Another cracking blog from Nick MacKinnon on craziness of windfarm plans on Walshaw Moor. Guest blog; markavery.info/2025/09/20/g... Nick & Ali don't put a foot wrong - unlike the developers who plan to put roads in impossible terrain. Our guest blogger is dogged in his dissection of the issues.

The winner of my blog's Defra challenge was @jamesgilbertmr.bsky.social His winning entry: markavery.info/2025/09/21/d... I've donated £100 to @wildlifebcn.org as James's reward.

Five individuals of three species in my moth trap (which I almost didn't set). All common species: Large Yellow Underwing, Rush Veneer, Shuttle-shaped Dart AND these two Lunar Underwings. Although common, these were my first Lunar Underwings (novice moth-er). Pretty aren't they? All lifers are! 😄

You've missed it for this month - but you could subscribe for 21 October issue.

Much already written - goes out tomorrow morning.

LIVE! It’s the #Raunds garage sale. Piano stool, trivet, chess set and Playstation already gone. And added Great Spotted Woodpecker to 2025 garden list.

Very pretty Gold Triangles this morning.

Plans for Pheasant shoot criticised in @telegraphnews.bsky.social by me, @leagueacs.bsky.social @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social & Richard Negus under byline of new envt. hack @patrickgalbraith.bsky.social Blog: markavery.info/2025/09/19/p... @guyshrubsole.bsky.social @righttoroam.bsky.social

Natural England cans flawed southern England Hen Harrier reintroduction project after 8 years. Blog: markavery.info/2025/09/19/h... #taxes #Defra @naturalengland.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @wildjustice.bsky.social #infertile #iucn #SalisburyPlain #harrier #toldyouso 📷 Tim Melling

Operation Turtle Dove criticises TD reintroduction project. Blog: markavery.info/2025/09/19/o... #naturalEngland #rspb @naturalengland.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #reintroduction #Sandringham #defra @birdguides.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social

My monthly newsblast about wildlife and conservation issues will arrive in your inbox early on Sunday morning - if you are subscribed. Subscribe here markavery.info/sign-monthly... - it's free and you can unsubscribe whenever you like (but you probably won't as most people stay for a long time).

The @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbicymru.bsky.social announce rediscovery of Holly Fern on Cwm Idwal after going missing for 150+ years. See markavery.info/2025/09/17/b...

Clancy's Rustic in my #northants garden moth trap last night. Had one last October too. Context: First UK record 2002 First Northants record 2023 First garden record October 2024 ...and I almost didn't bother last night. #moths

Blog: A fleabane tale markavery.info/2025/09/15/a... @jo-the-botanist.bsky.social @trisnorton.bsky.social @ramalina.bsky.social @julied1485.bsky.social @sarahwhild.bsky.social @amandatuke.bsky.social @papianon.bsky.social @sjthomasbotany.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscience.bsky.social

No nature book reviews from me today as I've been travelling and writing. And I do read non-wildlife books. The title @wildjustice.bsky.social caught somebody else's eye! Not a bad murder mystery. I read all the Biggles books as a kid so I thought I'd revisit those days. Just started.

In June 2024, 80,000 of us marched peacefully to #RestoreNatureNow with hardly a mention in the media. Were we supposed to have thrown stones and fought the police to be noticed? www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Congratulations! Don’t feel too humbled, it is richly deserved.

I notice Wild Nature showed well at first in the 1:15 race at Doncaster and then faded badly. Sounds familiar? At least he just beat Urban Sprawl…

Congratulations!

With my finely honed skills of pointing a camera and then asking ObsIdentify what it is, I believe this is either Canadian or Guernsey Fleabane. I might have another look before leaving the Helston Premier Inn car park in a while. Any ideas?

A long read and a good read. www.theguardian.com/news/2025/se...

#naturewriting www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...

Good, but not great, as last year was simply dire. Many long term trends are downwards. Still, a few more good years would change the picture. Definitely many more butterflies (indivs and species) in my garden this year. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Burning restrictions: an RSPB comment & summary of consultation results markavery.info/2025/09/09/r... Driven grouse shooting largely friendless. Odd that consultation not swamped by those claimed to benefit from or participate in this 'sport'. 📷 Sarah Hanson

Defra press release on extension of burning restrictions on peat soils markavery.info/2025/09/09/d... A welcome improvement. Lead ammunition and burning regulations tighten the noose on unsustainable practices 👍👍👍 But illegal killing of wildlife goes on largely unabated 👎👎👎

The new Defra all-female ministerial team markavery.info/2025/09/09/t...

