Chadderton Hall Park - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Rochdale Canal

Britain is full of decaying infrastructure. Whether it’s disused railway lines, abandoned after Dr Beeching’s report, or stagnant canals filling slowly with the silt of ages. Here’s the still-functioning Rochdale Canal, saved after significant effort to reverse its decline. It could still do with a little tender care. I wonder …

Goosander - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It’s Goosanders all the way

I’m having a trip to Stover Country Park in cold weather when I’m delighted to see there are Goosanders on the lake. …

Hartshead Pike - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Hartshead Pike

Hartshead Pike is a familiar landmark to anyone from Oldham or Ashton. It’s a monument on top of a hill with commanding …

Nuthatch - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Nuthackers

This Nuthatch had a lot to say at Stover Country Park. The noise they make is just like an insistent car alarm. …

Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

St Paul’s Church

Do you know that feeling of going somewhere every day and being so familiar with it that you don’t see something special …

Goosander - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Goosey Goosey Goosander

I’m fascinated by Goosander. Just take a look at the ‘teeth’ on this beak. They first bred in the UK in 1871 …

Jay - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Talkative acorn-eater

The crow family clearly has more than mourning clothes in its genetic wardrobe. This pink Jay with electric blue wing flashes is …

Male Marsh Harrier - Greylake - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Marsh Harrier at Greylake

We’re on a trip to RSPB Greylake in Somerset. There’s a male Marsh Harrier harrying the marshes. I love its grey go-faster …

Goosander - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Goosander

There’s a Goosander on one of the ponds at Daisy Nook. What a fabulous experience. I have to lie down on the …

Female Kingfisher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Queenfisher at Medlock Vale

A lovely, cold, New Year walk in Daisy Nook Country Park was brightened even more by a flash of emerald green. It’s …

Grey Seal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Sneezing

We’re on board the Kelly’s Hero out of Brixham when a loud sneeze echoes across the water. This Grey Seal has a …

Common Guillemot - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Common Guillemots on the turn

This is a Common Guillemot in its non-breeding plumage. Some of them, however, are getting frisky. This one is in breeding plumage …

The Lone Kayaker - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Lone Kayaker

The Lone Kayaker is the name of Rupert Kirkwood’s blog about his life kayaking around the coast. It’s well worth browsing because …

Grey Seal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Blubber

The pontoons in Brixham harbour are the dry dock for up to forty Grey Seals, Halichoerus grypus, at the moment. They’re curious …

Flammulina velutipes - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Velvet-stemmed Little Flame

December is the best time to find Velvet Shank fungus, Flammulina velutipes. It’s a species I found as a child: And here …

Atlantic Puffin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Artificial Rubbish – part 4

I decided to ask Chat GPT to give me a summary of my blog. According to an Artificial Intelligence summary provided as …

Merlin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey )not the)

Merlin at Greylake

When I hear that there’s been a Merlin at RSPB Greylake in Somerset I decide I’ve just got to pay it a …

Leaf Miner in Beech leaf - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Fresh food

When a micro-moth laid an egg in this Beech leaf it infected the leaf with a bacterium. That bacterial infection disrupted the …

Remembrance - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Refusing to change tense

I was searching for a Yellow-Browed Warbler in a local copse when I came across this bunch of flowers tied to a …

Common Cormorant - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Cormorant in Brixham Harbour

The colours of Brixham boats reflected in the water of the harbour make a superb backdrop to the bird life here. Especially …

Black Throated Diver - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Diverse Divers

We’ve just been on another Brixham wildlife cruise skippered by Dave on Kelly’s Hero and run by Mike Langman. It’s been as …

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Rubbish – part 3

There’s more artificial intelligence swamping Facebook at the moment. At least the page Nature’s Symphony lists itself as a “Digital Creator”. Other …

Sanderling - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Sand Ploughman

The name Sanderling is from the Old English sand-yrðling, or ‘sand-ploughman’. This one has been ploughing the tideline for tasty morsels and is heading …

Arctic Tern - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Feeding time

One of the most interesting aspects of bird behaviour is watching parents feeding their young. In this case, I can’t be sure …

Budleigh Salterton Beach - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Budleigh Salterton

I love how comfortable this woman has made herself despite the pebbles on the beach. They really do conform to your body …

Catch of the Day - 60 x 60cm framed

Framed print

I’ve just sold a print of my photograph of a Puffin with a face full of fish: The print is 60cm x …

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Rubbish – part 2

Facebook isn’t the only social media platform overwhelmed by Artificial-Intelligence-produced content. Threads is full of it, too. Here’s one user who is …

Sketching Newton Abbot - The Hall of Einar

Sketching the Union Bridge

I’m continuing filling my sketchbook and having fun sketching Newton Abbot’s Union Bridge. It was built in 1822 and has been swallowed …