There are five new photographs on the Photo page, starting from number six. I am sure that there must be some good photographers who have not yet sent any photographs in for the Photo page.
This thrush came to visit me yesterday, he is eating cooked pastry. PM.
These mallards were snapped in Monmouth. GJ.
A duck with one of her babies taken at Leeds castle. Bec.
Another view from around Port Isacc Cornwall (aka Port Wenn from the Doc Martin tv programme) Elaine.
The blackbird was supposed to be a thrush but as I got the camera sorted it had flown away and I ended up with this. Sue.
Elsie sent this artical to me that was in todays Northern Echo. I will use it for tonight Diary. Send me the link to any good wildlife stories from your local papers.
Badger baiter jailed after dogs badly hurt
By Graeme Hetherington
A MAN has been looked up for six months after being found guilty of taking part in the “barbaric sport” of badger baiting. John William Lee was arrested as he walked through a busy town centre while blood dripped from the face of one of his dogs. The 40-year-old was also carrying a rucksack on his back with a garden spade sticking out of the top. When his bag was searched, an eight-inch machete was found.
At his trial at Teesside Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Lee, of Farndale Avenue, Middlesbrough, denied one charge of wilfully attempting to take a badger and two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to his two dogs. But the court was told that one of his dogs was in such a terrible condition that a member of the public flagged down a police officer. Lee was arrested in the middle of the afternoon on January 26 last year as he made his way through Yarm town centre.
Matthew Brash, television vet and badger expert, told the court the wounds on the Plummer terrier were the type associated with badger bites. But Lee’s solicitor Nic Woodhouse said: “There was no evidence that any badger had been injured by his dogs and there was no evidence that any badger had been found dead. “My client suffers from mental health issues and anger management problems. When he has these problems he takes himself away into the country for a couple of weeks until he calms down.”
Magistrates found Lee guilty and sentenced him to six months for wilfully attempting to take a badger. He was also sentenced to two months concurrent for causing unnecessary suffering to his dogs and for allowing them to come in contact with wild animals. The court heard the cost of bringing the case and kennel fees was in excess of