Local patch Bird life and Springy things

Being quite a way into spring now it seems the birds are still holding back on breeding but we have alot of time left as it just beginning. I'm really loving the smells of all the flowering buds on the trees and plants especially first thing in the morning after abit of rain in the night makes it so stimulating to the senses. Back to the feathery subject now and as I have found a few good birds locally. On the edge of my local patch I found a pair of Kestrels nesting in a old barn Owl box, luckily there is a Hawthorn tree which is quite tight to the ground nearby which will provide a perfect if not spiky hide. I'll post some photographs soon as I will be observing them for a while before photographing as I love to appreciate Nature through my own eyes before looking at it through a lens.

My favorite thing to do at this time of year before work is to head off to a peaceful place to enjoy the birds singing as the sunrises into a clear blue sky. While out last week with my binoculars I got some lovely views of Whitethroats and Grasshopper warblers which seem to be every where on my local patch at the minute which I think is a first for here. Alot of the Mallard ducklings have disappeared from the local pond whether due to human interference or natural predators I can't say. I've seen an increase in distrustful individuals carrying air pistols in public places close to active Nature places. A quick reminder that with all the birds and mammals breeding please remember not every one loves and wants to protect Nature so if you see anything suspicious regarding wildlife then checkout my picture below.

New posts to come on bad weather days and as I'm on my holidays soon expect Welsh related posts :-)

Thanks for reading my blog

Stay wild, be happy and be safe
 

Mike

Middlewich Wildlife crime-Unexpected encounter 2.0

With the animals and birds still staying hidden It seems I am having abit of luck or not lately running into wildlife crime rather than local wildlife this year, as a few weeks ago I had another encounter with a suspicious individual. While out taking a walk with my DLSR camera on a Sunday morning a few weeks ago we spotted a suspicious looking individual with an air rifle and a black staffordshire bull terrier (not concerned about the dog) walking the local canal tow path with an air rifle out and loaded which is illegal.

 As it was quite misty and I only had my small lens on my camera I could only get a few far shots but you can see he has he gun up and aiming at something, just as a flock of Geese flew by.

As I know the law regarding fire arms and the public I decided to see what this individual was up to before I phoned the police. As I was worried about local wildlife and have seen the devastation a person with an air rifle can do if there not stopped. Below is the video I recorded on my DSLR camera, I recorded just encase the man got violent or tried to change his story of the behavior or action he took when I asked what he was doing. At one point he tried to make out I was a homosexual to try and knock me down but this had no effect on me as the last person he used an insult like that was my young nephew "A child" said so for a grown adult to be so immature was quite shocking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-y09LjMzzY

I decided to phone the police as I was worried about the local wildlife and people using the tow path. I find that when these people are committing these illegal actions they know they are doing wrong and the only thing they can do is bully and threaten when somebody asks them what there up to. I reported to the police with a description and the evidence I collected and hopefully with local people keeping an eye out plus all the social media sharing that's been done will make sure this individual and others like him are reported and stopped from injuring and killing wildlife that they see fit to kill. I know who the individual is as I have seen him fishing locally where he leaves his empty beer cans, we don't know his name for sure yet but nearby to where he was taking pot shots into a river where are otters have been filmed we found a camp fire. In the fire was a bill for rent arrears with an address and a name so for now I will be keeping an eye out for this individual to make sure he keeps away from any where wildlife is vulnerable. I now have a case with the police for this report so if your a local from Middlewich in Cheshire and you know who the guy is then let me know, I've often seen him with his dog fishing near the Town bridge close to the doctors usually drinking alcohol and leaving lots of litter behind.

Here's some advice on UK gun laws and how to report http://birdersagainst.org/air-rifles-and-the-law

 I have received lots of support and some people have said be careful as they could get violent or leave it to the police but my thoughts that if these individuals committing these crimes think the general public are not watching or are not going to stand up to them and defend the Nature then they will continue to kill and injure wildlife illegally. I believe we have to nip these things in the bud straight away before real damage is done. One day they will be shooting at something floating in the river the next day a duck then a swan then an Otter. For me once something has been killed then it's to late as the damage has been done and if I did nothing to try and stop it from happening I would not be able to forgive myself. So call me a fool or a crazy I'm not the one with a fire arm in a public place where people go to relax less than a few minutes away from residential areas.

