7 nature stories that happened this week
Chris Hitchings
BBC Springwatch Digital Team
Hello! Here's what's been happening this week.
1) Plastic straws could disappear from your local pub
Pubs are calling time on "wasteful" plastic drinking straws, which campaigners say are used only once yet take centuries to decompose. An international campaign encouraging people to “Refuse the Straw” has been gathering supporters, including Vivienne Westwood (who appears in our weekly review for the second week running!), and one UK pub chain has taken the decision to stop automatically putting plastic straws in drinks, replacing them with eco-friendly paper straws instead.
2) Admiral year for butterflies
One of the British Isles' most striking butterflies, the red admiral, has enjoyed a surge in numbers in the last year according to Butterfly Conservation. The charity says people who took part in its Big Butterfly Count recorded an increase of an incredible 223% in Scotland. Other species didn’t do so well unfortunately, but with more than 60,000 people taking part it is the world’s largest butterfly survey.
3) Blue Planet 2 producer has spoken about the upcoming series
You’ve hopefully seen the prequel by now, but may’ve missed this interview with the producer of Blue Planet 2 – who says the stories seen in the new series are so gripping, it's like watching a "real life Pixar” movie.
4) Large numbers of dolphins and small whales have been spotted close to shore in Caithness
Wildlife photographer Karen Munro estimated that there were as many as 40 pilot whales and more than 10 Risso's dolphins swimming together in Dunnet Bay, near Thurso, on Thursday – and her spectacular images prove it!
5) Common gull enters third weekend in the record books
A blog from the BTO has revealed that a common gull, fitted with a ring, has been tracked successfully for the past 20 years. The gull lives around Sligo harbour in Ireland but still has a fair way to go before it breaks a longevity record of 27 years.
6) Non-native moth species found in British Isles
Butterfly Conservation this week reported that a black witch moth, native to Brazil and the southern USA has been found in County Derry. The organisation said that it may have been released or accidentally important. The beautiful creature is not expected to survive long, its life span is expected to be around a week.
7) Autumnwatch is coming back - and soon!
The news you've all been waiting for. This week we revealed that Autumnwatch will be making a return to our screens. However details around locations and dates are yet to be released. Watch this space!
