Reading @theguardian.com country diary with an open mouth. 😲 My husband's parents lived near Dulwich for decades. The idea that they'd ever have seen shrike, hawfinches or ALL THREE woodpeckers nearby. Wow! But they might have in 1949... #naturewriting - ThreadSky

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nicwilson.bsky.social • 86 days ago

Reading @theguardian.com country diary with an open mouth. 😲 My husband's parents lived near Dulwich for decades. The idea that they'd ever have seen shrike, hawfinches or ALL THREE woodpeckers nearby. Wow!

But they might have in 1949... #naturewriting

Comments

benjyhere.bsky.social•86 days ago

I've lived in the general area my whole life, sad to read. But there are still sparrowhawks, kestrels plus owls, buzzards up on the Hill where London Wildlife Trust does good conservation work. There's always hope that LSWs will return but I imagine it's a long while since a cuckoo was heard, mind.

nicwilson.bsky.social•86 days ago

Good to hear. But yes, I imagine cuckoo days are gone. 😢

rhino10.bsky.social•86 days ago

This is close to where I live. Green and greater spotted woodpeckers are common and I will often see sparrowhawks but the sense of what has been lost is really sad...mind you a red kite is not unheard of so that at least is a recent gain

nicwilson.bsky.social•86 days ago

Good to hear what you still have. And your sense of loss is true across the country, not just in London areas, so I guess it's just symptomatic of the wiser picture.

nickpchurch.bsky.social•86 days ago

I had a woodpecker in my garden the other day funnily enough. Beautiful looking bird

nicwilson.bsky.social•86 days ago

They are SO smart, aren't they?

dominiccoath.bsky.social•86 days ago

My dad, growing up in the 50s in LB Harrow, NW London told me how he would see three pairs of red-backed shrikes on his local common. One of my most dearly held wishes is to tell my grandchildren the reverse of this story.

nicwilson.bsky.social•86 days ago

Oh yes, I can so see why you'd feel that. In fact, I'm just in last week of book edits, focusing on the niggly chapter 'The Nightingale's Tale'. Includes a section on spp. that used to breed near my house, incl. RBS. I'm sad, on walks with my kids, that I can't introduce them to this fantastic bird.

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