The Magpie's Hoard

Bigby update

Thanks to the influx of summer migrants, my Bigby list has grown by leaps and bounds over the past ten days: it now stands at 107 species.

My list was also boosted by recent visits to two cracking nature reserves: Leighton Moss and Potteric Carr.

Leighton Moss must be the easiest RSPB reserve to reach by public transport. The entrance is just a short walk from Silverdale railway station and there's now a bus (dubbed the Bittern Bus, no less) which links the reserve with nearby villages.

Although it's closer to home and in an urban setting, Potteric Carr is a little trickier to access by public transport. The no. 72 bus from Doncaster Interchange stops nearby (outside B&Q on Woodfield Way) but you have to negotiate your way across a couple of busy roads to reach the reserve. The no. 75 bus to the Lakeside Shopping Centre is more frequent than the no. 72. From Lakeside, it's a less than pleasant walk of about 500m along White Rose Way to Potteric Carr - it's shame the council didn't include pedestrian access when they built this road!

Bigby

I've just signed up to take part in The Big Green Big Year birding challenge:

The Big Green Big Year is a BGBY is a Bigby

This is a low-key, friendly bit of birding rivalry that is not especially original but which seems appropriate in these days of carbon emissions and climate change. If you have ever felt even a tiny bit guilty about driving or flying to see a good bird (or several) why not join us in a year of carbon-neutral birding?

There are no prizes other than the glory - but we can have fun and keep fit - and there are almost no rules.

The Big Green Big Year has the acronym BGBY and is therefore pronounced Bigby* ... and it is simply a Big Year in which you only count those species seen within walking or cycling distance of your home. As simple as that, no dashing off to the far corners of the planet burning fossil fuels as you go.

There are two principal categories:

The Walking Bigby - During which you list all species seen in 2008 which have been reached on foot from home. If you were traveling by any other means when seen then the bird won’t count for your Bigby.

The Self-Propelled Bigby - This will allow you to extend your range a bit and include birds reached by either walking, on bicycle or by canoe. Walking Bigby birds can be included.

... and we have added a late entrant category for those who would like to try it:

The Public Transport Bigby - This one has been added by public request ... so long as you travel to your walking/cycling/canoeing site by bus or by rail (but absolutely not by taxi, friend's car or plane) and return in a similar fashion then you are doing a Public Transport Bigby. Walking Bigby and Self-propelled Bigby birds can be included.

As I don't own/use a car, I have registered for The Public Transport Bigby. I will keep you informed of my progress!

Off your trolley?

The Economist has an interesting article about the pros and cons of ethical shopping.

A surprising fact gleaned from the article is that:

"half the food-vehicle miles associated with British food are travelled by cars driving to and from the shops."

Perhaps would-be ethical consumers should be less concerned about how far food has travelled before it reaches the supermarket shelves, and more concerned about their own mode of transport.

Food for thought, eh?