Pacific Golden Plover, Frampton Marsh RSPB 10th August 2021

A Pacific Golden Plover arrived at Frampton Marsh RSPB a few weeks ago. A few days later a second bird arrived in exactly the same area of the marsh as the first bird! Both birds have been seen daily in the same area viewable from the old sea wall. There's been a few Pacific Golden Plovers about recently including one on the west coast on Anglesey at Malltraeth, with another bird still present intermittently at various sites along the north Norfolk coast. I headed over to Frampton early this morning, arriving on site mid-morning.

The map on the front of Reception proved very useful, and looking towards the sea wall I could see birders all along it, but there was a small group to the right corresponding to the Pacific Golden Plovers' location on the map, so I headed over. As I walked along the sea wall there was a birder scoping the nearest pool. Naturally, I asked him if he was watching one of the Pacific Golden Plovers, which he was. I sat down on the bank & could see the bird immediately. It was present for the whole time I was on site, sometimes disappearing briefly behind the vegatation.

The second Pacific Golden Plover was a bit further east along the sea wall (It could be seen from where we were watching the other bird). All the birders who were watching this other bird had migrated to where we were watching from, enabling them closer views than the other bird. At this point I moved along the sea wall & watched alone, except for a couple further back along the sea wall.

I did check out the reserve since I'd not been there previously. Most birds were concentrated on the pool(s) behind the main Reception includng loads of Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Dunlin and others. Best of all were four Little Stints (two juveniles and two adults).

Video by Pete Hines

American Golden Plover, Hoylake 8th August 2021

An American Golden Plover was found by local birder Tim Kinch at Hoylake yesterday afternoon. Once I'd managed to sort out transport this morning I headed over to Hoylake.

A first-summer and the sixth record for Cheshire & Wirral, had moved further along the beach, about 200yds west of King's Gap. There was a small group watching the bird when I arrived, so I walked the short distance along the beach to join them, The American Golden Plover was feeding voraciously about 80yds away with other waders including Dunlin & Ringed Plover. The bird was on view the whole time I was on site.

Previous records:
1987 Middlewich, juvenile, 20th to 24th October (B. Bowyer, A. G. Goodwin, D. E. Norbury).
1991 Penketh, juvenile, 13th October (A. Clarke).
2003 Leasowe/Meols, juvenile, 20th September (A. Conlin, M. G. Turner).
2009 Leasowe, 11th October (A. Conlin, P. Woollen).
2012 Hilbre, 23rd September (D. Bates, S. R. Williams, C. J. Williams); presumed same, Red Rocks, 27th September (J. E. Turner).

James And The Giant Eagle

JAMES AND THE GIANT EAGLE (320kbs-m4a/64mb/28mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 28th June 2021

Like most small boys James Aldred loved climbing trees and now he has grown up, he's still climbing trees; helping scientists and film crews up into the canopy. When he was invited to help a wildlife team film one of the world's largest eagles in Southern Brazil, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. But what happened next was a nerve-wracking and painful encounter with one of the world's most powerful birds. Harpy Eagles have a body length of over 3ft, a wingspan of over 6ft and weigh 10-12 pounds. Their hind talons can grow up to the size of grizzly bear claws, and are used to strike their prey; monkeys, sloths and possums, which they then carry aloft. When James was asked to climb a tree, to assist with moving a camera on an eagle's nest, he found out exactly why these birds have such an awesome reputation.

Harpy Eagles are found in tropical lowland forests from southeast Mexico to northern Argentina and southern Brazil. Their name is derived from the Harpies in Greek Mythology, which were ferocious winged creatures with sharp claws, a woman's face and a vulture's body.

Harpy Eagles are successful predators, owing primarily to their size and strength. They are also highly manoeuvrable fliers. They have excellent eyesight and good hearing, and are acutely observant and opportunistic birds. Taken together these attributes make for a highly impressive predator. Recordings made by James Aldred on location are combined with interviews with ornithologist Ian Newton and field biologist, Marta Curti (who has spent many years working with Harpy Eagles with The Peregrine Fund) in a programme which explores the behaviour and ecology of Harpy Eagles and what happens when a female tries to protect her young.

Producer Sarah Blunt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.

Elegant Tern, Cemlyn Bay 8th July 2021

An adult Elegant Tern was discovered by local birder Mark Sutton at Cemlyn Bay on 4th July 2021. I headed over to Cemlyn early yesterday morning arriving on site about 8am.

The Elegant Tern had flown out to sea before I arrived, but fortunately had returned & was just about on view on the main island in Cemlyn Lagoon. At first it was partially hidden by vegetation only showing its head & bill as it displayed to the Sandwich Terns by stretching its head & bill up. Sometimes only the bill was visible flashing above the vegetation. However, this changed when the Elegant Tern moved into the more open parts of the tern colony, enabling fantastic views as it continued to try attracting a mate.

After a while the bird again set off out to sea, returning a couple of hours later to the same area of the island with a sand eel in its bill which it tried presenting to Sandwich Terns as part of its mating ritual, again giving excellent views.

The island was covered in terns, mostly Sandwich Terns, but also Arctic Terns and Common Terns, all breeding or feeding young, Some terns used the shingle on the causeway side of the lagoon to feed young or rest only a few feet in front of the admiring small crowd.

Video by Pete Hines

Jessie Aru-Phillips - Naturewatch with Matt Thomas

JESSIE ARU-PHILLIPS - NATUREWATCH WITH MATT THOMAS 12.06.21 (320kbs-m4a/61mb/27mins)
BBC Radio Merseyside broadcast: 12th June 2021

Matt talks to Jessie live from Hilbre Island.

Fingers In The Sparkle Jar by Chris Packham (Omnibus)

FINGERS IN THE SPARKLE JAR BY CHRIS PACKHAM (OMNIBUS) (320kbs-m4a/155mb/67mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 21st March 2021

Chris Packham is a naturalist, nature photographer and author, best known for his television work. But in his lyrical and painfully honest new memoir, he reveals the life-events which would eventually shape him and change him forever.

Chris brings to life his childhood in the 1970s, from his bedroom bursting with birds' eggs and jam jars, to his feral adventures. But throughout his story is the search for freedom, meaning and acceptance in a world that didn't understand him.

Chris begins his recollections as an introverted, unusual young boy, isolated by his obsessions and a loner at school.

This unconventional and uncompromising memoir moves back and forth through time, capturing a child's view of the 60s and 70s – the music, the clothes, the cars – alongside recent, more exposing recollections from adulthood.

Produced by Pippa Vaughan for Loftus Media

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

The Nature Of Spring By Jim Crumley (Omnibus)

THE NATURE OF SPRING BY JIM CRUMLEY (OMNIBUS) (320kbs-m4a/155mb/67mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 4th April 2021

Nature writer Jim Crumley paints a captivating picture of Scotland's wilderness in Spring and the joys of observing its abundant wildlife.

Omnibus of five poetic vignettes read by Simon Tait.

Producer: Bruce Young

First broadcast in five-parts on BBC Radio 4 in April 2019.