Extra!Extra! (Madura)

Griffon Vulture, Extremadura, May '16 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Black Redstart, Extremadura, May '16 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Black Redstart, Extremadura, May '16 (Copyright T D Wright)

Egyptian Vulture, Extremadura, May '16 (Copyright T D Wright)

Egyptian Vulture, Extremadura, May '16 (Copyright T D Wright)

Well, just when I thought my EU bird list was doing really well it suffered a huge blow with all my UK rarities no longer counting! Disaster! Seriously, though...I have enjoyed my recent trips to these fantastic EU bird havens.I visited a number of EU-funded Special Protection Areas in Extremadura and these photos are just a slice of what I saw. I'm just worried now that it may not be possible to continue this adventure in future as costs may increase and my own kitty is running low anyway. There's so much more I'd like to see there but the future looks uncertain just now. Let's all hope that things work out for the best and my fears are unfounded. Remain Birding!

Remain Birding?

Blue Rock Thrush, Extremadura, June '16 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Calandra Lark, Extremadura, June '16 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Well, I hope you've all cast your votes today. I'm about to do so myself. I met many birders,naturalists and conservationists in Spain recently and they were very worried that the UK might leave the EU. This would be a "disaster" they told me as British conservationists and scientists contribute a lot to wildlife conservation measures e.g. the current issue in Spain where vultures and birds of prey are being poisoned by toxic carcasses. This matter will hopefully soon be resolved and our most important country for bird conservation will remain as such (please excuse pun). Whatever its faults, the EU is important to conservation.