Ware Gove

Some people can't be trusted, even when they suddenly appear to be on the side of the bees. Gove's news-grabbing rejection of neonicotinoids may be a temporary halo. And a decision to go for a complete re-invention of environmental safeguards may be just a way of putting himself in the driving seat. All is about power.

I haven’t bought the Gove conversion and am waiting for him to cast aside his sheep’s clothing. While small wins are possible, protecting our environment needs fundamental economic changehttps://t.co/rsxsFK6qu4

— Molly Scott Cato MEP (@MollyMEP) November 12, 2017

Overhead

Stately!

In a complete change of character the daws were flying in something close to a disciplined formation. Many hundreds of them all at the same height and on the same course, for once not competing raucously with one another; wave upon wave of them all striking westward. There were some gaps when  the sky was briefly empty then the waves began again with exactly the same behaviour. How do they get to agree?

Like the starling murmurations and many other wonders of the natural world perhaps we should simply treasure the mystery.

In the case of these birds the strangeness is more due to the oddness of their suddenly diverging from their regular practice of ducking, diving and challenging for the lead. Co-operation at this level seems not their style.

A chilling thought is hard to suppress. There is a strong similarity with old newsreel photos of Lancaster bombers in huge numbers heading for German towns - but then in the opposite direction over Lincoln. Perhaps this was the day to remember such things.

Underfoot

Coming Soon

Organisations need to be prepared. Previous experience suggests that SWT along with Amey/SCC will be servicing the chain saws.

National Tree Week is soon! Make sure your event gets on the map and help us celebrate #TreeValues https://t.co/nSYTydjfyM pic.twitter.com/IElK91ZGmQ

— The Tree Council (@TheTreeCouncil) November 3, 2017

Out of Season

It's not unusual to find the odd out-of-season flowering specimen when all others are dead and decayed.

This is an elegant but typical hogweed, still standing tall, a useful home for spiders and trap for falling leaves.

Not far away is this, lying down as if eccentricity of this kind had cost too much effort.

Migration Mysteries

A lot of research has been carried out in recent years on the subject of bird migration. Much more is known about it but it's fair to say not all the mysteries have been solved. I like it that way. Knowing all about everything is another way of feeding humanity's arrogance.

This morning determined flocks of smaller birds were heading westward. Two days ago geese were flying eastwards.

Every morning the regular traffic of jackdaws heads to their western feeding grounds after roosting in the woods on this side of Sheffield. Everyone who ever looks upwards knows about this but most ignore it not giving it a second thought. But to me it's one of the great wildlife phenomena of the region with a particular beauty that never fails to move me; I could watch it for hours. indeed the numbers of birds involved mean it goes on most mornings for over an hour, some groups being as large as several score.  A major part of the appeal is the way each bird obstinately remains an individual refusing to group in a formation as with other birds while clearly wishing to stick together sharing a common goal.

This can be seen clearly in still photos showing each bird's silhouette distinguished from the others and its position in the group casually chosen to signal its independence. These creatures would not do well in Animal Farm or North Korea.

Snacking

Regular attendance at the Wall Caff means getting to feed on a variety of seeds, sometimes nuts and even occasional helpings of grated cheddar. Those who were there this morning around sunrise were:

Great Tit
Chaffinch
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Robin
Nuthatch
Coal Tit

At least two were present of each one apart from Robin and Nuthatch although other mornings there are two of these as well. No sign this morning of a Blackbird, normally a regular.
There was also a squirrel.