As part of a project to discover what might be driving the decline in UK Cuckoo numbers, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has fitted four of these iconic birds with satellite tags. These tags will enable BTO researchers to follow the Cuckoos as they make their way to the Congo rainforest, where they winter,...
Dr Phil Smith: Wildlife Notes May 2019
It’s becoming repetitive, but May 2019 was yet another dry month in Sefton. Only eight days had measurable rainfall, none of it heavy or persistent. Like last year, duneland vegetation was looking parched by mid-month, attempts to find our rare clovers on road verges at Ainsdale and Hightown being thwarted as the plants were dried...
2019 City Nature Challenge: The Results
Despite two days of Storm Hannah, it being our first year and a fairly laid back approach… the results are in.. And you did yourselves and the Liverpool City Region proud! Here are some of the stats from the 4 days; The LCR 3 key stats are; Observations: 12,326 Species: 1,075 Observers: 121
Dr Phil Smith: Wildlife Notes April 2019
A frequent refrain in these notes since 2000 has been spring droughts. April lived up to its reputation, only nine days having measurable rainfall. Strong drying winds from 5th to 16th didn’t help, these being followed by a heat-wave with temperatures up to 25oC and the inevitable moorland fires. Whatever happened to April showers? As...
