The fine weather has also brought many human visitors over the Easter weekend. It can sometimes be difficult to achieve a balance between public access and non-disturbance of the wildlife, but most people seem to appreciate that we have a nature reserve and not a country park! I did have to ask two people to dismount from their bikes on the boardwalk today (that's a first!). More seriously, yesterday a local photographer apparently flushed the Hoopoe to obtain "action shots", selfishly disregarding birders and other photographers who had been watching from a more respectful distance. In the process he also disturbed two resting Green Sandpipers.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Easter Vagrants
This amazing Spring continues to produce some notable sightings. Today a very rare dragonfly, a Vagrant Emperor (Hemianax ephippiger), was present at the farm. There are only a handful of British records of this species, which hails from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. However, at least eight others have been reported in the UK recently, including several in Cornwall. This is the 18th Odonata species recorded from the reserve.
The fine weather has also brought many human visitors over the Easter weekend. It can sometimes be difficult to achieve a balance between public access and non-disturbance of the wildlife, but most people seem to appreciate that we have a nature reserve and not a country park! I did have to ask two people to dismount from their bikes on the boardwalk today (that's a first!). More seriously, yesterday a local photographer apparently flushed the Hoopoe to obtain "action shots", selfishly disregarding birders and other photographers who had been watching from a more respectful distance. In the process he also disturbed two resting Green Sandpipers.
The fine weather has also brought many human visitors over the Easter weekend. It can sometimes be difficult to achieve a balance between public access and non-disturbance of the wildlife, but most people seem to appreciate that we have a nature reserve and not a country park! I did have to ask two people to dismount from their bikes on the boardwalk today (that's a first!). More seriously, yesterday a local photographer apparently flushed the Hoopoe to obtain "action shots", selfishly disregarding birders and other photographers who had been watching from a more respectful distance. In the process he also disturbed two resting Green Sandpipers.
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Fair comment Andy. It is really hard when you care about the place and the flora and fauna that is thriving there. It is a balance that will always be hard to achieve. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Windmill 1 and it's very difficult for people to fully appreciate and understand what goes into running a reserve as they have done it especially as we are volunteers.
ReplyDeleteAndy, I think you should talk to the photographer concerned before you make and publish such statements, rather than just weigh in with one side of a story. I think you got this one wrong, in my experience of the man concerned. (it's not me.) Andy Carey
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Andy, and it's a fair one. I was trying to convey that it's not all plain sailing trying to warden what is becoming an increasingly popular site, especially during a busy holiday week. There have been previous problems with disturbance on the reserve and I'm sure we would all agree that welfare of the birds must take priority over anybody getting close views or photographs. I reported, using the word "apparently", what was relayed to me by reliable witnesses who say they were watching from further away in the field and were angered by what they saw. This would not be the first time that birders and photographers have clashed over getting too close and no doubt it won't be the last. Maybe with hindsight I could have made a less specific remark, as I've no wish to cause ill feeling. But I didn't name names and of course have no intention of doing so. In the circumstances it's perhaps a little odd that you seem to be aware who "the man concerned" is!
ReplyDeleteHi Andy
ReplyDeleteI was also down at Windmill holiday weekend and whilst it's fair to say it was busier than usual, compared to west Cornwall the place was a haven. As I walked up to the information point I met a young woman with her daughter, not your usual birding types. The little girl must of been about 5 and was delighted as she had just found a snake skin that she was going to show to her friends. Surely a big part of what conservation is all about. Keep up the good work.
Many thanks anonymous. It's really rewarding to see kids enjoying the farm.
ReplyDeleteNothing odd about it Andy, I'm sure there weren't that many photographers around and I look at the bloggs on a daily basis. Anyway, let's all move on.
ReplyDeleteLOL. The photographer Vs Birder war rages again. I was under the immpression that there was a birder 'code of conduct'. Im sure all birders know it (even if they don't adhere to it!)and Andy P quite rightly states that the welfare of the bird comes first. Do photographers know about this code? I class myself as a birder that takes photographs. So I know the code. What strikes me is that many of these 'bird photographers' dont even carry binoculars! Its so easy now to pick up a big lens and digital camera and take great bird photos, everyone presumes the man behind the camera is a birder. Not always the case.You only have to look at some of the Blogs to see identification mistakes from some 'bird photographers'!!
ReplyDeleteA list of recommendations appeared very recently in British Birds magazine. Here they are:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2667
I remember when Stuart was asked to speak about photography from time to time, he always said that the first thing a photographer needed to get good results was a good pair of binoculars.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvellous reserve Windmill is! Something for everyone. And an exquisite warden in Andy. Wish I lived closer.