Mud and Bar-Tailed Godwits
The Bar-Tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica, is a large migratory wader. Calling them migratory is one of the world’s greatest understatements. One of …
Red-Breasted Mergansers
There’s something comical and slightly zany about Red-Breasted Mergansers. Just look at that feathered crest: There are a few birds on the …
The duck that says cryc
Isn’t this female Teal a stunner? The iridescent green colour of the speculum on the wing feathers is breathtaking in this sunshine. …
Eurasian Curlew
Here’s a big beautiful Eurasian Curlew flying past our cruise boat on the River Exe. Whenever I hear the word Eurasian in …
Avocet flypast
I find Avocets so exotic I’m still partially resisting the idea that they actually exist in my life. Just look at how …
Kingfisher on a boat
We had a wonderful time at the weekend on a Stuart Line Cruises guided birdwatching cruise out of Exmouth. The firm are …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 24
Which species is next? We are. If we can’t maintain a healthy natural world, with all its ancient complexity, we are likely …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 23
All wildlife needs is land and to be left alone. Human impact on the planet is devastating the number of species and …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 22
What hope do we have of wolves and bears being reintroduced when beavers prove so controversial? Britain has no wilderness or nature …
Extinction Advent Calendar – Day 21
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 21. The Grey Whale has been with us for 30 million years. We killed the last British …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 20
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 20
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 19
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 19 Just imagine if we still had ancient forests full of wild horses.
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 18
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 18 Named after the county of Kent, but no longer a breeding species here due to habitat …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 17
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 17 The Large Tortoiseshell became extinct in the UK in the 1950s.
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 16
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 16 Many of the extirpations of British species have taken place in relatively recent times. It’s only …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 15
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 15 Hunted to extinction in Britain 8,000 years ago.
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 14
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 14. Blue bugle, Ajuga genevensis has been extinct across the whole of the British Isles since 1967.
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 13
Today’s extinct animal of the British Isles: The Auroch. These impressive, wild cattle finally died out in Britain 1,000 years ago. They …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 12
The Black-veined White Butterfly was first listed as a British species in 1667. This stunning butterfly became extinct in the British Isles around 1925. Sir …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 11
No longer breeding in Britain. Loss of habitat, like wooded pastures, traditional orchards, and changes in agricultural practices to intensive farming are …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 10
Extinction Advent Calendar – Day 10 It’s the little things we’ll miss the most.
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 9
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 9. Elk were hunted to extinction in Britain for meat and skins and their antlers were used …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 8
Extinction Advent Calendar – Day 8. It’s not just animals and plants which are suffering in Britain. Degradation and loss of habitat …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 7
Extinction Advent Calendar – Day 7. Time to mourn the passing of the Brown Bear from Britain. Brown Bears lived in Britain …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 6
Extinction Advent Calendar – Day 6 – extirpated from the British Isles. There’s a Lynx-shaped hole in our landscape. There’s a Lynx-shaped …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 5
The Red-Backed Shrike is no longer considered a regular British breeding bird because it became effectively extinct as a breeding species in the UK in …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 4
Today’s extinct animal of the British Isles #7: The Burbot. In 1590 Burbot were so common they were used to feed pigs. …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 3
It’s Day 3 of my Extinction Advent calendar. Today’s extirpated creature of the British Isles is the Grey Wolf. We killed every …
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 2
Extinction Advent Calendar – Day Two. Large Copper Butterfly – Lycaena dispar. Killed by draining the Fens. Extirpated in 1851.
Extinction Advent calendar – Day 1
Do you feel any grief for the death of our wild heritage? Extinction Advent calendar Day 1. Today’s extinct animal of the …