Black Necked Grebe
I’m in the middle of one of the most surreal of experiences of this year. There’s a small group of us in …
Serin
There’s a small, noisy flock of birds in the trees in this Italian park. I think they might be Siskins. They’re too …
Stonechatterbox
There’s the repeating sound of two stones being knocked together. There must be a Stonechat somewhere. It flies up to a wire …
Rotivator claws
Of all the birds you might guess would sit on a wire, I suspect the Heron would be near the bottom of …
Italian Sparrows
We all ignore the over-familiar. Sparrows are one species which is often unfairly overlooked. This is despite them being beautiful, fascinating to …
Autumn leaves in Rome
The early morning light is beautiful in this tiny park in Rome. I’ve read a few tourist reviews of Roman parks. They …
Ring Necked
There’s a Ring-Necked Parakeet in the park in Rome. They are so noisy and distracting. They are another example of how our …
Yellowleg Bonnet
We’re having a field day. Or rather, I should say we’re having a woods day. We’re out having fun looking for as …
The difference between tasty soup and death
There’s a fungus growing on this rotten log in Yarner Wood on Dartmoor. It’s the Sheathed Woodtuft, Kuehneromyces mutabilis. It has wonderful circles …
A tight bundle
There’s a tight bundle of curiously coloured mushrooms on this dead wood. It’s Sulphur Tuft. That’s such a perfect name. Their yellow …
Airone Bianco Maggiore
Here’s the beautiful three-dimensional sign from a bird hide in Italy: It’s for the Great White Egret, which is a huge white …
Visitors to Ancient Rome
I’m walking along the main road between the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome. I know what you’re thinking, “Did a funny …
In a clearing in the forest
How cute is this character?
Clouded Yellow
Seeing butterflies in November and December is an unexpected joy. This Clouded Yellow, Colias croceus, is wonderful to watch. There are Red Admirals, …
Black Redstart and blue skies
There’s a Black Redstart in the park here in Italy. I’m at Parco della Caffarella for the afternoon and finding the Black …
Narcissus at the Source
I’m getting the usual view that everyone gets if they see a Water Rail: They are skulking birds which rarely come out …
Flaming Flamingo
At the Lido di Tarquinia there are Flamingoes. They are such surreal birds: Their reflections don’t look any better. This being Italy, …
Orange-toothed Swamp Beavers
Those teeth. They are extreme aren’t they? They’re bright orange. They belong to a Coypu, a semi-aquatic rodent from South America. They …
A Little Grebe – the fast-sinking redneck
It’s always amused me that the Orcadian name for the Little Grebe is Little Footy Arse. It’s such a great descriptive name. …
Miss Havisham
This Black Headed Gull has flown through a spider’s web and is trailing fine filaments behind it in this low evening sunshine. …
Nuthatch
I’m watching a Nuthatch come in to a forest clearing in Italy and pick up sunflower seeds. They are quick. There must …
Blue Tit in the forest
It’s beautiful light in the forest as a Blue Tit approaches: They have a very familiar wide-legged stance. Perfect.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
There’s a Great Spotted Woodpecker in this Italian forest. I hear the cry “Picchio Rosso Maggiore” and see it approach: This woodpecker’s …
The King of Fishers
The views of Kingfishers I’ve had before were fleeting. A brief glimpse of a flash of a bluish-emerald jewel disappearing over the …
Robins, Robins everywhere
We’re at a nature reserve in Italy, a WWF Oasi called the Lago di Alviano. There are European Robins here and they’re …
The Rusty Circler
It’s still early when we reach the lake at the Lago di Alviano. It’s a place of mists and muffled sounds. There’s …
Incoming Heron
There’s a Grey Heron incoming: I just hope it avoids the unsuspecting Pochard sleeping on the lake: And as soon as it’s …
The Elfin Saddle
We’ve taken a trip to Alviano to see the birds in the forest and on the lake. We had a fabulous time …
Birds, bees and butterflies on the river
I’m back on the banks of the River Tevere in Rome. It’s teeming with wildlife, despite the hard landscaping and high banks …
The Sea Ravens of Rome
I’m spending a few days exploring the urban wildlife of Rome. I’m in the centre of the city, on the River Tevere, …