Chris Sperring MBE - Broadcaster and Naturalist

Also last Night at 7.30pm (up against eastenders) in the ITV West region I was on T.V talking about the affects of the loss of Set-a-Side on Barn owls and others, also looking at the other agri environment schemes as well and of course praising the farmers!

I will at the Wellington food fair on Saturday 5 th July with Cotleigh Brewery, don't forget all you Beer drinkers if you are drinking Barn Owl bitter a penny from every bottle sold in the supermarkets such as Tesco's now goes to our work in the Hawk and Owl Trust. There you are folks, you can now drink beer and do something for the environment at the same time.

Special thanks to the RSPB at West Sedgemoor. I had a great day out with them last week we visited 12 boxes for barn owls that they had erected, barn owls are very late breeding we had 2 boxes where they had not even laid yet and one other which had 4 eggs. If you consider that this time in 2007 I had finished ringing barn owlets that puts nesting almost 2 months behind last year. As one farmer said to me "so much for global warming". Actually these huge weather changes are in fact the consequences of global warming which really are affecting wildlife. On one last note I do have to say what great people they are at the RSPB and in addition what a fantastic nature reserves they look after.

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It's hard to believe that it's more than 10 years since I set up the first live webcam in a barn owl nest with the BBC here in North Somerset. Since then technology has improved and these nest cams are becoming all the rage. But this is the most superb webcam I have seen in a long time, and it is high time we celebrated our predators here in the UK. The Sparrowhawk Island website gives an amazing incite into the secret lives of these magnificent and secretive Hawks.....I am hooked!

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A feature about my wildlife photography appeared in this week's Guardian, and another in Sunday's Observer.

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I have just finished filming 2 different pieces for ITV. The first one is about farming in the UK and demise of Set-a-Side and its possible affects on wildlife. For this programme I have been loaned a camera by ITV to get shots of barn owls hunting, this is now in the bag and I managed to get some good hunting shots lasting about 5 minutes, as they only want about 30 seconds worth I feel sure this will be enough.

The other programme is about gardening and wildlife, emphasizing just how important it is for everyone to do something to help our wildlife, no matter how small your garden or how little you feel you can do.

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I have an article in BBC Countryfile magazine, May 2008, featuring one of my favourite nocturnal walks.

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Thanks to everyone who has commented about my report for World on the Move on BBC Radio 4, which was live from Brean Down on the Somerset coast in south-west England. Here I was witness to the first migrating Swallows flying up the Severn estuary. According to the BBC the listening audience was 1 Million. If you are reading this and haven't heard the programme you can download the BBC Radio 4 podcast from http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/nathistory/

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This is a new series from BBC Natural History Radio. Programmes go out every Tuesday at 11:00hrs BST, on BBC Radio4, and looks in detail at animal migrations around the earth.

This is also a series you can get really involved with, just go to www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/worldonthemove where you can log in your own sightings of migrants near you. Also you can see my own updates placed on the WOTM website in the reports section.

Sand Martins moving through Portbury 05.04.08 Close up of Sand Martin same place and date

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Lots of e-mails and calls after my second appearance with Johnny Kingdom. Johnny is a gas; only sorry that the baby barn owls added a white streak to his camouflaged trousers :)

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The cold days are warming up; just caught these 2 Common Lizards basking in the early morning sun in Somerset. Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers are now singing so I think it's safe to say welcome to Spring!

Most Tawny owls should now be on eggs, indeed 2 of my barn owl nests I check regularly are already nesting. I have just finished an article for the BBC Countryfile Magazine that should be out in May 08, so pick up a copy from all good newsagents. Thanks for the all comments about my appearance on Johnny Kingdoms series. I will be on again during the 5th programme in this series. In will also be appearing on ITV very soon, I will be talking about the affects the loss of set-a-side is likely to have on our wildlife.

Also I should be doing some reporting for the new World on the Move series on BBC Radio 4 - just waiting to receive the recording equipment.

Bird song courses begin soon, and during the end of April and beginning of May I will be leading quite a few Dawn Chorus walks, so another round of 03:00hrs starts with hearty breakfasts to follow!

The Long-eared owl surveying on the Quantocks has now come to a close, but on Mendip (due to adverse weather conditions) we still have to complete 2 more survey nights. Thanks to everyone that has taken part in the Long-eared owl surveys.

