Im just off to watch Bill Baileys bird watching bonanza on Sky 3 20.00 This is the first one of six and I have not seen any previously so I think im in for a treat!!


Well after watching that what can i say......not a lot realy...mmmm

I was out at the Ring of Brodgar yesterday afternoon. There were plenty of Twite still in the bird crop and i had a nice view of a Merlin. This was the first one i have seen foe ages and a so much more thrilling sight for it!! It swept low behind the back of the ring and headed away at waist hight towards the nettle beds at the loch side. I didnt get a snap of it as i was to engaged just watching!! but I did take this one of the ring which i was pleased with. Its so often a job to give a sense of a circle but from the top of the wee mound on the south side seems to work pretty well.

Great to hear a song thrush singing away in the gardens last night. The chafinches are still about the houses as well. It will be interesting to see if they fancy staying and nesting but i suspect the cover roundabouts will not be enough for them and they will slink away.

Seals gain more protection in law

Scottish government news statement.


New seal legislation and licensing

31/01/2011

Legislation comes into force today that makes it an offence to kill any seal at any time, unless holding a specific licence or for animal welfare reasons to end suffering.

In addition to outlawing unregulated seal shooting, the seal provisions under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 will also introduce a new licensing system and introduce a number of seal conservation areas around Scotland.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead said:

"These seal management measures deliver a significant improvement to how we manage the impact of seal predation on fisheries and fish farms around our coast. The new measures have been introduced after extensive consultation and Marine Scotland will now take forward implementation and monitoring.

"The first annual licences have been issued today to those who need to manage seal numbers to prevent serious damage to their fishery or to protect the health and welfare of farmed fish.

"Alongside licensing, we are introducing a number of conservation areas designed to protect vulnerable local populations of common seals. The areas cover Moray Firth, Shetland, Orkney, Firth of Tay and the Western Isles.

"This new system is a good example of how the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 is meeting our responsibilities to communities, conservation and the national economy in managing our unique marine environment. It will allow industry to maximise the benefits from sustainable fishing and aquaculture while minimising any loss to seal predation and providing important seal populations the necessary protection to breed and survive in our waters."

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 seeks to balance seal conservation with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

The implementation of the Act will have three main consequences:

* Makes it an offence to kill or injure a seal except under licence or for welfare reasons and outlaws all unregulated seal shooting
* Triggers the introduction of a number of seal conservation areas around Scotland, designed to protect vulnerable declining common seal populations
* Introduces a new seal licensing system across Scotland and issues associated licences



I can see this deviding oppinion!!!...good thing though.