A few pics from today's visit to Staines Res's, male and female Greater Scaup, immature G N Diver and Black-necked Grebes.

Despite the very foggy conditions this morning I did manage to capture this rather stunning female Common Kingfisher along the River Colne at Stockers Lake.

When’s the last time you saw a hedgehog? 🦔 Their numbers are falling, so I just signed a petition to make hedgehog highways - tiny gaps in fences to help them - mandatory in ALL new builds. Add your name: 38d.gs/72vc?utm_cam...

An ovipositing pair of Lesser Emperor Dragonflies photographed this afternoon at Pynesfield GP's, West Hyde, a new species for me 😊

Just had this Lesser Stag Beetle come visit my Maple Cross garden, am chuffed to bits. @hnhsoc.bsky.social

You still see people like Dale Vince claiming that this government is the greenest ever. Yeah, about as green as an oil spill. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Despite the inclement weather I managed to capture this juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker viewed from the Clubhouse Hide at Maple Lodge NR earlier today. @maplelodgersrve.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social @colnevalley.bsky.social

A few Odonata photos from an afternoon visit to Maple Lodge NR, the highlight was a Beautiful Demoiselle that posed for me at the paddock. @maplelodgersrve.bsky.social

So sad to read this 😞 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

An inspiring morning out in Poole Harbour with teams from the @rewildingbritain.org.uk network, and what better way to highlight and showcase the evolution of nature recovery here in south Dorset than 2 fly-by WT Eagles. 👍👍 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social A lovely Barn Owl at roost this afternoon at Durlston Country Park

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It seems the USA is far from being great again! www.latimes.com/environment/...

It’s been a life long dream to visit Iceland and see the northern lights, despite challenging conditions I did finally get a glimpse this evening 😁

So why are we still building on green belt land? 🤦🏻 www.cpre.org.uk/news/theres-...

Four of the 11 Red Listed British mammals at risk of national extinction are bats #reversetheredday www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/t...

After being closed for years to facilitate sewerage repairs, the Paddock has now been re-opened! @colnevalley.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social @gwksouth.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social

Do you realise what #HeathrowExpansion means? It will affect the whole Colne catchment including the #Ver, #Gade #Misbourne and #Chess. FIVE rivers will be built over, completely severing the link for Eels and other migratory species between the @chilternstreams.bsky.social and the #Thames

Our green belt is under attack piece by piece, the local authority is allowing warehousing not housing to be built on brown field sites locally which means more virgin greenbelt will be lost forever.

Day two of 28 days of roadworks along the A412 at Maple Cross and the congestion continues, all to service warehouses that the local population didn’t want 🤦🏻 #maplecrosshell

My local nature reserve, Maple Lodge NR is having waste water flushed into a feeder stream contaminating our lake and the EA allow it to continue 🤦🏻

What a ridiculous position to be in 🤦🏻 Thames Water seeks court approval for emergency cash www.bbc.com/news/article...

Just had a Barn Owl flying along the river bank of the Duke of Northumberland’s River adjacent the southern perimeter road, Heathrow Airport

Wiltshire? West Berkshire? No, this is Harmondsworth Moor in the Colne Valley Regional Park, and now set to become Heathrow's third runway. How can this be a price worth paying? colnevalleypark.org.uk/heathrow-exp... #HeathrowExpansion

We believe the Colne Valley Regional Park may well be the most threatened area of Green Belt in the country. Its unique position as a rare survival of 43sq miles of countryside and waterways on the very edge of London make it a valuable potential case study www.colnevalleypark.org.uk/green-belt-w...

Nature is not a blocker to growth. The UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has claimed that 'The balance has gone too far in the direction of always protecting every bat and every newt.' But how can this statement be true when the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world?🌍

Ready for Spring! We've cut back the willow on the island opposite Long Hedge Hide and started laying nesting boards for Black-headed Gulls. Hopefully, we'll get terns too! @colnevalley.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @waterbirdsociety.bsky.social

Wildlife charities and campaigners are calling for the government to end the use of toxic lead ammunition:

The Government has missed a huge opportunity to protect our rivers by failing to enshrine the Water Restoration Fund (WRF) in law—despite strong support from MPs, communities, & environmental groups. Polluters must pay to fix the damage they have caused. Our waterways deserve better.

We remain fiercely opposed to #HeathrowExpansion – it means completely unprecedented environmental destruction, loss of 900 acres of the Park, a whole village, and diversion of 5 rivers. Vital links between the Chiltern chalk streams and the #Thames will be permanently damaged.

Read our view of the latest pressure for #HeathrowExpansion here: colnevalleypark.org.uk/heathrow-exp...

Further #Heathrow Expansion must be strongly opposed on ecological, climate change & air and noise pollution grounds. It's alleged contribution to economic growth is an illusion.

A beautiful sky at Maple Lodge Nature Reserve, Maple Cross early this morning.

So it seems the Conservative leader and the Labour Government are both in favour of a 3rd runway at Heathrow. This will have a devastating effect on the CVRP and those that live in it.

A brief morning visit to Verulamium Park, St Albans provided this first winter Mediterranean Gull on the model boating lake.

A nice afternoon birding in the Colne Valley produced Great White Egret, 3 Goosander and a Black -necked Grebe at Troy Mill GP.

I too am very angry to hear this news, what a ludicrous decision 🤦🏻 www.youtube.com/live/w3f1Dol...

The Colne Valley Regional Park and those that live within it will suffer if the government backs plans for Heathrow Expansion. www.colnevalleypark.org.uk/heathrow-exp...

www.wwf.org.uk/press-releas...

There is an ongoing sewage leak along Maple Lodge Close, Maple Cross, Thames Water are in attendance but have been unable to rectify the situation as of yet, right next to Maple Lodge NR 🤦🏻

Done badly, reforms to the Habitats Regulations could be disastrous for nature🥀 But done well, planning reform could improve the way developers fulfil environmental rules while boosting investment & protection for nature recovery🏘️ Read more👇 www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

If HMTreasury drop this fundamental & hugely important approach, ensuring fines for polluting our rivers are invested in clearing up the mess, then it will be a huge act of betrayal. See my quote here. @anglingtrust.bsky.social @theriverstrust.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

This is a complete joke our environment is being polluted and destroyed at an alarming rate, the rules and regs are there for a reason. news.sky.com/story/enviro...