Thank you for reading and if you see or think wildlife crime is going on get in touch and will help with all the advice I can.

Regards

Mike Mottram

Unexpected encounters

One cold afternoon last week me and my brother set off towards some farmland near Davenam, Cheshire. We went to the area to see if there were any tagged Swans on the flooded fields in the area. There were about 7 Swans and a few were ringed which took a while to read the tagged due to them grazing in long grass. On the way back we saw a large group of Starlings gathered in huge groups in the tops of some trees but as we had to get back before it got we had to leave quite quickly.

Moonlit Murmaration

On the way back along the canal a bird flew past with a white belly and dark back. As we normally see Kingfishers zipping by we first assumed it was a Kingfisher but after seeing the colors and hearing the whistle we realized it was a Dipper. We checked a few days later, but we saw nothing I'm thinking it must have been pushed off its own territory in search of food in shallower water due to the streams up in the mountains flooding making it impossible for Dippers to feed in the fast flowing water.

On one of the wet and windy Dipper search days I was waiting to meet someone on the edge of Middlewich town near Croxton Recycling center. I was just about to cross the bridge over the river to return home when a man on a bicycle appeared and straight away my gut told me he was a hunter or poacher of some kind. Although hunting is not illegal, there are strict laws where you can hunt, what you can hunt and gun laws so to be sure I always keep any eye out. As soon as he new I clocked him he got off his bike, lit a cigarette and walked over with his bike. The first thing he said to me was are you checking your snares as I had my small camera bag on my shoulder with my dinner and flask in. I said no and told him I am a wildlife photographer who watches out for and reports wildlife crimes in the local area. We had a few conversations and awkward silences but my first thoughts were right as he started spilling lots of things about poaching. There was no aggression from me or him and I foundout a few things about how and when he poaches. He got abit cocky and said that I was going to report him anyway so I might as well see his ID which I never asked for but what he showed me next was hard not to react to but I managed to stay calm. He told me he was after a Male Mallard off the canal to eat I said how was he going to get one he said he had a net and then from his shoulder bag he pulled out an air pistol in public while there were dog walkers 20metres away. So I have a description a name and other evidence plus I asked him about another local poacher we have been keeping an eye on and he confirmed his involvement in poaching. I have reported and put out out an alert on social media to local Middlewich people to keep an eye out for him and if they see him report it to me through social media so I can report direct to the Police, CRT and Environment agency. Here's a quick description of the gentlemen he was in his 50's, glasses, 170cm he had an electric bike with a built in bike stand. He was wearing camouflage trousers, blue striped coat. His fishing net was carried in a blue long and thin pole bag on his back and his air pistol was in a burlap shoulder bag like the one below.

 With local Joggers, walkers, dog walkers, cyclists and boaters informed I am hoping this will be the last encounter with this individual as I am hoping I may have scared him off from trying anything in this part of Middlewich as I made it quite clear that he knows there are many people looking after the area.

Thank you

Mike Mottram

Stay safe and protect Nature where and whenever you can
Here's my latest bird sketch of a Male Capercaillie

Patrolling the local canals to keep the wildlife safe

Over the past few weeks I have started going for a night walk with a small group of wildlife lovers. Lately while walking we have noticed people not known to the area parking up and heading out with torches and species of dogs used for hunting at last light. So to put off these individuals from there activities we have been regularly checking the canal stretches and rural car parks along the T&M for suspicious behavior. As most of the group walks the canals regularly we know who's who and would recognize vehicle that are new to the area but we record number plates in case we find anything untoward. This afternoon we observed and kept an eye on 2 eastern Europeans in camouflage paying lots of attention to a local boaters cargo and as we have had reports of this activity where people come down to research an area then return at night with nets to catch fish and any other water bird life they can catch. As the T&M area of my local patch is where I do lots of filming of wildlife I feel that I am giving back by protecting and patrolling the area to make sure there safe from any human harm especially over the quiet and dark Winter months when boaters are scarce. The canal tow paths at this time of year maybe muddy and slippery but in the darkness there peaceful and on a clear night to get away from the bright streets lights and look up at the stars is a very calming experience.

Thank you for reading

Mike