Great Black Backed Gull
Great Black Backed Gulls are gulls, yet on an epic scale. Seeing one coming towards you is quite a sight: That’s some …
Great Black Backed Gulls are gulls, yet on an epic scale. Seeing one coming towards you is quite a sight: That’s some …
Seeing an Arctic Skua is like witnessing a mythical bird come to life. If they didn’t exist they would have to have …
There’s a Ringed Plover on the shoreline of North Ronaldsay, one of the most northerly islands of Orkney: I creep closer to …
There are Linnets on the tops of the wind-burnt Sycamore trees in my garden: They love being up high on bare, exposed …
Oystercatchers are known as Skeldro, Chaldro, or Shaalder in Orkney. If you think those names are difficult, internationally they are known as …
“I seen a peanut stand, heard a rubber band I seen a needle that winked its eye But I be done seen …
The wild North Sea coast of Westray in Orkney is not for the feint hearted on a blustery day. There are Fulmars …
I get the word that there’s a rare bird on the Island. In fact there are three of them; they are Two-Barred …
It only takes an hour and a half to cross the Pentland Firth from Scrabster to Stromness on the Northlink ferry. Standing …
The Canada Goose is yet another of the species introduced to the UK by people. We have the cheek to refer to …
There’s a Broad-Bodied Chaser dragonfly rattling around me at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes: There are plenty of damselflies on the reeds in …
There’s a Green Woodpecker here at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes. I can hear its laughing call in the distance. I’m trying to …
Skills grow like children; imperceptibly. It’s over forty years since I saw my first Reed Bunting and went home to draw it …
I’ve been working in Newmarket and Cambridge for a few days. The summer evenings are light and the weather is beautiful so …
There’s an amazing Red Fox which spends its time in the gardens here in Virginia. I’m surprised to see one here, but …
A lunchtime trip to the garden in Virginia and there’s a Skink on the path. It’s bathing in the hot sun and …
Whenever I’ve heard a bird singing, here in Virginia, and I haven’t been able to recognise its song, it’s always been a …
There’s an ancient battle being played out in the woods and fields of Virginia. It’s Catbird v Cowbird and I have a …
I’m surprised to see what I think are Sand Martins here in Virginia. Surely they’re not the same species? Then the realisation …
I’ve been ever so slightly keen on seeing woodpeckers while I’ve been in Virginia. They are common here because there are many …
I’m out in the heat and the noise of a Virginia forest in the summer and I’m suffering. I’ve bought a litre …
There are plenty of dragonflies over the creek at the bottom of the garden here in Virginia. This one is a Blue …
There’s a Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly, Libellula vibrans, at the bottom of this Virginia garden. It’s a handsome beast: I creep a …
We’re relaxing on the rocks at the side of the Potomac River when a Great Blue Heron flies straight past us. It’s …
There’s a swallowtail butterfly species I’ve never seen before fluttering around me. It’s too close to focus on. I move away and …
In the garden here in Virginia there’s a small pool. One day, as we approached it, a black snake slipped away into …
We set out to see the Bald Eagles. I’ve seen such mouthwatering photographs of the adult Bald Eagles coming to their chicks …
We’re at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in Virginia. It’s not very big and it’s hemmed in on all sides. One of the …
Red Cardinals were once prized as a pet, but their sale as captive birds in cages was banned in the United States …