Something to hoot about
My friend Paul made and put up an owl box in one of the large trees which border his property. He chose …
St George is late to the rescue
Have you noticed the weather. There’s a possibility that you’re reading this in the UK, so it’s likely that you’re similarly obsessed …
Cuckoos and Meadow Pipits – an ancient battle
I decide to get up at dawn and go to Dartmoor. I’ve decided that before and stayed in bed. This time I …
Green Hairstreak
The Green Hairstreak is a green butterfly. Saying it’s green really does do it a disservice, though. Just look at that colour! …
The Swan’s nest
I’m walking through a narrow walkway in the reeds, looking for Reed Warbler’s nests, when I come across a Swan-made clearing in …
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #9 The House Sparrow
I’m currently reading the third volume of the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests from the 1950s. Times have changed: …
Pied piping Wagtails
There’s a noisy Pied Wagtail family on the River Lemon in South Devon. I’m enjoying their fluttering, wagging, calling and feeding antics. …
Dartford Warblers on Aylesbeare Common
A trip to the Exeter Vaccination Centre was my morning appointment. It’s only seven minutes by car from there to RSPB Aylesbeare …
Noise to weight ratio
Wrens have one of the highest noise to weight ratios amongst birds. I know some people like that.
Buzzard over Dartmoor
I’m hidden in the bushes waiting for Cuckoos when I see a Buzzard heading straight towards me up the hill. It veers …
Orange Redstarts and purple Bluebells
“When will I have time for Redstarts?” I asked a few weeks ago. Well, ‘today’ is the answer.
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #8 The Whitethroat
I’m currently reading the third volume of the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests from the 1950s. Times have changed: …
An inability to cope with nature
Social media has polarised society. We’ve never had such a glorious opportunity to engage with people we fundamentally disagree with. It makes …
Greenfinch
Greenfinches still seem exotic to me.
A Mining Bee volcano spoil heap
A trip to Emsworthy Mire is always a good day, even when the weather isn’t nice. Today it’s lovely weather and the …
Swift succession
These Swifts aren’t really in formation. In fact there’s only one Swift. I took five photographs in swift succession and merged them …
Golden ducklings
There’s something wonderful about the light this evening. It’s very warm and very clear. There’s been a lot of rain recently and …
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #7 The Brambling
I’m currently reading the third volume of the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests from the 1950s. Today it’s the …
“Such are these base ephemera, so born, To die before the next revolving morn”
There’s a Mayfly on my arm. The poet George Crabbe wrote about Mayflies over 200 years ago in 1785. He compared the …
Pecked
This cobble has been tumbled by the waves until it is not quite smooth. It has been ‘pecked’ by crashing against other …
Magpie
Magpies are hated by many bird lovers. People love small, fluffy songbirds and want to protect them. Magpies are clever corvids which …
Bluebells and Bear’s Garlic
I love this Bluebell wood. These are native Bluebells with their thin stems and nodding heads. Their colour is so intense at …
Who lives in a house like this?
There’s one of the biggest nests I’ve seen up this tree in the centre of the wood. It must be the nest …
A fledgling Mistle Thrush in the Devon wood
I can hear the Mistle Thrush alarm call again. Either that or an over-enthusiastic football fan is using a rattle. I spotted …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #36
The Light of the Moon – Gnoss
Tivoli
I love this photograph from our trip to Villa d’Este in Tivoli. The breathtaking 16th Century gardens are enough to take the …
Is this Robin male or female?
It’s a common question on social media. Ashley is “Just interested to know”. There are hundreds of examples of people who are …
A river nest and bath time
Who lives in a house like this? It’s a huge domed nest made of moss in a river bank. It’s a Dippers’ …
When will I have time for Redstarts?
One early morning there’s a male Redstart in the wood. It’s very distant but I can hear it clearly. It’s far away …
An Artist’s Conk on an evening trespass
There’s a lovely woodland nearby. It seems as large as any of the local public-access parks and yet it is privately owned. …