Meadow Pipit
Early yesterday morning, I walked onto the South Pennines and within 15 minutes of leaving home, I had seen (and in some cases heard) Red Grouse, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Golden Plover, drumming Snipe, a Brown Hare and the Meadow Pipit pictured here.
These wonderful sights and sounds couldn't fail to lift the spirits but how much do we really value them? How many of these species do you think we totally protect under the law? The answer is one, the Meadow Pipit.
Red Grouse (amber listed), Grey Partridge (red listed) and Pheasant (not listed as it is not native to the UK) are all game birds and are only protected during the close season - Game Act 1831.
Golden Plover (green listed) and Common Snipe (amber listed) can also be shot and are only protected during a close season. By the way, this also applies to Woodcock and Capercaillie (both red listed) and many of our ducks, including the Pintail (amber listed) - The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Brown Hares, which, because of their decline, have their own Species Action Plan under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, have no protection at all and can be shot throughout the year even during the breeding season - Ground Game Act 1880.
At least we have afforded the Meadow Pipit (or Mippit) a right to consult a solicitor 24/7 twelve months a year! Even so, our most common songbird in upland areas has sadly been in decline since the mid-1970s and is now amber listed.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.
Meadow Pipit
Early yesterday morning, I walked onto the South Pennines and within 15 minutes of leaving home, I had seen (and in some cases heard) Red Grouse, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Golden Plover, drumming Snipe, a Brown Hare and the Meadow Pipit pictured here.
These wonderful sights and sounds couldn't fail to lift the spirits but how much do we really value them? How many of these species do you think we totally protect under the law? The answer is one, the Meadow Pipit.
Red Grouse (amber listed), Grey Partridge (red listed) and Pheasant (not listed as it is not native to the UK) are all game birds and are only protected during the close season - Game Act 1831.
Golden Plover (green listed) and Common Snipe (amber listed) can also be shot and are only protected during a close season. By the way, this also applies to Woodcock and Capercaillie (both red listed) and many of our ducks, including the Pintail (amber listed) - The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Brown Hares, which, because of their decline, have their own Species Action Plan under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, have no protection at all and can be shot throughout the year even during the breeding season - Ground Game Act 1880.
At least we have afforded the Meadow Pipit (or Mippit) a right to consult a solicitor 24/7 twelve months a year! Even so, our most common songbird in upland areas has sadly been in decline since the mid-1970s and is now amber listed.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.