Pink-Foot Geese at Martin Mere

Spent the afternoon at Martin Mere WWT Wetland Centre and saw an amazing assortment of birds, including thousands of migrating Icelandic Pink-Foot Geese and Whooper Swans. Unfortunately we couldn't stay until dusk when around 20,000 pink foot geese fly onto the Mere from the surrounding fields, where they spend their daylight hours. A few pink foots can be seen in the photo below which I took around 3.30 p.m. today. http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere/

Photos by Marge Ishmael

Otter watching at Martin Mere

Visited Martin Mere today and watched the Otters. Apparently they are a rare sight as they rarely venture out of their den. Maybe the fact that someone was throwing squid to them had something to do with their afternoon appearance!   For more info. on Ned, Thai and their offspring, see the following link:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere/whats-on/2012/07/12/otter-talk-and-feeds/

UK High Street Giants Avoiding Millions in Tax

This is depressing and shocking news...but can't say I'm so surprised:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eurobonds-scandal-the-high-street-giants-avoiding-millions-in-tax-8897591.html

Breathtaking level of food waste in UK (£700 per family on average)

ww.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10066394/Tesco-to-battle-breathtaking-level-of-food-waste.html

From SKY News:

"Every family in the UK wastes an estimated £700 a year throwing away food, according to Tesco, which is launching a campaign to help curb the problem. The supermarket's first ever food waste figures for its operations reveal that in the first six months of this year, 28,500 tons of food waste were generated in Tesco stores and distribution centres. 

The research shows that 68% of salad to be sold in bags is thrown out, as are just under half of bakery items. Around 40% of apples are chucked away, a quarter of grapes are wasted between the vine and the fruit bowl, and a fifth of all bananas are unused - with customers throwing one in 10 in the bin. 

As a result of the findings, the retailer is to end multibuys on large bags of salad and is developing mix-and-match promotions for smaller bags to try to help customers reduce the amount they are wasting.

It is also removing "display until" dates from fresh fruit and vegetables, using smaller cases in stores and rearranging 600 in-store bakeries to reduce the amount of bread on display, with the aim of better stock control and less waste."

Earthquake rumors over giant oarfish mystery

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24546693

Two giant snake-like fish (oarfish) washed up onto Californian beaches in recent days may have died as a result of seismic activity under the seabed that occurs days or weeks before an earthquake, scientists say.

These giant snake-like fish are linked to a Japanese myth that says when they come ashore, an earthquake will follow. In the land of the San Andreas Fault, people listen more carefully to harbingers of doom.  Scientists are also testing the fish for radiation after leaks at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant which could have crossed the Pacific ocean.

Sweden is the best country for old people

Getty Images

Sweden is the best country in the world in which to grow old, a new survey reveals today, closely followed by Norway and Germany, with USA and Britain trailing behind in 8th and 13th place respectively.

Global Rankings Table:  http://www.helpage.org/global-agewatch/data/global-rankings-table/ 

More@http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-24346962