Starlings in Somerset

At 16.30 this afternoon I watched thousands of Starlings flying over Curry Rivel heading towards the Avalon Marshes. The flock size covered the village from South East to North West filling the sky. When they meet up with flocks from other areas they will almost certainly create the kind of image shown on the RSPB web site for Ham Wall.
linkhttp://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/h/hamwall/starling_roost.aspx

This is an extract from the RSPB web site. The telephone hot line recommends a dawn visit to avoid the crowds  of spectators and the traffic congestion.

Image: David Kjaer

For information on the roosting starlings please phone the Avalon Marshes Starling Hotline - 07866 554142. Please do not leave enquiries on this number, as it is an automated service and they cannot be answered.

You can also find out more about the location and receive an automated email, by emailing starlings@rspb.org.uk

The starlings use sites managed by three different organisations - the RSPB (Ham Wall), Natural England (Shapwick Heath) and Somerset Wildlife Trust (Westhay Moor). There is very little parking available at any of the sites, so avoiding the weekend rush will greatly improve your visit.

Whenever you come, please follow any parking instructions given and avoid stopping on narrow verges or blocking gateways. There is no parking for coaches other than at The Avalon Marshes Centre situated between Shapwick and Westhay villages. Parking for the western end of Shapwick Heath is also at The Avalon Marshes Centre.

Please take care not to disturb the wildlife or other visitors, by keeping noise to a minimum and obeying rules about dogs and restricted access.

New campaign by Wildlife Trust and the RSPB

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2014/07/31/nature-conservation-groups-challenge-political-parties-recognise-wider-benefits-prot

The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB today call on all the main political parties to value nature and secure its recovery by committing to a new Nature and Wellbeing Act.

The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB are urging all the main political parties to commit to passing a new Nature and Wellbeing Act to help value what nature does for us

The two leading conservation charities have spent recent months working behind the scenes to pinpoint the ways in which we need to help nature recover.  Both have a deep understanding of why contact with nature is good for us, for our communities and for our economy, and a long track record of trying to turn around nature’s decline.  A major shift in commitment and action is needed to secure nature’s recovery and The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB believe that new legislation is critical to achieving this. 

The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB are urging all the main political parties to commit to passing a new Nature and Wellbeing Act to help value what nature does for us, for its own sake and also to underpin improvements to people’s health, wellbeing and the economy.  We are delighted that the Liberal Democrats have declared they will commit to a Nature Bill in the party's manifesto.

Read more by using the link above.

Storm damage on the East Coast. RSPB Reserves hit.

Before a change of subject here is a lovely photo of a scarce in ( in England)  Red Squirrel. Copyright Darin Smith. Click on the picture to get a full screen image.

After thinking about threats to wildlife in the Arctic I was surprised to read the letter shown below, received as a member of the RSPB and which as all conservation groups need to do is asking for financial help to try to restore the damage done in the recent surge tides in the North Sea and along the east coast.  Houses were also  destroyed by the severe weather and tide conditions so humans suffered together with the wildlife. It makes interesting reading!