Where are the liberals or Liberals doing the same in UK? @libdems.org.uk www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Sad story - not entirely unfamiliar www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Not sure that Giant has much to worry about (has always seemed outstanding to me) but this is an interesting project. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Guest blog - Taking a stand for marine protection by @chriscorrigan3.bsky.social markavery.info/2025/09/08/g... @sussexwildlife.bsky.social challenges Marine Management Organisation on behalf of sea-horses, oysters, mussels & kelp. Good! #Brighton @leigh-day.bsky.social @wclnews.bsky.social

This bookstore opened three days ago in Kyiv. One more sign of resilience (and beauty) I want you to witness.

First one this year on Ivy in our garden today. 😀

Sunday book review - The Highland Cow and the Horse of the Woods by Roy Dennis Publisher: Whittles Review: markavery.info/2025/09/07/s... 'Any book that's both interesting & important is a very good book. This is a very good book.' #scots #pine #capercaillie #cattle #forests #naturewriting

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planning approval quashed after @wildjustice.bsky.social wins judicial review Blog: markavery.info/2025/09/06/w... Failure of #PCNPA, #NRW, #NT,#RSPB and WT to protect wildlife. Success for local campaigners, Wild Justice & wildlife. #Wales #SSSI #law

Good news - we won our challenge in Wales! Judge rules planning permission for outdoor adventure centre in Pembrokeshire is unlawful because of environmental concerns. Read our press release: wildjustice.org.uk/general/judg...

Scarce Bordered Straw - a migrant. My first this year.

This week I have started seriously writing a book. But then someone else’s book arrives in the post to distract me (lots!).

Yesterday: A Swift in lowering skies over Starbucks on A14 at Kettering midday A Raven over Asda, Raunds c16:00 Wildlife is everywhere.

Stanwick Lakes, visitor centre pit (photo layby pit) 11:45: 1 Cattle Egret flying NE, 1 Common Sand #northantsbirds

The latest Walshaw Turbine guest blog. This one by Ali West about the hunting of the BESS aka Battery Energy Storage System markavery.info/2025/09/04/g... By way of Narnia, Snarks, Cottingham and Heathrow and so to Walshaw Moor. #wind #turbines #peat #grouse #walshaw

Three raptor experts agree that this harrier seen on Barbados in June 2025 is a Hen Harrier - a 1st national record. Blog with more details: markavery.info/2025/09/04/f... #harrier #barbados #ebird #cornell @birdguides.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @abcbirds.bsky.social

It was very very very good once, but not now.

We’ll see, but if this goes well then it spells trouble for Labour which has turned its face against green policies. If it goes badly then where will we find green policies? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

111 years ago today the last Passenger Pigeon on earth, which we called Martha, died in Cincinnati Zoo at around 12:30pm local time. The most abundant bird species Earth had ever seen had been driven to extinction. markavery.info/2025/09/01/p... #cincinatti #ohio #extinction #birds #martha

Sunday book review: Just Earth by @tonyjuniper.bsky.social Publisher: @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social Review: markavery.info/2025/08/31/s... 'A riveting read and a convincing analysis of the problem' #naturewriting #sustainability #wildlife #biodiversity #climate

Sunday book review: Nature Changing by David North Publisher: Mascot Media Review: markavery.info/2025/08/31/s... '...the most gorgeous book I've read this year' #cley #norfolk #naturewriting @norfolknats.bsky.social @norfolkbea.bsky.social @cleyspy.bsky.social @patrickbarkham.bsky.social

Sunday book review: Forgotten Forests by Jonathan Mullard Publisher: @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social Review: markavery.info/2025/08/31/s... '...it’s very good. A tale of what timber has meant to us over thousands of years' #wood #trees #forests #naturewriting #timber @forestresearchuk.bsky.social

The BTO often looks quite classy these days - not a word I or many others would have used about their look until recently. Not just the envelope but the mag inside. And so far ‘classy’ hasn’t got too close to ‘slick’.

I went to Higham Ferrers farmers’ market this morning - my furthest distance from home for nearly 4 weeks. There were two House Martins flying over the school. 30yrs ago I might have said ‘just two’ but now even two constitute a treat. I watched them for several minutes.

Shockingly awful - and largely down to farming. Just dreadful. www.theguardian.com/environment/...