Spatula
There is a pair of Northern Shovelers, Spatula clypeata, in The Regent’s Park. I sit under a weeping Willow and hope they’ll …
Tame Herons
The Herons in The Regent’s Park in central London are tame. That’s the only word to describe them. I’ve been here in …
A Cetti’s Warbler in central London
I’m in London for a little while having fun with my son. I just have time for a quick visit to The …
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #16 The Curlew
I’m currently reading the third volume of the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests from the 1950s. Times have changed …
Dragging their knuckles
I’m a huge fan of National Trust properties, a paying member, and an enthusiastic visitor to their land and their buildings. I’m …
Football, beer and crisps
I’m in the pub eating a packet of crisps, drinking a pint of beer and watching the football. Great isn’t it. But …
A Red Belted Conk
There’s the familiar orange-red band on this Red Belted Conk. Lovely, isn’t it? Its scientific name is Fomitopsis pinicola. It cheers me …
Juvenile Moorhens
These juvenile Moorhens are clearly hungry. They’ve fluttered up on top of a wall and are helping themselves to seeds which have …
Cycling past Waxcaps
I’m cycling on Dartmoor when I see a Blackening Waxcap, Hygrocybe conica. It’s always a thrill so spot one, so I dismount …
Purple Curtain Crust
I do love a good fungusy twig. Here’s one with Purple Curtain Crust, Chondrostereum purpureum, rippling on it like a cuttlefish. Don’t …
The divine right of kings and wildlife on the menu
I’ve discovered the fabulous menu of a dinner fit for a king, eaten in 1625, served in a local house in South …
One of Britain’s rarest fungi
So you think it doesn’t look like much? I think it looks fabulous. It’s growing in the short grass around a car …
Brushes and combs
Teasel is a biennial plant. That means it takes two years to finish its life cycle. The first year is taken up …
Death to the land
I took a trip to Black Moss Covert Nature Reserve in Cheshire. It was surrounded by lifeless, poisoned land. Black Moss Covert …
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #15 The Oystercatcher
I’m currently reading the third volume of the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests from the 1950s again. Here it …
A Silver-Washed Fritillary
I took a photograph of this Silver-Washed Fritillary, Argynnis paphia, this summer in Italy. They are astonishingly fast, have pointed wings and …
Perching Linnet
I loved seeing this male Linnet perching on the wind-burnt twigs in the garden of Einar this summer. He’s a beautiful sight …
Nuthatch
A Nuthatch has arrived at Daisy Nook. It’s hungry after a cold night. Just look at those claws. No wonder it can …
Yellow fingers grow from the short sward
There are apricot-yellow fingers of fungus growing in the short sward at Emsworthy Mire. Fabulous, aren’t they? They are the eerie fruiting …
Feral Pigeon
An incoming Feral Pigeon in beautiful light is a wonderful sight. It always gladdens the heart.
Deadly
Here’s a fungus you should learn to identify if you’re interested in foraging and eating wild fungi. It’s the Deadly Webcap, Cortinarius …
The Magpie and its nidopallium
Have you noticed how smart and aware Eurasian Magpies are? There appears to be a lot going on in their minds that …
Chicken of the Woods
There’s a young Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus, on an oak tree. Correction, there was young Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus …
Orange Peel Fungus
Orange Peel Fungus, Aleuria aurantia, is unmistakable. Just look at it: I’ve written about it before, and posted beautiful illustrations of it …
Pine-cone Bonnet
The Pine-cone Bonnet, Mycena seynii, is a beautiful fairy-bonnet cap which grows on pine cones. It’s so beautiful I wish I’d brought …
As daft as a Coot
The commonest bird on the water in The Regent’s Park is the Coot, Fulica atra. That must be stressful for them, as …
Blackening Brittlegills
There are Blackening Brittlegills here on Dartmoor. They are fungi which live in broadleaved, mixed and coniferous woodland. They really do like …
Canada Goose
There’s a flock of Canada Geese, Branta canadensis, here in The Regent’s Park. They were introduced in the late 17th century as an …
Spectacular Rustgill
There’s a strange group of fungi on this dead tree stump in the grounds of Exeter University. I’m out again on a …
Ring Ouzels
It’s not very often that you can experience wilderness in England. Contrary to popular belief, we’re not lovers of wildlife and nature …