Help us recover from the worst storm in 60 years Although events like the weekend storm surge along East Anglia's coastline are to be expected, I hadn't fully braced myself for the aftermath. As the full impacts of the storm hit us on Thursday night, it quickly became apparent that this was going to be devastating. Homes, businesses, landmarks and habitats were suddenly going to be hit by a wall of water. I went to bed on Thursday night feeling helpless and sick with worry about our precious coastline. I'm e-mailing you today to ask for your help. We're setting up an emergency fund that we can use to get our nature reserves back into shape and repair the damage caused by the worst storm in 60 years. A donation from you, whatever you can afford, will go a long way to help us restore these precious homes for nature. A devastated landscape All along the East coast, we have battled with the elements for centuries. And our team are well drilled in dealing with this kind emergency - sluice gates are lifted to prevent seawater getting into the freshwater habitats, livestock is moved to higher ground, and footpaths are closed. The safety of our visitors and staff are our paramount concern. This drill was being tested to the max. As it all unfolded, there was a strange mixture of emotions. Sadly, the most extensive damage was at our Snettisham, Havergate and Dingle nature reserves and it was with a heavy heart that I drove along the Beach Road to see my colleagues at Snettisham. As a Regional Director I know that I am not supposed to have favourite reserves, but Snettisham holds a special place in my heart. My grandparents had a caravan in a park adjoining the reserve and this is where I began birdwatching. The access track was impassable and the shingle bank where thousands of wading birds roost safe from disturbance had been breached. Some of the chalet owners who live and holiday next to the beach were clearing up with shovels rather than brooms. It was extremely heart wrenching to see. The shingle beach had been completely stripped away. In the summer it is a riot of yellows, pinks and blues but this time the seaweed was strewn up where the shingle beach used to be and silt mud covered the path. There was a profusion of plastic barrels, bottles and rope. Snettisham is normally two gravel pits separated by a causeway footbath. Having been topped up with millions of gallons of seawater it was now one massive lake. The first hide was still in tact. Looking from the window I could see that another hide had been rolled 180 degrees and was now tilted at a 45 degree angle - any view from the hide slots would now just be of the sky. One hide had completely disappeared! I went into Shore Hide. The hide door had a strand line that came up to the door handle. Inside the hide was strewn with seaweed and the sheer force of the water had shattered one of the windows and punched a massive hole through the front of the hide. The pits at Snettisham are important in the summer for breeding birds such as black-headed gulls, which nest on a number of islands. It will be important to get rid of the water in readiness for their return. It is at this time of year when the pits at Snettisham come alive. When the tide covers the mudflat of The Wash tens of thousands of waders come into the pits to roost – one of the most remarkable sights in nature. They stand in a massive huddle on the concrete and shingle banks of the gravel pits. These banks have now been eroded by the force of the tide. On arriving at Snettisham I saw a flock of knot fly from over the pits and out to The Wash. Knot roost in large numbers at Snettisham. I wonder where they roosted last night? Like their namesake, King Canute, the knot weren't able to turn back the power of the tide. Water rushed over the river wall at RSPB Blacktoft Sands causing damage to our reception centre. The Marshland sluice needs repairing, and no-one has manged to get out to Reeds Island yet. We can only assume the lagoons have been completely destroyed. At RSPB Saltholme the banks that protect the reedbeds from the damaging effects of saltwater have been weakened. And the footpath and boardwalk to the seal viewpoint is still under a lot of water, so we don't even know the extent of the damage there yet. RSPB Titchwell suffered at the hands of the tide, but had it not been for the Coastal Change project a few years ago the site would have been completely devastated. As I walked along the westbank path to witness the effects for myself, it was clear the site's infrastructure had taken the full force. The sea wall was covered with weeds and plastic canisters dragged up from the sea. Benches were strewn with debris and the iconic boardwalk was in tatters. This was just the beginning. Beyond the seawall our boardwalk onto the beach had fared less well - it was twisted and contorted. I had been at Titchwell the week before and had wandered along the beach next to the 30 foot sand dunes. These had been completely flattened by the surge. Help us repair the damage The devastation to some of our nature reserves has been immense, and as I write this we're still not sure of the full impact. But it will take a lot of hard work and resources to put it right and restore these homes for nature. Insurance covers some of the costs of the damaged hides, but not the cost of repairing habitats. We are still assessing the damage, but estimate that the cost of repairs could be over £300,000. That is why we're setting up an emergency fund that we can use to get our nature reserves back into shape and repair the damage caused. Please help us rebuild from the worst storm in 60 years. Thank you. Paul Forecast Regional Director, Eastern England DONATE TODAY

Starlings in Somerset

The RSPB provides this information about the roosting sites for Starlings

For information on the roosting starlings please phone the Avalon Marshes Starling Hotline - 07866 554142. Please do not leave enquiries on this number, as it is an automated service and they cannot be answered.

You can also find out more about the location and receive an automated email, by emailing starlings@rspb.org.uk.