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We are over half way through this project in the Mendip and Quantock Hills, so far no calling calling or potential breeding Long-eared's have been heard Mendip though there has been 3 clear and separate observations, however these could be wintering owls as apposed to breeding residents.

On Quantock however we had 4 possibility 5 calling Long-eared owls, the survey methods are proving themselves and the response form people wanting to take part has been overwhelming. When its considered just how un sociable this survey is with people gathering late at night and not finishing until the early hours really does keep the faith in Human nature. This a Hawk and Owl Trust Project sponsored by Sustainable Development fund (SDF) through the Mendip and Quantock Hills AONB, and of course our partners since 1991 Bristol Zoo Gardens. The full results on this project will be available during late summer as we have surveying to do in June as well. However updates will be given on this website.

My thanks to all of you who have joined in this, and very special thanks to Andy Harris Quantock Hills Ranger.

Thanks also to all the people from many different country's that have showed interest.

I have had e mails for USA, Canada, Germany and many others interested in our Long-eared owl work. Keep the e mails coming its great to know this illusive Owl has so many friends out there.

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Save our Squirrels

Just finished filming for the Save our Squirrels project. In this film I present a documentary on this new initiative in Northern England to save Red Squirrel from the advancing and introduced Grey Squirrel population.

This film will be seen in Schools and visitors centers throughout northern England. Its been directed by my old friend Jenny Holden who works for Cumbrian Wildlife Trust. Whilst filming I got to meet some real dedicated people from this project and also interviewed Forestry Commission foresters as well.

This is a great project and if you find yourself in any of the North of England counties you must check out this project, also seeing Red Squirrels is a real treat.

We had good numbers of Tawny owls from the first weekend surveys in Mendip and Quantock, 3 barn owls were recorded from one location. On the way home (in the very early hours of morning)whilst still in the survey area I took this picture through the very dirty car windscreen and using the car lights on dip as lighting. The camera setting was 3200 ISO hence the very grainy picture however this is a Long-eared owl post hunting in one of the survey areas.

I know this is a bad photograph, however it is the classic of using the camera as a way of recording an observation such as this. Whether this Owl is just a wintering bird or a breeding bird will be determined over the next 3 weeks of surveying.

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January 08, is going to be a very busy month for me. I will be organising 2 workshops training sessions as part of the Community Owls project. (this project is a project of the Hawk and Owl Trust and Bristol Zoo Gardens). Different from the other COP projects the training is for surveying Long-eared owls in two areas. If you live in Mendip district or West Somerset district and are interested in joining in these Long-eared Owl surveys then please let me know.

There are quite a few Farm visits I need to make around the region this month, this again apart of the work I do for Hawk and Owl Trust. During these visits I give advice in the field so to speak, mainly about encouraging Birds of Prey and Owls but as I am an all round naturalist I'm more than able and willing to advice on conserving most species likely to found on a English farm.

Its going to be a report writing month as well. I have the Water Vole release report to finally get out, then Oxfordshire Golf club Bird report, and last but no least urgent is a report on the first year of the Community Owls Project (Cop).

PhotographyI have just undertaken by request to take several pictures of Magpies! This I hope to achieve whilst I'm still on my Christmas+New Year vacation, however try finding a Magpie when you really want one, there were 3 in my garden yesterday. The request from the magazine only came through today (30th December) and do you know, just as if someone waved a magic wand all Magpies had gone.

Little by little the album is coming together, sadly I don't get enough time to work on it.

However the little I have done sounds quite good (modesty is my middle name). At the moment its me singing, but I will delete my vocal tracks from the recordings when a singer turns up to sing the songs properly. Kenton Keys (Drums) will be popping in to lay down some new drum tracks so thenat my own very slow pace I can build up a guitar sound around the drum and percussion tracks.

Yesterday and early this morning I have been watching wintering Short-eared Owls which are hunting in full daylight, lovely light coloured male was joined later by a female. I have also this morning been told about a Hen Harrier roost quite close to where I live, so I must check this out over the next few days.

In the garden the Chiffchaff is still with us, along with now 3 Blackcaps, and our list is still growing with Siskins and Brambling being added over Christmas.

I will bring the New Year in from the highest point on Mendip Hills, the views at the Blackdown trig point will mean I can view all the firework displays going off in Bristol, Weston Super Mare, Bridgewater and South Wales, well that is of course if its clear??

I will update the site soon with where I will appearing soon, in the meantime have a happy New Year.

