Whale
There’s a whale corpse in the car park at Taftend. It takes up the space a car would, or even a little …
The glories of Woody Nightshade
Once there were purple flowers here with protruding yellow stamens. Now there are berries: It’s Bittersweet, also known as Woody Nightshade, Solanum …
Sulphur Tuft
They’re an unearthly yellow colour. They sprout at the bases of decaying trees. They grow in tufts and tight bundles. They are …
Captain James Cook, warmonger, colonialist, kidnapper and wildlife criminal
I’ve been suspicious about the truth of what I’m taught ever since I was a child. At primary school I learned all …
Autumn Parasols
One of the exciting finds at Killerton on our fungus foray with the Devon Fungus Group is a Parasol Mushroom. Our leader …
The most beautiful bouquet of Killerton Waxcaps
Killerton is one of my favourite National Trust places in Devon. It’s one of the ones which was sold to the National …
Lydford Gorge
Gabriel and I are visiting the deepest gorge in the South West at Lydford, owned by the National Trust. We’re walking along …
When beef grows on a oak tree
We’re in Wistman’s Wood when I spot a familiar sight. It’s a Beefsteak Fungus, Fistulina hepatica. It’s only small and I’m not …
The magical forest
My son Gabriel’s coming to visit for the weekend. He’s bringing his camera and wants to have a few trips out. We …
Noltland Castle
I’ve wanted to take a decent photograph of Noltland Castle ever since I first saw it, as I struggled up the hill …
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #13 The Rook
I’m currently reading the third volume of the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests from the 1950s. Times have changed: …
Scenes from the sea
It’s all about perspective. Looking at familiar scenes from a different place always makes you think more deeply about them. Similarly, seeing …
The advantages of species extinction
It was both sad and entertaining to see that BBC Bitsize, the BBC’s resource for school children, had a list of the …
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #12 The Herring Gull
I’m currently reading the third volume of the Ladybird Book of British Birds and their nests from the 1950s. Times have changed: …
Are these the most northerly cliff-nesting House Martins in the UK?
I spot a House Martin, Delichon urbicum, on the cliffs at the Castle o’ Burrian. That’s nice. Then I spot another one. …
The return of the pot-boiler
There’s a spot on Westray where a buried ruin of a house is being lost to the sea. Whenever there’s a storm …
Harbour Seals
Amazingly, there are limbs inside the fat-suit which seals wear. You would, however, be forgiven for thinking otherwise: This one is delicately …
Greta Gannet
We’re watching the Gannets at Noup Head when the Puffin Whisperer gets very excited. She’s seen one with an egg. The adult …
Puffling in a flap
It’s rare to see a puffling, as young Puffins are called. They’re usually hidden in their rock or earth burrows, safe from …
Noup in the mist
Noup Head lighthouse isn’t visible until we’re almost on top of it. There’s dew on the grass and on the purple flowers …
Skeldro, Chaldro or Shaalder
There’s a Skeldro, Chaldro or Shaalder, as the Oystercatcher is known in Orkney, in the air. It’s giving me what can only be …
Chasing Puffins
There’s a marked difference in the size of fish which Puffins bring to their burrows. I’m sure that they were bringing smaller …
Harsh life
We are at Noup Head watching the birds fly by. We get a close pass from a Great Black-Backed Gull. Aren’t they …
Goodbye to Puffins
Puffins have gone from our shores for another year. It’s been a wonderful summer with them and a pleasure to see them …
Knees up Meadow Brown
There’s a Meadow Brown butterfly, Maniola jurtina, on Angelica, Angelica sylvestris, at the Castle o’ Burrian. It makes a lovely scene.
Silage and Hay
I’ve enjoyed seeing the meadows being cut on Westray this summer and then being baled and wrapped. The skill of the farmers …
The first flight of the Kittiwake
Kittiwakes are one of my favourite birds. I love their delicate bills, their dipped-in-ink wings and their streamlined bodies. And their “Kittiwaaaak” …
A precarious life on the edge of a precipice
Who would have guessed that Gannet chicks could be so cute close up? Their white downy feathers are not quite as brilliant …
Mackerel with Einar’s rhubarb
All it takes is a silver spinner and Mackerel are tickling my line. I have my Robert Welch kitchen knives with me. …
The Short-Eared Owl makes another appearance
We’ve toured the Island today and our final destination is the Ouse. There were reports of a Short Eared Owl there earlier …