jgtuk

So, not been able to make it this year so plans in place for next spring to tie in with the raptor migration. Turns out I have a few choices: Flight to Istanbul, stay for a couple of days (have friends there) then either A. fly (2.5hrs but boring) to Tblisi before renting car and on to Batumi for a week, fly from Batumi to Stansted. 2. coach to Tbilisi (27 hours but more fun) for a few days then coach (about 5hrs) to Batumi for a week, fly from Batumi to Stansted. I could mix up the order to suit my agenda and not tied to a time frame so could travel and stay for as long as I wanted. I really wanted to go by Black Sea Ferry to Batumi but the Istanbul to Batumi no longer runs since the Ukraine invasion - there also used to be a ferry from Odessa to Batumi which would have been interesting. I could skip Istanbul completely and fly to Varna then 3 day Black Sea ferry to Batumi. I’ve been in touch with the Batumi Raptor count organisation and secured a spot there and they have local people offering guest accommodation. Anyway, my final destination is on this video (TRIGGER WARNING, contains killing of Raptors)

I’ve witnessed this happening just in my lifetime. I keep banging on about flea sprays, pesticides and herbicides in gardens, creating small areas of suitable habitat and generally being more tolerant of small things, even if they scare you (grow up). I recognise that climate change is a major factor in their decline but helping things survive now might mean they’re not extinct by the time we address it (although there’s a big if in there).

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I pulled out of a tricky junction and was t-boned by a car doing 60mph, totally my fault, spent 2 days in hospital with concussion and minor neck/whiplash injuries. The other driver was fortunately uninjured but both cars written off. My car was 7 months old, only 2000 miles on the clock. First accident I’d had in years and I was wracked with guilt and also massively embarrassed. Caused me to question my driving ability and concentration levels for a long while but I came to realise that I’m human and we’re all prone to errors.

I didn’t think that it was available in the UK now?

Same. I’m taking Fexofenadine, eye drops and Beconase but still suffering…

Another twist… Buyers pulled out about 10 days ago because the estate the house is on is subject to a management company, seems like their solicitor has been scaremongering… The agent told me that they have sold dozens on this estate and never had any issues and actually find it a bit odd. We got another buyer the same day, full asking price again, so we’re on track again, although now about 8 weeks behind and several hundred pounds poorer…

Where on the map did France touch you 😂

Bloody immigrants… https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/24/americans-british-citizenship

Good luck with that, I didn’t even get a reply.

He said left wing though

No judgement here mate, your kids will likely have a brilliant time. When I was a kid, it was a campsite, normally in the rain, in the middle of nowhere 😂

Marsh and Willow Tit are tricky…

https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-israel-gaza-criticism-acabcdb4da0f1368f7e8a471cf494c0e# Too little too late for tens of thousands of Palestinians. Hundreds still dying every day from disease, starvation, bombings and shootings. More world leaders required to stand up to these murderers.

Great song, great album, great band.

Practice… There are a couple of tricky warblers that share habitat but the calls/song are quite different. Separation by habitat, call or plumage differences are the key.

Would have been brilliant had it been an actual crane on a lorry 😂😂

Merlin is ok but not always accurate, also doesn’t pick up calls or song if in the distance. I’ve heard and identified several birds that Merlin has missed and also a few misidentifications. It’s a brilliant addition to other tools though and great for beginners.

Good luck, this is one of those birds that has been decimated by loss of habitat and shooting when migrating through the Mediterranean. There are still strongholds so if willing to travel you can see them.

Fantastic. It’s been a while since I’ve heard one. Sadly found a juvenile dead last year after flying into our window. Gave it to a taxidermist who was very grateful.

I’ve met and spoken with him a couple of times. You’d be hard pressed to find a more honest and hard working politician. Totally destroyed by the right wing, both outside and within the Labour Party, never mind the horrendous targeting by the media.

Excellent. I’ve heard their range in Leicestershire has increased. The only breeding birds I knew of years ago were at Croft Quarry. Growing up in Leicestershire, seeing a Raven was amazing, now living in Wales it’s unusual not to see them every day.

Absolutely but I’m not concerned with native wildlife killing other wildlife and imo it’s wrong to compare with domesticated animals. Cats are responsible for huge numbers of deaths of insects, amphibians, birds and mammals across the UK as well as roaming wild defecating wherever they choose (mostly in my garden 😂). I think the bigger problem is how little we value animals in general(unless it’s financial), whether in the farming industry or keeping as pets. Go to any animal shelter and you’ll find them overflowing with abandoned pets, many with unwanted pregnancies, strays from the streets and lots of others removed from owners who’ve neglected them. Humans are pretty horrible sometimes.

These are native wild animals, not quite the same as your domesticated cat...

Begs the question - why aren’t we stopping production of plastics (looking at you, fossil fuel industry 👀)