Light Music

Despite low temperatures the increased daylight and clearer skies this week have reminded bird species that spring can't be far away. Four days ago an exceptionally beautiful Mistle Thrush song was heard in the woodland to the west. Similar to a blackbird, but our male blackbird was at the time quietly scoffing the Caff delights.

His contribution to the light music can wait. Next week if we're lucky? But she looks worth serenading.

There have been a surprising number of blackbird customers at the Caff this winter; say it quietly or the control freaks may want to 'manage' the numbers.

Yesterday and today a chaffinch was entertaining us with his rattling song not heard since last summer.

A few repeated notes came from a Song Thrush. The Tits could be heard busy in the tree tops.

Keeping a watch overhead is one whose musical talents are lesser and darker.

And down far below spring activity has been going on for many weeks with no stimulus from the light.

Wreckage

It's no secret I consider SRWT's publicity seeking in supporting the Save Sheffield Trees movement to be self serving and hypocritical. The elm tree, we remember, that they claimed to support the hair-streak butterfly was used by them to chase support and membership for their organisation. Their concern is bogus.

Meanwhile should we be concerned for the orchard ermine and the rhomboid tortrix moths and others which are supported by hawthorn trees recently felled by SRWT's chain saw mafia?

An excerpt from the Woodland Trust's page about Hawthorn:

Value to wildlifeCommon hawthorn can support more than 300 insects. It is the foodplant for caterpillars of many moths, including the hawthorn, orchard ermine, pear leaf blister, rhomboid tortrix, light emerald, lackey, vapourer, fruitlet mining tortrix, small eggar and lappet moths. Its flowers are eaten by dormice and provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The haws are rich in antioxidants and are eaten by many migrating birds such as redwings, fieldfares and thrushes, as well as small mammals.The dense thorny foliage makes fantastic nesting shelter for many species of bird.

The evidence that confirms their utter indifference to wildlife and natural beauty is all around. Most criminals seek to hide their crimes. Not they**. Having killed the wildlife they pile up the bodies and limbs and leave them around.

The wrecking goes on. Everywhere you walk you come across the signs of destruction. They really must hate this place and hate nature. Is it possible that there's such a thing as a sensitivity gene? And that some are born without it?

** .... though they are fond of pushing the wreckage into places they believe few people visit.

Just Asking

Questions really clever people are too clever to ask:

Do Gravitational Waves help us keep our feet on the ground?

Does Dark Matter matter? If so does it matter more in the dark than in daylight?

And ....

 .... "Is this what they call winter?"

The Blame Game

The playground politicking over roadside trees in Sheffield has been an excellent example of just how utterly bankrupt the local political dialogue has become. Latest to weigh in has been the Green Party with a letter in The Sheffield Telegraph.

The characterisation here of the local LibDems is accurate .....

....but I wish I could agree more with the local Greens. Attempts to get them to see that a tree strategy should also - especially in fact - include consideration of the uplands, has so far resulted in no comment. Why would that be? It's been suggested they have fallen for the cronyism approach of the conservation industry. It's well known that however useless are SRWT on the ground, they devote a lot of time to networking and 'relationship building' (schmoozing to you and me) with anyone they think has any influence with particular emphasis on those who've never seen the mess they make where it matters.

Regulator Waking Up?

Suddenly the Charity Commission remembers what its job is. Tweets go out to charity trustees.  A bit late in the day, some might think.

As far as the Blacka Moor charity and its trustees are concerned, very late. It's quite possible that the only place you will find challenging questions are being asked is right here.

Having woken up and put in the tweeting effort it can now go back to sleep.

Coats

As Spring approaches the birds wish to be seen at their best for the breeding season.

Deer have a long wait before the autumn rutting so take the opportunity to look scruffy. This is also timed to gradually throw off some insulation layers donned in  winter. Adults start to show dark marks on their coats which are actually where excess hair has begun to fall off.

Some of the youngest have managed to grow a splendid protective layer to see them through their first winter.

Confirmation

A recent post here was about trustees of charities. An article in The Guardian today confirms  that we are right to be concerned.