The starlings use sites managed by three different organisations - the RSPB (Ham Wall), Natural England (Shapwick Heath) and Somerset Wildlife Trust (Westhay Moor). There is very little parking available at any of the sites, so avoiding the weekend rush will greatly improve your visit.

Whenever you come, please follow any parking instructions given and avoid stopping on narrow verges or blocking gateways. There is no parking for coaches other than at The Avalon Marshes Centre situated between Shapwick and Westhay villages. Parking for the western end of Shapwick Heath is also at The Avalon Marshes Centre.

Please take care not to disturb the wildlife or other visitors, by keeping noise to a minimum and obeying rules about dogs and restricted access.

Somerset County Council - The Wildlife Trust report.

News  County Council approves budget
County Council approves budget 22nd Feb 2013 On Wednesday 20, Somerset’s County Councillors approved a budget for the next three financial years, which, thanks to the dedicated lobbying undertaken by our membership, has seen a stay of execution for some nature conservation jobs. When the County Council originally released their Mid Term Financial Plan in January, the Trust was horrified to see proposals which amounted to the near annihilation of countryside and ecology services, and the axing of nearly all officers who work proactively for nature in the County Council. Since then Somerset Wildlife Trust has been working with the RSPB, our members and supporters, to call for a reconsideration of the plan. Key posts retained Following a meeting with the Leader of Somerset County Council, a commitment was obtained that SCC would work with the Trust and its partners in the Somerset Local Nature Partnership to develop a vision and strategy for the natural environment, around which could be built new projects and partnerships to deliver new opportunities for nature. Changes were also made to the budget which saw several key posts - ­ including both ecologists - ­ retained, although still amounted to an overall reduction in service provision. With the budget approved by a 32 to 21 majority of County Councillors, Somerset Wildlife Trust will now be holding the Leader to his word, and working to help the Council produce a clear plan for delivering work to enhance Somerset’s natural environment. Thank you for standing up for nature with us A big thank you goes to all of you who took time to write to, call, or email your Councillor and raise awareness of the cuts amongst your friends and neighbours. It made all the difference in changing the outcome and we’re grateful to you for standing up for nature.

- See more at: http://www.somersetwildlife.org/budget_approved#sthash.CrPoTWS7.dpuf

Somerset County Council and Natural Environment Services

A follow up on my post on 8th Feb.

Simon Nash was  talking to BBC Somerset on Thursday 7.2.13 about a meeting he had had with the Leader of the County Council on the issue of proposed cuts to essential environmental services.

It seems pretty obvious that the Council were considering the redundancy of Ecologist working for the Council where their job is to advise the Council on development projects and similar situations. If the Council doesn't employ specialists then it will be unable to fully understand what  the environmental consequences will be of any of its decisions which affect the whole County of Somerset!

You can listen to his interview with Matt Faulkner on BBC Iplayer for three more days. BBC Somerset are very helpful in tracking down when these items come on air. Here is the reply I got to my enquiry with a link to the programme. Go to 2hr and 2min into the programme and it starts with an interview with  John Osman Leader of the County Council followed by Simon Nash:

*********************************************************************

Hi David,

The interview with Simon took place at 8.30am on the morning of Thursday, 7^th Feb. You can listen back to it via the iPlayer – www.bbc.co.uk/bbcsomerset. Just search back for Thursday’s Breakfast with Matt Faulkner, the interview will be around two hours in.

Kind regards,

Rachel Andrews

Broadcast Journalist and Producer

BBC Somerset 01823 323956

www.bbc.co.uk/somerset

From: David German [mailto:davidgerman555@gmail.com]
Sent: 08 February 2013 12:06
To: bbc.co.uk/somerset
Subject: Re SCC cuts and Simon Nash, Wildlife Trust CEO

Please let me know the programme and time that this news item was on the air?

