Hare Is The News.

I couldn't resist the title for this post, its a bit light-hearted, but the reality is....this is bad news.

Brown Hare Martin Jump  

I love to see the Brown Hare (BH) especially at Cockersands, its a delightful creature and as far as I'm aware causes no problems for anyone/anything, sightings of these creatures here go to add an interest to the already excellent birding location which I have been visiting for a few years now. I know I'm repeating myself - a bad habit of mine - but some time ago I walked from Glasson Dock to Cockersands where I did the circuit and returned to Glasson Dock having recorded the excellent count of 32 BH on the afternoon, the area has always been a good one for numbers of BH and I could often easily count a figure in the teens without much effort and searching.

Over recent posts on Birds2blog I've been noting the fact that not many - if any - BH are being seen by me and other birders I've spoken to, and I decided to make enquiries with local people to find out if they have noticed the decline in BH sightings in the area. John Kellet from Abbey Farm was one of the first and best people I asked about whether or not he had noticed the absence from the Cockersands area and he agreed with me and had noticed that there are few BH around recently.

I continued with my enquiries, and on Tuesday I met what turned out to be my best contact in the area with regard to the missing BH's because this time I got the answer to the question I was looking for and to be honest have been expecting and dreading all the time....Hare Coursing....hunting with dogs, to which this person added 'they're hard to catch in this illegal act'.

Wildlife throughout the world is surrounded by people who have no regard for it and spend their time killing in the name of fun and often in the name of money. I personally can see no easy - if any - means of ridding our wildlife of these criminals, though there are many people out there who have been trying very hard to do so for many years and we can only continue to try.

And finally, to brighten things up a little....

Yellow Wagtail Simon Hawtin   

The brilliant Yellow Wagtail, of which you'll be hard pushed to find in our recording area again this summer. That said, if you visit the right area at the right time you probably will, but certainly not in multi number. A declining species I'm afraid, and referred to as a very scarce migrant breeder and passage visitor, its status is that of a red listed species. 

Grey Wagtail Brian Rafferty

Another brilliant bird, the Grey Wagtail. In our area it is regarded as a fairly common and widespread resident breeder, but of note, I personally have not seen a Grey Wagtail at Conder Green probably in three years, previously to be seen regularly here, its status is an amber listed species....

Thanks to Martin/Simon/Brian for the excellent images.  ...