Song thrush, first 2013 song

Last night, I heard a robin sing.

That is not unusual. Not even during the night. Not even in winter.

This morning, I heard a song thrush sing. My first song thrush song of 2013.

This video is called A British Song Thrush bird singing for all he is worth in Dorset.

Probably, the bird sang because of relatively mild weather. Song thrushes are sensitive to higher than usual temperatures. Sometimes, they even start to sing in December. Usually, they start their songs in February.

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British New Year butterflies

This video is about peacock butterflies.

From Wildlife Extra:

5 butterfly species spotted in UK on January 1st!

2013 butterfly sightings

January 2013. Remarkably, 5 different species of butterfly were recorded in the UK on January 1st, some in several locations according to Butterfly Conservation. There are always a few early sightings, but we think it is very unusual to have 5 different species on January 1st.

The species and locations are:

A Brimstone was spotted in Bedfordshire
Red admirals were spotted in Hampshire Gloucester & Surrey
Painted Lady were seen in Dorset, Isle of Wight and Sussex
Small Tortoiseshell in Dorset and Sussex
Peacock in Staffordshire and Sussex

If you think you might have seen a first butterfly of the 2013, let Butterfly Conservation know.

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Don’t kill badgers, vaccinate them, RSPB says

This video is about badgers in Dorset, England.

From the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Britain:

RSPB: Badger vaccination is the best step for farmers, cattle and wildlife

Last modified: 17 September 2012

The RSPB will this autumn be taking positive steps towards controlling bovine Tb by vaccinating badgers on its land at Highnam Woods in Gloucestershire.

The announcement comes after Natural England today issued the first licence permitting the control of badgers in West Gloucestershire.

The Society’s Highnam Woods reserve lies just outside this trial zones.

The national wildlife charity believes vaccination is the best way to both ensure the health of the badgers on its land and act as good neighbours to nearby farmers who could be affected by the forthcoming trial.

Martin Harper said: “The dairy industry has endured terrible times while trying to cope with this devastating disease.

“However, we have never been convinced that the best way to help farmers is to force them to foot the bill for a contentious cull that is only expected to reduce outbreaks by about 16 per cent.

“This is a lot of effort for a small gain. Bovine Tb needs tackling properly and we believe vaccination offers the best hope for cattle, badgers and the industry.”

In addition the RSPB is concerned that if, after the trials, a cull in all affected areas is sanctioned then up to 30 per cent of the English badger population could be removed. This reduction through a cull would be unprecedented and would severely affect the conservation status of one of Britain’s most-loved mammals.

England’s Jurassic Coast, video

This video from Britain says about itself:

Aug 22, 2012 by JurassicCoastWHS

A fabulous light-hearted any python-esque 5 minute animated film about the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural World Heritage Site. The Jurassic Coast stretches from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset and shows 185 million years of the Earth’s History in just 95 miles – covering the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods of geological time. The film is made by Tim Britton from the wonderful Forkbeard Fantasy… you’ve got to love ‘em!