BADGERS AND BOVINE TB PETITION

Firstly, an apology and explanation.
"Blue-Grey" does not exist as a forum for debate or argument. I do not intend to spend my time ranting away at a computer about issues which are irrelevant or dull.
"Blue-Grey" is not political and never will be.
I simply relax whilst posting on this blog, and learn an awful lot through a little observation and research, and post what I find on "Blue-Grey".
Thats all there is to my blog.

However, I do urge you to click HERE and sign the "Black and White petition" to protest about future proposed plans for the mass culling of Badgers in the UK.
Make no mistake, this is NOT about "town versus country" like fox hunting always was, (although some cattle farmers might want you to believe that).
This is about sense, and nonsense.
Please read up on the subject if you need / want to, I certainly do not intend to debate it on this site, but please, I urge you again, click HERE and add your signature to the list.
("Black and White" Link also on list of links on front page of "Blue-Grey").

I apologise for the brief change in direction of "Blue-Grey", but felt that it is too important not to mention at present.
Thankyou.

BEECH MARTEN (STONE MARTEN)

If you decide to travel to Kephalonia for a holiday, and you do a spot of research beforehand to try to establish what creatures you might find on the island, you might be led to believe that Pine Martens dwell on Kephalonia. (Even the Natural History Museum of Kephalonia and Ithaca (located in Davgata on Kephalonia) would have you believe that).
A word to the wise here though - Pine Martens do NOT inhabit Kephalonia, it is the BEECH or STONE MARTEN that does instead, in common with large chunks of the rest of Europe.
Now you might be thinking at this point : "Hold on a minute Mr.Black Rabbit! Surely the Natural History Museum of Kephalonia would know what species of animals are in their neck of the woods - NOT you?!"
Not so again I'm afraid. Anna and I took a detour to the museum one day and to say it was disappointing would be a massive understatement. It was more like a bad school exhibition in a 'terrapin classroom'. It told us nothing we didn't already know, and even had a large photograph of a Sparrowhawk named as a young Buzzard - very different birds even for the most casual of ornithologists or even most people mildy interested in wildlife.
Pine Martens inhabit the far north west of Europe (in the main), whereas Beech / Stone Martens are much more widely distributed all over Europe - even becoming pests in some areas.
We saw THREE Beech Martens during our two weeks. All dead on the roads, 2 near the coast, and one up a mountain, but we couldn't stop to take any photos as there were no laybys at those places - shame really.

I can only assume that people listing the Marten species on Kephalonia thought that the Martens MUST be Pine Martens because of all the (Kephalonian) Fir Trees on the island.
Would the two different species of Martens stroll down a path towards you however, you'd be able to tell them apart quite easily. The Pine Marten is darker with a singular round white 'bib', whereas the Beech / Stone Marten is paler with a 'double bib' under its mustelidy chin.
Easy to remember.

Click photo (not mine) to enlarge