Thanks

David German

Wildlife Blog:
http://heartofthelevels.blogspot.co.uk

Somerset County Council

News from Somerset Wildlife Trust. Stay of execution for County Council natural environment services                                                                                Photo: Wild daffodil © Bob Hastie  7th Feb 2013

The axe that was due to fall on Somerset County Council’s ecology, nature conservation and countryside staff has been temporarily stopped mid-swing. Following the release of Somerset County Council’s Mid Term Financial Plan (MTFP) which proposed swinging cuts which would have had serious implications for our natural environment, The Somerset Local Nature Partnership has been calling for a reconsideration of the plan. The Somerset Local Nature Partnership (SLNP),  represents a wide range of organisations and individuals, including Somerset Wildlife Trust and RSPB. Thanks to the efforts of our members and the public in writing to their County Councillors and emailing our office in their droves, a series of amendments were made to the MTFP which significantly reduce the scale of environmental cuts. These changes were tabled by the Council and endorsed by the Cabinet members during their meeting on Wednesday 6th February. Furthermore in a statement to the public and Councillors at the meeting, Councillor David Hall who has political responsibility for the environment services, made a commitment to work with Somerset Wildlife Trust and other organisations to develop and deliver a vision and strategy for our county’s natural environment. Key nature conservation staff retained The amendments to the MTFP will see key nature conservation staff retained, which will enable Somerset County Council to deliver its statutory services and continue to work with partner organisations on the development of new initiatives for nature. Somerset Wildlife Trust will now work with the Council during 2013 to create a clear plan for the Council to continue delivering natural environment services. This positive outcome has been the result of strong, sustained public support for our work from our members and Somerset’s residents. The number of letters, calls, emails and tweets we and Somerset’s elected members have received asking the Council to reconsider their proposals attests to the strength of feeling Somerset citizens have for their natural world. It was thanks to the efforts of everyone who wrote, called and emailed their Councillors, chatted about the cuts with friends and neighbours, or spread the news via social media, that Somerset County Council were willing discuss and consider a better way forward. Next steps Whilst we are pleased with this initial outcome, there is still work to do. We need to address the key issue underlying the original proposals: the lack of understanding and appreciation for nature’s role in keeping Somerset a healthy, vibrant, successful and special place to live, work and play. Somerset’s natural environment benefits society, and supports and generates economic activity in this rural part of England. It is critical that we don’t take this for granted and abandon nature now. For this reason we will work with Council leaders to plan better action for nature. We will also maintain our campaigning efforts and ensure that nature is embedded at the heart of planning and decision making in the County for the benefit of our economy, our health, and our environment.     Write to your Councillor before Feb 20 All of Somerset’s County Councillors will meet on 20th February to ratify the MTFP, and therefore there is still an opportunity to influence what happens for nature from here on in. We are asking our members and the public to write to their County Councillor a second time, asking them to think about what the natural environment means for our county and communities, and to pledge their support for nature at the Council meeting on the 20th. With the backing of all our County Councillors we can really start to get nature where it belongs ­ at the heart of thinking about Somerset. Thank you for standing up for nature with us ­-  your voice has made a difference. You can read more about our campaign on the news pages.

Letter to my local County Counciillor.

Letter to my local County Councillor. Sent by email  6th Feb 2013

Dear Councillor Yeomans,

I am writing to ask you to vote against the proposed cuts in the County’s Medium Term Financial Plan for its Countryside, Ecology and Environment services.
Stephanie Hilborne OBE Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts with the support of Somerset Wildlife Trust is speaking today at the National Ecological Network Conference in Edinburgh. By coincidence today our County Council may well be turning its back on our natural environment.
It is clear to me that the environment in Somerset underpins our local economy, our communities, and our way of life. It marks the County out as somewhere special. We can gain much value from the opportunities we have in our special environmental assets. In our economy and our communities, cuts will squander this extraordinary natural capital advantage, and risk sacrificing a healthy natural environment which should be a vibrant part of a successful Somerset.
Nature benefits society, it supports and generates economic activity. There is ample evidence available from our own County to show how important,investment in ecological infrastructure, is to small businesses and to the rural economy. From clean water and air, to fertile soils and food, Somerset’s natural environment offers us a wealth of free services and goods.. The cuts will compromise Somerset’s environmental assets, and will prove a costly mistake.
Our environment is not a luxury for better times; it’s a key asset for now, not a hindrance or extra. This is reflected in the national and international regulatory frameworks laid out to protect it. The Council has a number of statutory responsibilities towards nature, and without sufficient skilled and experienced staff it is difficult to see how the authority will discharge these requirements. A failure to protect and enhance the county’s environment will be to the detriment of us all including our children in the future and especially in facing up to climate change.
The County Council has responsibility to safe guard the county’s economic, environmental and social interests and act in accordance with the wishes of the local population. I strongly urge you to argue against the proposed cuts in the Countryside,Ecology and Environment services until an assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the proposed service reductions has been undertaken and until you have consulted with key stakeholders including the Somerset Local Nature Partnership.
Yours sincerely,
David German
Sent by email.
Copies to local wildlife and environmental groups and web sites.

