The Blackbird habit
Blackbirds are creatures of habit. At a year old the males select a territory to defend, with the aim of attracting a …
Blackbirds are creatures of habit. At a year old the males select a territory to defend, with the aim of attracting a …
This is a Puffball, a fungus with the common name of the Devil’s Snuff-Box or Warty Puffball. It is found singly in …
You can’t boil it, fry it, roast it or casserole it. There’s nothing you can do to make an Osage Orange edible. …
I could watch Flamingos all afternoon. Aren’t they curious? Those candy-pink stick-of-seaside-rock legs are my favourite.
Having bright yellow feet and shuffling them as you paddle through the water is an ideal strategy for disturbing fish you hope …
Young Flamingos are a little scrappy. They have yet to get candy-pink legs and black and scarlet wing patches. They are still …
It’s tricky getting near to Flamingos. We’re at Orbetello in Italy and the wooden hide is set well back from their favourite …
At school, I remember the sticky buds. Our teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Patrick’s school (they really were …
This Robin is having a quiet wing-droop moment on a branch in front of a Holly bush. The out-of-focus highlights from the …
If you had to come up with three words to describe the Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus, they would probably be skulking, secretive …
Long-Tailed Tits are one of our most loved garden birds. They are tiny, busy, social visitors to urban gardens and country hedges. …
Chaffinches are common birds across Europe. The bright colours of the male Chaffinch include a beautiful deep salmon-pink face and breast, with …
Little Egrets are beautiful snow-white herons. They love rivers and ponds. People are led to believe that Little Egrets are recent arrivals …
Herring Gulls are one of our most familiar birds. They are the ‘seagull’ of a thousand stories and even more stolen seaside …
The River Lemon is beautiful at the moment, with clear water, leafy banks and the sounds of water bubbling and birds singing. …
Magpies are currently building their nests around the parish. Their nests seem like great untidy bundles of sticks in trees; the truth …
Look closely at hedges and bushes in forgotten corners at this time of year and you may see the fluffy seed heads …
I was enjoying some local exercise at Newton Abbot Town Quay, when I spotted a Black-Headed Gull with a ring on its …
Warm winter light on orange fallen leaves. Beautiful, isn’t it? It’s even better when a Dunnock is fossicking in them. The closer …
Nuthatches don’t actually hatch nuts, they hack them. However, just try saying Nuthacks and you’ll see why Nuthatch is so much easier …
There’s a beautiful gull with a yellow beak in Brixham harbour. I can see it diving and fishing in the distance. I …
This Blue Tit is a thrill in this light: It has a wonderful crest with a beautiful powder blue iridescence. Blue Tits …
Chaffinches are one of my favourite birds. I’ve taken many photographs of them and blogged about them before. Here’s my most recent …
I’m working at the moment, so time is precious, and every moment of light is a marvel in these dark, short days. …
There’s a Common Guillemot in Brixham, just off the breakwater. It takes a while to get a shot of one. I have …
A joyous trip to Brixham breakwater was rewarded with a procession of diving Northern Gannets. Marvellous, aren’t they?
I’ve seen Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, before, in Italy. I’ve heard that there’s one in Paignton at the playing fields and so …
Chanterelles are delicious. Firm-fleshed, beautifully orange and occasionally smelling fruity, similar to apricots, they are a delight to find. I love them …