Hook-barred Spearhorn
Dr Phil Smith Wildlife Notes: July 2023
After such prolonged dry conditions, a change to “rain at times” was welcomed by many. The North Atlantic Jet Stream got stuck over...
Photo Credit: Philip Croft
Avian Flu Experts Urge Beachgoers to Report Dead Birds
Thousands of threatened seabirds suspected to have died from Avian Influenza are once again washing up on UK beaches. Members of the public are urged to report all dead birds to BirdTrack and to Defra (or DAERA in Northern Ireland) This unprecedented outbreak of Avian Influenza began in 2021 and has had a devastating impact on birds in the UK and beyond.
Broad-bodied Chaser
Dr Phil Smith Wildlife Notes: June 2023
My May notes ended with “Surely June can’t be as dry as this, can it?” Well it was, for the first nine days, leaving our wonderful sand-dunes burnt brown. Thereafter, live-giving rain fell on ten days but only in small amounts. Met. Office maps showed we had about 75% of normal rainfall during the month. Nationally, it was the hottest June since records began and the sunniest since 1957.
Credit: Edmund Fellowes
Scientists discover why Cuckoos’ clocks can’t adjust to climate change
Spring is arriving earlier each year but Cuckoos are unable to shift the timings of their annual migration in response.