As we've had a few posts recently on Peregrines, it's worth reminding everyone that there are laws relating to photography of specially protected (schedule 1) birds at the nest site. If you're not sure what the law is then it is covered on many websites e.g. here
I'm not suggesting for one minute that any of our excellent county photographers have disturbed birds or broken any laws, but please be aware and careful.
Thanks
Notable Recent Sightings
05/03 | Firecrest | 1, Lake Vyrnwy |
05/03 | Short-eared Owl | 1, Lake Vyrnwy |
14/01 | Pink-footed Goose | 1, Dolydd Hafren |
03/01 | Waxwing | 20, Meifod; also 5 Welshpool by canal on 01/01. Last: 6 Bwlch-y-Garreg 17/03 |
23/12 | Waxwing | Newtown College, first arrivals 04/12, 47 on 23/12, 67 on 01/01, 30 on 04/02 |
09/12 | Cattle Egret | 1 roosting with 8 Great Egrets and some Little Egrets, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas |
02/12 | Waxwing | 21 Guilsfield, 12 Montgomery, 1 Welshpool, and 1 on 01/12 Llanfyllin |
16/11 | Dotterel | 3, just west of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land |
16/11 | Great Grey Shrike | 1, on edge of Dyfnant Forest on RSPB land, last reported 19/01 |
15/11 | Waxwing | 25 or 30, just west of Lake Vyrnwy along the Dinas Mawddwy road |
08/11 | Great Northern Diver | A juvenile was found near Anchor, rescued and released |
30/10 | Black Redstart | 1 in garden at Hendomen, near Montgomery |
06/10 | Hawfinch | 5 in treetops at Powis Castle, by main car-park |
04/10 | Cattle Egret | Dolydd Hafren, a flock of c.30 |
29/09 | Red-flanked Bluetail | Dyfnant Forest: a county first |
23/09 | Manx Shearwater | 1st year bird grounded in Llanfyllin; released at coast |
03/09 | Cattle Egret | 10 at Cors Dyfi, rising to 32 on 05/09 |
01/06 | Turnstone | 1 at Caersws with Little Ringed Plovers |
03/05 | Wood Sandpiper | 1 at Dolydd Hafren |
18/04 | BLACK-WINGED KITE | 1 video-ed at Glan Mule, near Kerry: a likely FIRST for UK |
07/04 | Black Redstart | Female on Carno roof |
07/04 | Little Ringed Plover | Llandinam Gravels |
25/03 | Osprey | Female 5F 'Seren' arrived back at Llyn Clywedog |
25/03 | Pied Flycatcher | An early migrant near Llanfechain |
22/03 | Hen Harrier | Female in flight near Berriew |
15/03 | Sand Martin | 5, Dolydd Hafren |
15/03 | Golden Plover | c.50, Heldre Hill, Long Mountain, nr Welshpool |
05/03 | Whooper Swan | 1, between Caerhowel (Montgomery) and The Gaer, with Mute Swans |
05/03 | Pink-footed Goose | 1, Caersws, with Canada Goose flock |
05/03 | Jack Snipe | 2, Caersws |
05/03 | Hawfinch | 24, Powis Castle, feeding behind orchard |
28/02 | Pink-footed Goose | c.25, flying north over Welshpool |
26/02 | Merlin | 1 male, chasing Meadow Pipit, Long Mountain near Welshpool |
26/02 | Pintail | 3, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas, 1 since 14 Feb |
14/02 | Hawfinch | 1, Powis Castle car-park, very vocal |
23/01 | Jack Snipe | 1, Moel-y-Garth near Guilsfield |
17/01 | Brambling | 80, in beeches at Pen-y-Waen near Cefn Coch with Chaffinches |
07/01 | Hawfinch | 2, bathing in puddle, Cwm Lane, Castle Caereinion |
See Sightings Archive for older records |
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
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Thats a bit harsh Mike - the laws do not just relate to photographers as you well know and to point the finger like this again is frankly ridiculous. As to the Peregrine pictures that generated this (funny how Kingfisher pictures never raise comment yet they are also sched 1), mine were taken standing in a gate next to the public road from Montgomery to Caerhowel where anyone can stand so how does that constitute disturbance?
ReplyDeleteAll current and aspiring photographers should be aware and stick to these rules, but I have to echo what Mark has said. It is easy to single out photographers as the major source of human disturbance, as the pictures are the evidence that we have been there, but what about others who are intentionally there to see these birds and others who are not (farmers, walkers, climbers, etc). I'm not defending every photographer, there are those who go too far; there are stories or people climbing trees to get shots of a nest, Eric Hosking lost an eye to a Tawny Owl, etc. This is why we use long telephoto lenses, so we can get close to the action without getting physically too close.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Peregrines (also applies to those Kingifishers), it is a bit of a grey area, as they nest very close to a public place. As mentioned, those particular Peregrines are right next to the road, where hundreds of vehicles drive past each day, as well as runners and dog walkers, and they are perfectly at home with all the activity around them. In situations like these, it is up to us individuals to take the moral responsibility of knowing when to back off if the birds/animals become distressed due to our presence.