Somerset County Council Cuts , more info

News from the Somerset Wildlife Trust web site:   



Somerset County Council to axe conservation and natural environment services?

28th Jan 2013

Somerset Wildlife Trust was disturbed to learn this week of proposals by Somerset County Council which appear to indicate services for conserving our wildlife and improving the natural environment will effectively be axed.

In its Mid Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Somerset County Council lays out plans to make the majority of its staff who work on wildlife and countryside issues redundant. The posts affected include the two ecologists who are responsible for assessing impacts to wildlife habitats and species from possible new developments and major infrastructure projects.
All local authorities have legal responsibilities to conserve and protect important species, habitats and sites. Without the right expertise and skills in-house it will be very difficult for the County Council to meet these obligations to wildlife, and the alternative option of paying consultants to provide advice on ecology matters is likely to be more expensive.

Somerset Wildlife Trust is concerned about these proposals because we know our natural environment is important to people. It underpins our rural economy and well-being, providing us with special places to work, live and play, and gives us a range of services and goods, like clean water, crop pollination, fuel and much more. Our natural world is not a luxury, but a necessity without it, we couldn’t survive, and therefore Somerset Wildlife Trust is calling upon the County Council to play its part in looking after our environment.

The plan detailing the cuts will be debated by a group of County Councillors in the Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 29th January, and they will then make recommendations to the Cabinet who meet to make a final decision on Wednesday 6th February.

 You can take a look at the proposals for cuts to the environment by following this link to the Somerset County Council’s website

What can I do?
Write to the Leader of the Council, Cllr John Osman and tell him why you want to see your County Council protecting our natural environment. Your letter or email needs to reach him before the 6th February. A list of all County Councillors and their contact details can be found on the Somerset County Council website 

Not only but also on the Langport Transition Web site  they said:

Dear Transitioners,

Sorry to be the bearer of some very distressing news but we must work together quickly to save our environment and our wonderful countryside from the barbarians that are destroying our county..........I saw the beginnings of this happening over two years ago when the first of the environmental division at SCC was axed - now it looks like they are sabotaging the whole lot! Please stand up for our countryside, our wildlife, farming and what makes Somerset the beautiful county that it is - all down to years and years and years of caring for the countryside without which we wouldn't be here....

Best eco wishes,
Cara

Disturbing and shocking news from the County Council - it is axing its Countryside, ecology and environment services. Despite the results of the survey conducted recently by SCC own free newspaper to householders, Your Somerset, which showed that people wanted MORE investment in environment, flooding and planning (which was actually portrayed as a wish for more cuts for environment! - see attached)

Somerset will be the ONLY rural county with NO countryside service. The current leaders at SCC are without doubt anti-environment, despite it being one of the county's major assets and attractions....

For further info see:

http://www.somersetwildlife.org/cuts_challenge

http://mikerigby.org/2013/01/25/somerset-rural-county-countryside-service/

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/martinharper/archive/2013/01/29/tests-of-investment-in-nature.aspx

The final decision will be taking at the (Tory) Cabinet meeting on 6 Feb. Environmental NGO's are asking people to lobby their Councillors about this. 

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And more on the RSPB web site . Link herehttp://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/martinharper/archive/2013/01/29/tests-of-investment-in-nature.aspx

Mark Avery

I just wanted to bring this writer and Blogger to your notice. More later



http://markavery.info