Fossilised reptile poo contains 200-million-year-old parasites

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2386267-fossilised-reptile-poo-contains-200-million-year-old-parasites/ 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chris-packhams-sniff-goshawk-chick-201305320.html 

Packham's programme "Earth" is phenomenal and in many ways superior in his presentation to the legendary David Attenborough whose skills are starting to wane, unsurprising as he will soon be a hundred! It is likely that Packham will take over Attenborough's mantle and also become a National Treasure given the number of other outstanding enterprises he is involved with.

Peregrine Falcon image wins bird photo award

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-66706149 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/rare-photo-shows-macaque-riding-215808249.html 

https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/comma 

Always interesting to read about the Comma, Roger. It's a very recent migrant to Ireland. 

http://www.irishbutterflies.com/comma_butterfly_of_ireland.html#:~:text=Rare.,Nettles.&text=There%20are%20only%20occassional%20sightings,possible%20migrants%20from%20the%20UK .

I saw one for the first time 2 years ago.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2023/0917/1405756-lough-neagh/ 

The largest lake in the British Isles, it's a marvellous sight, so large that it almost feels like you're looking out at the sea when you're on it's shores.

Lough Neagh: Environmentalists hold 'wake' after algal blooms

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66835897 

"Researchers have struggled to explain the precipitous decline in central Europe’s insect populations since the 1980s, but a new model suggests weather is to blame."

Europe’s ‘insect apocalypse’ may mostly be driven by changing weather

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394290-europes-insect-apocalypse-may-mostly-be-driven-by-changing-weather/ 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66985273 

Malaria kills mostly babies and infants, and has been one of the biggest scourges on humanity.

It nearly got me though. I've got to thank Quinine for me being here this afternoon. 

Which is why all these years later I only buy tonic water with added quinine. 

A good read I bought in 2003 three years after I recovered.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fever-Trail-Search-Cure-Malaria/dp/0330481851 

Bears, birds and kangaroos: Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-67004896 

Lots of Amanitas about: 🍄

The New Forest has been awash with species since August and even the September heatwave didn't slow them.

Bit of a topsy turvy season though- currently honeysuckle and rhododendrons in flower and different species of apples blossoming again.

On my 6 day walk I saw my first ever glow-worm, at West Bexington in Dorset.

Anecdotal (or other) records from elsewhere in the UK?

1. The decimation of the UK rabbit population. [e.g. for buzzards]

2. Frequency of road kills and significance as a food supply. [e.g. magpies]

3. Road verge management/mismanagement. [Kestrels in particular.]

When we lived in Cambridgeshire 50 years ago we regularly drove to West Wales. Over the years the point of sighting buzzards steadly moved from the Welsh border to our lane in South Lincolnshire by the 80s! As far as red kites are concerned there was only one spot in Wales we found them in the 60s. Now these are frequently seen here. [Post reintroduction of course.]

As far as Kestrel numbers are concerned I'd agree with you: they are less common than they were. Hawk-conservancy say:

"One of the difficulties with this situation is that the exact causes of the decline in Kestrels are not known. Loss of habitat has been suggested, along with decreasing prey populations, agricultural chemicals and lack of suitable nest sites."

I can't argue with that view. See:

https://www.hawk-conservancy.org/conservation-research/uk/kestrel-conservation/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon 

https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bugs-matter/ 

Those rates of decline are shockingly bad.

Buglife's 2022 summary report...

https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2022/12/Bugs-Matter-Summary-Report-2022-A4.pdf 

Thanks Roger. It’s interesting that the rate of decline in Scotland is almost half the level in Wales, and that Wales was worse than England. I wonder why?  A lower insect population in Scotland?  Slower roads?

The windscreen thing is a red herring. Yes, there were more bug splats in the 80s than now, but that's partly due to the way we were driving bricks then (i.e. Escorts and Novas), versus today's streamlined cars. The drag coefficient of a modern Astra, for example, is lower than that of a McLaren Speedtail - albeit it doesn't go anywhere near as fast!

As a result of cars become more aerodynamic, you'd expect fewer splats.

The number plate test would be better (as those are still much as they were), but I don't know how far back data goes for that one!

The Wiki link compares 2004 with 2019 and 2021 showing a 50% and 72% decline in number plate splats

There's also a curious possible contradiction in the Wiki link "The research also found that modern cars, with a more aerodynamic body shape, killed more insects than boxier vintage cars". but the research referred to relates to a study of number plates on those cars.

So does a more aerodynamic design mean that the abrupt change of flow, which is what would trap insects, is enhanced over the number plate if the rest of the car body is aerodynamically styled? Or that the styling encourages/allows faster driving?

Bat uses its huge penis like an arm during sex

Video recordings reveal that penetration does not occur when serotine bats mate; instead males use their penis to push a protective membrane out of the way

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403830-bat-uses-its-huge-penis-like-an-arm-during-sex/ 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/09/david-attenborough-film-tells-of-risky-mission-to-excavate-t-rex-of-the-seas-from-dorset-cliff 

I've been aware of this for many months or more. This image in the article is the first public picture I believe. An extraordinary story from my neck of the woods. One of the most dangerous parts of the coast to extract fossils. Whenever I venture there there is always a cliff fall of some kind. You have to time to the minute the tidal conditions.

The oil company Perenco based at Wytch Farm in Dorset have donated £40 000 for a special case to made for the skull which will be on display at Steve’s museum from the 2nd January 2024.

If you are interested in David Attenborough documentaries, the Dorset coast, natural history or fossils it's at 6pm on New Year’s Day BBC.

Nick