Regular readers of this page will be aware that when I was in Sweden presenting for BBC Radio 4, I interviewed the great Swedish naturalist Tom Arnbom.

Tom is in Russia right now working for WWF on Polar Bear migration, if anyone wants to see his blog which he updates in English everyday have a look at-

I'm hoping to return to Sweden in 08 and catch up with Tom Arnbom and Alar Broberg of Eagle Owl fame.

Just finished recording bits and bobs for Radio Gloucester, when I got back and now into November, with yet another call from a farmer telling me his barn owls were still feeding the second lot of owlets for 2007.

Now I have either found or been reported to me 18 second brood sites with good numbers of owlets in the second brood, and at one site as of 4th November on eggs, meaning a possible fledging date (if laid beginning of November) of around end of January/ beginning of February 2008.

The weather here in UK is still very mild for the time of year, not much rain or Autumn wind so everything at the moment is in the owls favour. More news when I have it.

Yes its true I'm currently engaged in monitoring Barn owl 2nd broods and its the the last week of October, this of course means that some owlets won't fledge until November and at one site if they survive early December 07, I have taken some pictures and will post them up as soon as possible.

June 2007, Points West (local BBC news programme) BBC1 - presenting a piece about wildlife using industrial sites, in connection with the launch of the BBC's Breathing Places project.

June 2007, Springwatch Q&A (live) BBC Radio 4 - following the Springwatch TV series this live show answered viewers questions.

Whenever possible I take the family camping to St.Tinney Farm, near Boscastle in North Cornwall. If you are ever looking for a great place to stay you can't go wrong. Have a look at their website - ohyes and apart from the great bird and other wildlife watching around, they also have their own pub.

This years checking of owl nest sites is well under way, so far it is a much better nesting season than last year, however the May/June rain and below normal temperatures are taking their toll at some sites. I am, however, most worried about the state of the Little Owl in my home area - if anyone else is noticing the decline of our smallest, once common, owl please let me know.

Goblin Combe Courses

See Goblin Combe Environment Centre's fantastic new website at www.goblincombe.com I will be leading various courses this year including Dawn Chorus walks, the famous All Night Wildlife Safari (not for the faint hearted) and an Introduction to Astronomy. For more information and booking visit the Goblin Combe website.

Badger Watch Success!

Thanks to all those who came on the chrissperring.com organised Badger Watch. Despite the rain the watch was a great success; so much so that we are now organising another. There are just 10 places going for the next Badger Watch, so e-mail your interest in this event directly through info@chrissperring.com. Places will be offered on a first come first served basis, so get in touch now!

NB I do not feed or regularly watch these setts, so this is a true test of sneaking into their world un-noticed. The rewards are great, and the behaviour completely natural and unpredictable!

Scotland Trip

I spent a fun week in Scotland recently with a group of other Hawk and Owl minded enthusiasts. We traveled from east to west and spend a couple of wonderful days on Mull. The weather was kind and the wildlife was spectacular - we saw Golden and White-tailed Sea Eagles, Osprey, Mountain Hare and Seals to name but a few. I will get some pics up asap!

Honey Buzzard on Dartmoor

Whilst driving across Dartmoor on the 15th of April (close to Widecombe in the Moor) towards my campsite, I was delighted to look up and see a beautiful Honey Buzzard hovering not 15ft from the track. It took a while to grab my camera from beneath several children, dogs and sleeping bags, but I did manage to grab a few pics as it worked its way over the moor in search of prey. This is the first time that I have photographed these rare and magnificent birds and so (although they are far from perfect) I will put the pictures up asap.

FWAG day for Gloucester farmers

This very successful event took place on the 23rd March, during which I lectured and led some practical conservation demonstrations with nesting boxes for owls and also looking at small mammals and the importance of good wildlife habitat on farms for the whole biodiversity of the area.

London Speaking engagement

I was guest speaker at Slaughter & May in London on the 22nd of March. Entertaining several hundred business men during their lunch hour has never been a problem for me, but I have to admit to being somewhat nervous about being in the big smoke! Thankfully the trains and taxi's ran like clockwork and I survived to tell the tale!

This was a private function however if you wish to book me as a guest speaker then email your request to info@chrissperring.com

Lunar Eclipse 03.03.07

A lovely clear evening gave us some magnificent views of the Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd 2007. I was of course ready with my trusty camera and have just uploaded some shots (which have also appeared on the BBC website). To view these pics go straight to Lunar eclipse and other astro pictures.

