Dacrymyces deliquescens - Dunster - the Hall fo Einar - photograph (c ) David Bailey (not the)

Dacrymyces deliquescens

There’s a tiny orange fungus on this wet rotting wood. I recognise it from my childhood. It can only be Dacrymyces deliquescens. …

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

Redshank – lover of good clean mud

The Redshank, Tringa totanus, is a Eurasian wader. It’s classified as part of a large family called Scolopacidae. It’s related to the sandpipers, …

Great Crested Grebes - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Great Crested Grebe flypast

You’ve probably noticed that I love a good flypast. Here are two Great Crested Grebes going at speed down the River Exe. …

Black-Tailed Godwit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Black-Tailed Godwitterings

Have I mentioned that I love Black-Tailed Godwits before? Well, yes I have. And with good reason. What I must do now …

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

Phoenix Sounds

I’ve been sketching in Newton Abbot again. This time it’s my local record shop, Phoenix Sounds. I love the vinyl they have …

Black-Tailed Godwit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Muckymouth

This Black-Tailed Godwit is giving me strong muckymouth pie vibes. As a child I loved muckymouth pie. It’s a pastry-encased treat filled …

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

Boomtown Fair portrait #1

Boomtown Fair is an immersive music festival and more. I loved attending, espceially since there are so many paid actors and performers …

Dark-bellied Brent Goose - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

Brent Geese are small Geese, only just bigger than a large duck. On the River Exe we have the dark-bellied Brent Geese …

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

Female Smew

Smew are described as compact diving ducks with delicate bills. Personally I’d call them dinky. The males are stunning bridal white with …

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

Indulgence Tea Rooms

I’ve been sketching in Newton Abbot again. This time it’s the Indulgence Tea Rooms in Devon Square. Here’s what they have to …

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

Smew three

Have I posted too many photographs of Smew? No, I didn’t think so.

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

Carry On Crow

There’s a piece of driftwood and a pool of water in the extended mud at the centre of the River Exe at …

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

Recurvirostra avosetta

There are Avocets on the River Exe and it’s a thrill to see them. Just look at that ridiculous curved beak. It’s …

Black-Tailed Godwit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Incoming Black-Tailed Godwit

I love a landing shot. This Black-Tailed Godwit was just about to touchdown in the shallow water at Seaton Wetlands. It looks …

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

Newton Abbot Bowling Club

I’ve been sketching again in Newton Abbot, in Devon, this time it’s Newton Abbot Bowling Club in Courtenay Park. The Club was …

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

Crowing

There’s a Carrion Crow on a marker buoy in Poole Harbour. It looks so intensely black in this light. I love how …

Black-Tailed Godwits - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Coming in for a kiss

The Black-Tailed Godwits at Seaton Wetlands have been pairing up before their journey north to Iceland for a summer of raising a …

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

Dabbling Gadwall

If you ever think that a bird is a dull colour, take a closer look. The pattern of the plumage of this …

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

Marsh Harrier

I love seeing Marsh Harriers hunting. I’ve yet to see one kill anything yet, though. Surely it’s just a matter of time? …

Sketching Newton Abbot - John Lethbridge Underwater Diving Engine - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

John Lethbridge’s Diving Engine

I’ve been sketching again in Newton Abbot, this time it’s the replica of John Lethbridge’s Diving Engine in Newton Abbot Museum. John Lethbridge …

Black-Tailed Godwit - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Black-Tailed Godwit

The Black-Tailed Godwits at RSPB Radipole in Weymouth are getting their breeding colours ready for a summer of fun and frolics in …

Greenshank and Redshank - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Greenshank / Redshank

I love getting a close view of a Redshank. They’re such expert alarm-callers that they were refereed to as ‘the Warden of …

White-Tailed Sea Eagle - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

White-Tailed Sea Eagle

We’re on a cruise in Poole Harbour with Birds of Poole Harbour. We’re hoping to see one of the White-Tailed Eagles which …

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

Cattle Egret

I have a habit of shooting first and asking ID questions later. It’s a good habit to have. This is a classic …

Black-Tailed Godwits - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Distal rhynchokinesis

Two Black-Tailed Godwits are interacting at Seaton Wetlands. It’s fascinating. The one on the left is the male. He’s dominant, flying and …

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

Pochard

The Pochard, Aythya ferina, has been called Pochard since the mid 1500s but the origin of its name is lost in etymological …