The justification used by Japan that the Minke Whale population is booming and thereby stopping other whales recovering is - as a rational person might suspect - a pile of complete doo-doo. A widely reproduced report shows that the Minke population has remained relatively stable and that the idea of ‘culling’ them for scientific research is hokum. Now wait for a new argument for continued killing from the corrupt International Whaling Commission in the coming weeks…

The weather is set to be fairly awful (again/still/typical/whatever) in the UK this weekend so why not sit by a window in a comfy chair and take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch? I will be - and then sending in my sightings to help the RSPB ascertain the state of the UK’s garden birds population. Will I get my first House Sparrow of the year? A Starling, Collared Dove, or Feral Pigeon? The excitement mounts (a bit)…

The New York Times has a rather fluff-filled article on the infamous Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island becoming a birder’s paradise.  Here’s hoping that the park stays more wildlife refuge than picnic ground so it truly has a chance to become worthwhile grassland habitat.

Life has been a little turbulent of late so I’d just like to say thanks to Alan Tilmouth (http://dustybins.blogspot.com) for taking time to give me some good advice and encouragement which has substantially helped smooth the waters. I’m very grateful.