Water Pipit
I’ve seen Meadow Pipits and Rock Pipits before. I’ve even seen Tree Pipits. This is my first time seeing a Water Pipit. …
Sparrowhawk
The other birds can see it before I can. They’re up in the air in a mad panic, flocking into a defensive …
Cormorant sunset
I’ve come for the day to RSPB Lodmoor in Weymouth. It’s grey and dull and there’s little action from the wildlife but …
The pale Buzzard retreats
We are at Challacombe Farm when we see four Buzzards overhead. It’s that time of year again, when there are territorial battles …
Shag again
There are two species of Cormorant found in the UK, the Common Cormorant and the Shag. This is a Shag. If you’re …
Rock on concrete
There’s a Rock Pipit on Brixham Breakwater. I love seeing them here, as they skit along the top of the breakwater, looping …
Waiting for the change
I can’t wait to see some Mediterranean Gulls in breeding plumage. Until then, I’ll just have to appreciate how handsome they are …
Little mover
The scientific name for the Pied Wagtail is Motacilla alba. Motacilla means ‘Little mover’ and alba means white. This one certainly has …
Cuttlefish for breakfast
When I’ve visited Brixham harbour over the past few years and walked down the historic slipway near the breakwater I’ve often seen …
It’s not an animal, plant or a fungus
This is not an animal, mineral or vegetable. It’s not a fungus, either. It’s a Slime Mould. Slime Moulds spend most of …
Drip
It’s always a delight to see a Great Northern Diver in Brixham harbour. What I’d really like to see is one of …
Trunk
A trip to Sidmouth allowed me the chance to attempt to emulate the artist Paul Nash’s talent in photographing fallen trees and …
The return of J1P4
Hello! I’m back after a little time away, working and enjoying myself. It’s good to be back. It’s also good to see …
Down the hatch
There’s a Great Northern Diver in Brixham harbour. It’s spent a short while removing the legs of a crab and is about …
Mediterranean Gull flypast
I love it when birds spot me as they fly past, and then give me a decent stare. They’re curious creatures, aren’t …
The Grey Seal and the Conger Eel
There’s a Grey Seal in Brixham Harbour which has just caught what looks like a Conger Eel. It’s entertaining to watch the …
Sparrow
I love seeing Sparrows. They were my gateway drug into wildlife conservation. They were almost the only bird which visited our back …
Green-eyed Shag
The beautiful eyes of this Shag are like emeralds glinting in this bright sunshine. The natural world is more precious than anything …
6 Pipers piping
There are meant to be eleven pipers piping around this time of year, but there were only six at Brixham Breakwater. They’re …
A drip of water
There’s a drip of water on this Gannet’s beak. It’s just spotted a fish below, so it’ll shortly be completely submerged. This, …
Buoyed
I’m lying face down in fishy bird poo again and I’m swaying gently from side to side and up and down. No, …
The Crab and the Diver
A trip to Brixham breakwater was a welcome break from writing, and organising my life. I love the Great Northern Divers there. …
A tree with flowers like mushrooms
There’s a tree I’m thrilled to see at Kew Gardens. It’s Aristolochia arborea, a tree which appears to have no common name. …
Red-Breasted Flycatcher
I receive a message on a WhatsApp group; there’s a Red-Breasted Flycatcher in Brixham. I’m not a twitcher, but being bird-curious, I’d …
Pipit, pipit
Meadow Pipits have a rather serious, stoic look. There are hundreds of families of Meadow Pipits on Westray, and, as I stood …
Razorbill
I’m used to seeing resplendent Razorbills in full breeding plumage on Westray. I’ve even photographed them bringing back fish to their rock …
Grey seal
There’s a Grey Seal investigating me as I lie at sea-level on Brixham Breakwater. It’s as if they can’t quite believe that …
Diving Shag
There’s a Shag diving in Brixham harbour. They’re a pleasure to watch, you just never know when they’re going to dive, or …
Avocets and mud
It’s odd that most wading birds are brown and heavily camouflaged and yet Avocets are, well, noticeable. I wonder why? I’m sure …
Great Northern Divers in Brixham again
Two words which go together perfectly are ‘great’ and ‘northern’. I hear there are Great Northern Divers in Brixham harbour again, so …