“We’re getting on for a third more people living in this country over the last fifty years and on top of that we have this extraordinary expertise in destroying things, in poisoning things, in knocking down things …”
Listen to David Attenborough on the State of The Nature Report released today [22 May] by 25 wildlife organisations here
Download the full report from the RSPB here
This little gang of six as tenacious as ever — though the cathedral gardens packed at four o’clock on a sunny afternoon, they weren’t afraid to play and fight over scraps of left over lunch.
Earlier they were spotted playing in the gutters of of Borough Market, at first drinking, and then bathing …
Spotted at Union St Urban Orchard Pair of Goldfinches flying east at speed along Union Street. At some point the site of the former Urban Orchard was turned into the Reunion Public House. All foliage gone. Large block of flats being constructed next door. One Nestwork missing from wall.
Spotted at Copperfield Street Blackbird, three squirrels and Holly Blue Butterfly. Virginia creeper removed from facade, and ivy from base of tree, but a considerable dense patch of ivy remains on the garden perimeter.
Spotted at Lucy Brown House Pair of sparrows in dense bushes and another pair heard in ivy near Blocks 1 & 2
Spotted at Little Dorrit Two male Dunnocks singing in shrubbery near Boughs. Three Mallards fly in formation onto lawn of Babington House. Pair of crows in large Plane Tree. Blue Tit heard but not seen. Upwards of 30 pigeons on the lawn.
Spotted at Mint Street Chaffinch heard singing in trees opposite fire station. Lawn full of pigeons … construction work continues.
Spotted at St George the Martyr. Male Blue Tit singing in large plane, in hedge and planted screen. Female heard singing from within the block 7, before emerging to join her mate, then returning a few minutes later. Two crows busy overhead, backwards and forwards. Squirrel patrolling perimeter and upwards of thirty pigeons in constant state of flux on lawns.
Spotted at Mint Street: Work underway on landscaping and construction for the “Fresh Mint” project which features a new path, decking, improved seating, more grass and new flower beds. Blackbird unperturbed, singing from top of bough …
Spotted at St George the Martyr: A pair of Blue Tits seen entering and leaving the top chamber of block 7 separately and together. The lower chamber of the same block successfully fledged a Blue Tit brood in July 2012.