Alert
Robins are either alert or they are no longer. Being alert is a life or death capability. This one has a straight-footed …
Lesser Spotted Wildlife
I’m out early in the woods to catch the wildlife before the other photographers and birdwatchers get here. Here is a bit …
Two thirsty Swallows make it Summer in Spring
It’s clearly thirsty work flying from Africa to the UK. I pop into the Devon Wildlife Trust Reserve at Bovey Heathfield for …
Can you see it?
I’m walking along the outskirts of my local industrial estate when a bird flies up from in front of me. It’s been …
A familiar sound
There’s a sound I know coming from the tree tops. I can’t see where it’s coming from. My directional hearing is awful. …
Buzzard drama on Dartmoor
I thought that last week’s Buzzard drama over my local industrial estate was it for me. After all, how much great Buzzard …
Lesser Spotted Birdwatcher
Hello and welcome to my blog, particularly for those who haven’t visited before. This Hall of Einar blog has been going for …
Lichen on gravestones
Lichen is very slow growing. It helps that it often grows on stones with dates carved into them. It gives a different …
A rose in the river
There are occasional bunches of roses tied to shelters or to the river bank here. Someone loved must have been lost. Occasionally …
Lakes and deserts
There are two beautifully contrasting colours of Devonian sandstone in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall in Orkney. Both are 380 million years …
An Auk goak
I spent most of yesterday morning chuckling. There were even a few belly laughs and at one point I found it quite …
A bird I’m still trying to identify
I took this photograph of a bird on the west coast of Papa Westray in Orkney last summer. At first I thought …
Spectacular Buzzard mating display
For the last few days I’ve been walking from my home in South Devon to my local industrial estate to see the …
A Buzzards’ nest
Seeing a Buzzard land on a nest fills me with hope. There’s the possibility of the pitter-patter of tiny Buzzard feet this …
Pale
There’s a very pale Common Buzzard flying around me. Its breast and underwings are almost cream rather than dark brown. It makes …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #34
The Beacon – Harbottle and Jonas
Reeds at sunset
The light is golden as the Earth turns. Delicate tresses of last year’s reed seeds are flicked by the breeze. The water …
It’s inevitable
First come the Brown rats. Then come the even bigger, fatter Brown Rats. And then? Then come the babies. And the whole …
Carrion Carry On
I dare you. Look at this face. Go on. Look at it. And try to see it without it having human characteristics. …
Sweet threats
Why have humans evolved to find bird song beautiful when it’s full of threats and bad language? If I trace my ancestors …
Herring Gulls wheeling in the last rays of sun
Herring Gulls are one of my favourite sights. They’re the epitome of resourcefulness. It’s nearly sunset and there are a few circling …
Industrial estate blossom
Blossom is always welcome. Even when it’s next to the builders’ merchant on the local industrial estate.
When you’re finally happy with something
I tried to get some photographs of a Reed Bunting recently. I posted them a few weeks ago. I was very disappointed …
Otter or Notter?
I’m buried deep in reeds, with slightly damp feet from the oozing mud. I’m following the river bank to see where it …
Flying shadows
A trip on a light aircraft gives a wonderful perspective of Orkney. Here there are cattle, sheep and our shadow.
Sticky buds
There’s a fabulous Horse-chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum, bud above me. It’s such a deep red colour. It looks like a moth chrysalis. Similar …
Long-Tailed Bushtits in blossom
The Long-Tailed Bushtits are still trailing in large caravans across the countryside, making desperate dashes between cover in family groups. Their contact …
After sticks comes mud
The Magpies have finished constructing their nest. Here’s one bringing in the twigs to construct the base. The roof was next. Now …
Dun
If you check out the details of the Dunnock you’ll see it described as “A small brown and grey bird”. That’s because …
Sheepstor frost
From the top of Sheepstor on Dartmoor there’s a wonderful view of long shadows and a frosted cattle field. Yes, I know …