The Upside-Down Bird is hatching nuts again
I’m fascinated by Eurasian Nuthatches. They’re unlike any other bird in the UK. That’s because all the world’s other nuthatches live elsewhere. …
When Robin and Blackbird meet
Within bird species there’s a strict pecking order. It’s played out in battles over territory, food and mates. Robins are some of …
Robins – a classic gateway drug to hardcore nature appreciation
It’s lovely light in South Devon today and there are Robins galore: This one appears possessive over its stash of seeds. The …
Stock Dove
Slowly, very slowly, I’m getting closer to a decent photograph of a Stock Dove. I need to get closer. I need to …
I’m never going to complain about having sore feet again
I love photographing Chaffinches. You have to get the exposure just right to show their plumage in all its glory. The females …
Fluffy Blue Tit
Isn’t this a gorgeous little character?
The mellow babble of the Hedge Chanter
There’s a Dunnock in the undergrowth. It looks so beautiful in this light. It’s too busy searching for food amongst the russet …
Black Blackbird bird
I love how scaly male Blackbirds look in the sunshine. This one has a few white feathers. It’s leucistic to a tiny …
Sorrowful Robin
Robins are quite different from the common public perception. Here’s one with an injury after a rival had drawn blood. The poor …
Duck!
Ducks are a constant source of comedy. If you want to tell a joke including an animal, a duck is the safest …
Heron portraits
It’s difficult light in The Regent’s Park in central London, but I’m making the most of being this close to a Grey …
The Grey Heron and the frankfurter sausage
I’m in London for a conference. It’s a whole day event, but I’m speaking at the end of the day, so I …
Rock Pipits on breakwater beach
This is the view from Brixham’s Breakwater Beach on a pleasant day. There’s the insistent calling and elegant undulating flight of two …
What’s wrong with ‘Managing deer for climate, communities and conservation’?
A new document has just been published campaigning for new laws to kill deer in Scotland. It’s from a large coalition of organisations. They …
Ruddy Turnstone portraits
After the shock of getting so close to Ruddy Turnstones I decided to try some portrait photography. Here’s my first approach: They …
Ruddy Turnstones at Brixham breakwater #3
I’ve been enjoying filming the Ruddy Turnstones in Brixham. I hope these tiny films have given you some insight into their lives. …
Ruddy Turnstones at Brixham breakwater #2
I never expected to get quite so close to Ruddy Turnstones in Brixham. I certainly never expected them to act like pigeons.
Ruddy Turnstones at Brixham Breakwater #1
I set off before dawn to see what wildlife I could find at Brixham breakwater in South Devon. I was delighted with …
Purple Sandpipers at Brixham Breakwater
I’ve lived in Devon for thirty years and yet hardly ever been to Brixham. It’s meant to be beautiful. It’s just that …
Why do people hate Greta Thunberg?
I’ve noticed something consistent in all my social media feeds; a deep-seated hatred of Greta Thunberg. She’s the 17 year old young …
The Shag and the Pouting at Brixham breakwater
There’s a Shag off Brixham breakwater. It’s popped up out of the water quite close to me. I love it when they …
Mistle Thrushes and mistletoe
There’s a Grey Squirrel barking in alarm in this Devon churchyard. I’ve not heard one bark like that before. “Must be a …
Gran Canaria – the outtakes
It’s been an incredible few days in Gran Canaria with my son. We’ve laughed and smiled at so many great experiences. The …
Barranco de Barafonso
My son has another photograph he’d like to take. He’s researched it all and knows the route we’ll be taking and we’re …
Pipit on parade
Many of the plants on Gran Canaria have given up on having leaves. Some have evolved to simply have stems and spikes, …
The dunes of Maspalomas
My son has a specific photograph in mind and he wants to get it. He’s a very driven young man. The location’s …
Canary Islands Chiffchaff on the balcony
We’re in Gran Canaria for a few days and we’ve moved to Agaete, a coastal town. There’s a wonderful walk to Puerto …
Pipit
We can see Tenerife in the distance. The peak, Teide, is 3718 meters high. No wonder it’s visible above the clouds. Peeping nearby …
Incoming!
We’ve diverted from our route slightly to visit Roque Bentayga on Gran Canaria. Looking down into the ravine, it’s great to see …
A Canary Islands Robin deep in the prehistoric Laurel forest
A quick check reveals there’s a stretch of original Laurisilva forest on our route through Gran Canaria. That’s exciting. How often do …