedetective

I’ve had a pretty busy week, hence the lack of tweets on Twitter. I worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the National Wildlife Crime Unit (28 hours in the three days). The following day, Thursday, I gave a presentation at … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged badger digging, Central Scotland Ornithologists club, coursing badgers, coursing deer, coursing foxes, coursing hares, Crieff Probus Club, farmyard dung, garlic, heron, NWCU, red squirrel, Scottish Natural Heritage, terriers, tractor | Leave a comment

Interesting bird sightings in the garden

Posted on September 21, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Every day is interesting in the garden, but today was more interesting than most. I watched two robins squaring up to each other, puffing out their red breasts. They hopped about, keeping their distance and often turning their heads to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged brown jackdaw, dipper, erythristic, kingfisher, mallard, robin, trout | 2 Comments

The first Irish wildlife crime conference – a summary

Posted on September 19, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Having had three days with a 6.00 am start at the National Wildlife Crime Unit since I came back on Sunday night from the first wildlife crime conference ever to be held in Ireland this is my first minute to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged badger baiting, bat-related crime, deer poaching, Emma Higgs, Gardai, Irish Wildlife Crime Conference, National Wildlife Crime Unit, NPWS, poisoning, Police Service of Northern Ireland, RSPB, Scottish Badgers, shooting birds of prey | Leave a comment

Birds keeping their heads down

Posted on September 8, 2013 by wildlifedetective

Continuing the accounts of my 2011/12 wildlife survey on a Highland Perthshire estate Thursday 12 July 2012. Weather: Dry, though overcast till late morning, then intermittent sunshine. Light wind. Three weeks since my last visit, with a sprained right … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alder, ash, black rabbit, buzzards, fallow buck, golden eagle, heron, kestrel, lapwings, larch, mallard, oak, oystercatchers, partridges, pheasants, plucking post, rabbit, red-legged partridge, roe doe, rowna, sitka spruce, starlings, waders, wheatear, whinchat | Leave a comment

What’s happening in the garden?

Posted on September 6, 2013 by wildlifedetective

On 1 September I put out my bird feeders again. This is the first year I have stopped feeding the birds during July and August in an effort to prevent the birds congregating and spreading the respiratory disease Trichomonosis. Having … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blackbird, blue tit, chaffinch, coal tit, collard dove, great tit, great-spotted woodpecker, greenfinch, Khaki Campbell ducks, Molly, red squirrel, robin, the Tufty Club, tree creeper, trochomonosis, wood pigeon, wren | Leave a comment