1133 Epinotia bilunana Pegwell Garden

1133 Epinotia bilunana Pegwell Garden, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

Red-belted Clearwing Synanthedon myopaeformis

Red-belted Clearwing Synanthedon myopaeformis, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

World loses species with death of Lonesome George

Lonesome George has died, leaving the world one species poorer.

The only remaining Pinta Island tortoise and celebrated conservation icon passed away Sunday, the Galapagos National Park Service said in a statement.

Estimated to be more than 100 years old, the creature's cause of death remains unclear and a necropsy is planned.

Lonesome George's longtime caretaker, Fausto Llerena, found the tortoise's remains stretched out in the "direction of his watering hole" on Santa Cruz Island, the statement said.

Lonesome George was discovered on Pinta Island in 1972 at a time when tortoises of his type were already believed to be extinct. Since then, the animal had been part of the park service's tortoise program.

Repeated efforts to breed Lonesome George failed.

"Later two females from the Espanola tortoise population (the species most closely related to Pinta tortoises genetically) were with George until the end," the park service said.

In honor of Lonesome George, the park service said it was convening an international workshop in July on management strategies for restoring tortoise populations over the next decade.

The Galapagos Islands, situated about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) off Ecuador's coast, is considered a haven for tortoises.

Lizard Orchid Sandwich Bay

Lizard Orchid Sandwich Bay, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

Light Emerald Moth Campaea margaritata Pegwell Garden

Light Emerald Moth Campaea margaritata Pegwell Garden, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

 

This week,world leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Rio+20 Summit. Twenty years on from the original Rio ‘Earth Summit’ that established the framework for groundbreaking international agreements on how to tackle climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

Rio+20 provides a much needed opportunity to reinvigorate the international community, and to set out the steps that must be taken if we are to achieve a truly sustainable, global balance between economic growth and environmental protection.

Tropical rainforests are vital in the twin fights to protect our planet’s biodiversity and halt damaging climate change. The RSPB, and our supporters, are stepping up to help protect these precious ecosystems – but we can’t do it all. We are calling on the UK Government to step up in Rio by securing international agreement to halt the loss of the world’s tropical rainforests.

The RSPB is a founding member of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and we are working together to highlight all the good work that has been done over the past twenty years, whilst making it clear that there is still much to be done and that we simply cannot afford to take any backward steps.

Together we’ve produced an animation, called ‘Reason’s to be Cheerful’, showing the key conservation successes from the past twenty years. We’ve also set up a quick and easy online action to help you contact your MP and ask them to sign the Stop Climate Chaos Rio Declaration. If signed by enough MPs it will send a clear message that the UK supports strong action to protect our planet.

Watch the animation and e-mail your MP today!

Thank you for stepping up for nature, together lots of small steps really can make a big difference.

Steven Roddy
Head of Parliamentary Campaigns

East Blean Walk

Heath Fritillary Butterfly Blean Woods

Enjoyable walk through East Blean today and the highlight of the day was the Heath Fritillary Butterflies.

This butterfly is confined to a small number of sites in south-west England, in Devon and Cornwall, and in Kent in south-east England. It has also been reintroduced at sites in Essex. Although very local in its distribution, this butterfly can be seen in large numbers at some sites in good years.

This butterfly is widespread on the continent and can be one of the commonest butterflies seen in some regions. This butterfly forms discrete colonies and rarely strays from the main breeding grounds.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Oare Marshes KWT

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Oare Marshes KWT, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta Oare Marshes KWT

Little Egret Egretta garzetta Oare Marshes KWT, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Pegwell Garden

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba Pegwell Garden, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

Pfeiffer’s Amber Snail Stodmarsh

Pfeiffer’s Amber Snail Stodmarsh, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Grove

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Grove, a photo by Kinzler Pegwell on Flickr.

OSPREY

With an early morning text from Martyn Wilson that there was an Osprey at Grove I quickly changed and headed to Stodmarsh.When I arrived conditions were overcast,drizzly and a tad misty but the Osprey was perched on a dead tree at Stodmarsh Lake for a few hours.

OSPREY

Courtesy of Martyn Wilson

HORSE RIDING

Saturday as usual was spent watching my daughter Horse ride which I have been doing for the last 11 years.Today had the added excitement of all the horses being spooked by a lorry delivering to the Farm next door to the Riding School.

My heart was in my Mouth for the next 40 minutes !!!!