After a visit to Soil Hill was aborted due to dog disturbance a check on Littlemoor Park found it quiet though it was by now late afternoon with dark rain clouds over.
The resident white crow was present along with 8 Brambling, 6 Blackbirds and the usual Tits and Chaffinches.
Soil Hill was,nt the only visit to be aborted today when a planned trip to the local Barn Owl site was called off due to irresponsible birders being reported breaking every rule in the book.
Firstly a single !birder! entered the strictly private plantation in which the bird roosts followed later in the afternoon by another 4 !birders! also in the plantation.
Apart from spoiling it for others watching for the bird from the public footpath it jeopardizes the relationship we have with local landowners getting the true birders frowned on also. More serious than that, the Barn Owl is a schedule one bird making it illegal to approach the birds known habitat or cause any disturbance to the bird.
I think in view of this we need a review on how information is passed round on rare species.
BS