Gone Greek!

The Tawny Owl article published in BBC Wildlife Magazine, October 2006, has just been reproduced in Greek for the magazine 'Elethyrotypia'. Welcome to everyone in Greece to www.chrissperring.com. I have already received lots of interest and positive feedback from readers of Elethyrotypia, and as always am interested to hear of owl conservation from around the world.

Johnny Kingdom

I have just filmed an appearance with Johnny Kingdom on Exmoor - more news and transmission dates to follow.

Owl Prowls on the Mendip Hills

If anyone is interested in watching wild owls on the Mendip Hills then e-mail info@chrissperring.com for details of our special events throughout the year. Badger watching and Dawn Chorus' also available at certain times. We can contact you with news of upcoming events, and even organise your own private owl prowl for your group or as a gift.

Owl Prowl on BBC Radio 4

I presented this 5 programme series which ran every afternoon on BBC Radio 4 between the 1st and 5th of January 2007. Unfortunately, the BBC now only leave programme's on their website for 1 week after broadcasting, so this can no longer be listened to.

Join the Hawk & Owl Trust

Please help the Hawk and Owl Trust by joining to become a member, or by 'Adopting-a-Box', both of which you can do by visiting www.hawkandowl.org

Planet Earth Under Threat

I interview Tom Arnbom in Sweden during recording for 'Owl Prowl' and 'Planet Earth Under Threat'.

This was a new series aired in November 2006 on BBC Radio 4. The series looks in detail at the affects of global warming on the natural world, with reports from all over the planet. I report for 2 of the programme's from Sweden, where animals like the Artic Fox and European Lynx are under threat from warmer temperatures enabling the forests to expand northwards into the arctic tundra.

The series is soon to be repeated, so listen out if you missed it first time around. You can participate in the Planet Earth Under Threat blog at: www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/planetearthunderthreat

BBC 1, July 2007

I have just finished working with Tigress Productions on a new series looking at Wildlife Projects. The Programme focuses on two of my very different projects; a Barn Owl habitat creation scheme and a Water Vole re-introduction project. This appearance is within my role as Conservation Officer for Hawk and Owl Trust. Transmission times will be given soon.

BBC Wildlife Magazine

The October 2006 Issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine features a 4 page article by myself on the Tawny Owl; focusing particularly on the poor breeding season of 2006.

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Hawk and Owl Trust News

Hawk and Owl Trust launch Appeal for new Reserve

In 2006 the Hawk and Owl Trust launched an appeal to purchase 138 acres of farmland on the Somerset levels. This will be the first reserve owned by HOT in the southwest and promises to be well worth the wait. This very special piece of land on Shapwick Moor boarders English Nature's Shapwick Heath NNR and has exciting potential for us to create some very special habitats.

The land will be farmed traditionally in order to recreate the habitats of the past, and the Hawk and Owl Trust is keen to get everyone involved in looking after and enjoying this unique reserve. A range of activities and events will take place here throughout the year to interest people of all ages and abilities.

For more information please contact either the Trust HQ on 0870 990 3889 (office hours) or Trustee Barbara Handley on 01761 462017 (anytime).

The appeal leaflet can be found on the

Hawk and Owl Trust North Somerset Group page on this website.

* Through the generosity of its members and many other supporters the Hawk and Owl Trust have been successful in purchasing the Shapwick Moor Reserve. Thanks to everyone who supported us - the future of this special land is secure!

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The Community Owls Project

(A joint Project between Bristol Zoo Gardens and The Hawk and Owl Trust):

The Community Owls Project was launched at Bristol Zoo Gardens on Thursday 11th May 2006. This Hawk and Owl Trust scheme is a joint project with BZG and aims to get community groups involved in learning about and conserving their local wildlife by using owls as flagship species. We provide training, help and support to the 15 groups, enabling them to survey, monitor and help the biodiversity around them. The project is open to any group (or people wishing to form a group) in the Somerset, Avon and South Wales area.

If you would like to know more please contact me, or Bristol Zoo Gardens on 0117 974 7300.

Latest News

Save our Squirrels

Goblin Combe Courses

Badger Watch Success!

Scotland Trip

Honey Buzzard on Dartmoor

FWAG day for Gloucester farmers

London Speaking engagement

Lunar Eclipse 03.03.07