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Nature Notebooks, Page 11

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

Velvet-stemmed Little Flame

December is the best time to find Velvet Shank fungus, Flammulina velutipes. It’s a species I found as a child: And here …

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

Merlin at Greylake

When I hear that there’s been a Merlin at RSPB Greylake in Somerset I decide I’ve just got to pay it a …

Leaf Miner in Beech leaf - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Fresh food

When a micro-moth laid an egg in this Beech leaf it infected the leaf with a bacterium. That bacterial infection disrupted the …

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

Cormorant in Brixham Harbour

The colours of Brixham boats reflected in the water of the harbour make a superb backdrop to the bird life here. Especially …

Black Throated Diver - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Diverse Divers

We’ve just been on another Brixham wildlife cruise skippered by Dave on Kelly’s Hero and run by Mike Langman. It’s been as …

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

The Sand Ploughman

The name Sanderling is from the Old English sand-yrðling, or ‘sand-ploughman’. This one has been ploughing the tideline for tasty morsels and is heading …

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

Feeding time

One of the most interesting aspects of bird behaviour is watching parents feeding their young. In this case, I can’t be sure …

Budleigh Salterton Beach - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Budleigh Salterton

I love how comfortable this woman has made herself despite the pebbles on the beach. They really do conform to your body …

Catch of the Day - 60 x 60cm framed

Framed print

I’ve just sold a print of my photograph of a Puffin with a face full of fish: The print is 60cm x …

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

Arctic Tern chick

Arctic Tern chicks are so wonderfully endearing. Isn’t this one sweet?

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

Arctic Tern on the handrail

We had only just arrived on Papa Westray when we saw an Arctic Tern on the handrail. They’re such handsome birds, with …

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

Yet another fish shot

A Black Guillemot in breeding plumage is a thrill. Even more so when it has a freshly caught fish to display.

Ketchup - Lyme Regis - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Ketchup

We’re a dirty species, leaving forever rubbish in environmentally sensitive places. I fancy some chips now.

The Hot House Combo - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The Hot House Combo

I’m walking into Newton Abbot hoping to do some sketching at the Classic Car event when I stop to listen to The …

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

Pica pica

There’s a Magpie family at Dawlish Warren. It’s beautiful sunlight and a good opportunity to appreciate their iridescence. It’s also an opportunity …

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

Hare’s Foot Inkcap

There’s a Hare’s Foot Inkcap, Coprinopsis lagopus, in our dog-walking field in Somerset. I only have my phone with me, but I …

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

Fighting Drakes

There’s an awful lot of behaviour going on with ducks. There’s a social order and dominance hierarchy and sexual violence wherever you …

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

Snow Buntings in sunshine

We have a day free to walk the length of the Lower Otter Restoration Project with Anna the dog. It’s gorgeous and, …

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

Fish delivery service

It’s normally Puffins I photograph with the sparkling Atlantic Ocean behind them. This time it’s a Black Guillemot in flight with a …

Petticoat Mottlegill Fungus - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Petticoat Mottlegill

There’s a Petticoat Mottlegill, Panaeolus papilionaceus, in this Somerset field. Isn’t its petticoat frill fabulous? It’s a common fungus of dung in …

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

Numenius arquata

There’s a Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, on the Lower Otter Restoration Project. I’ve never seen one this close before. It’s eating worms …

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

Tea time

A successful foraging trip is always a joy. Back in the kitchen we clean and sort them: Penny Buns, Boletus edulisSaffron Milkcaps, …

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

Manx Shearwaters

We’re delighted to see Manx Shearwaters off the coast of Torbay. Apart from when breeding, the Manx Shearwater is an entirely marine …