Theft, Lies and Instagram
Have you ever been robbed? It’s a horrible feeling. My family was burgled when I was a child. We were on holiday …
Have you ever been robbed? It’s a horrible feeling. My family was burgled when I was a child. We were on holiday …
What are the chances that a period of time when many people have to stay indoors to avoid a deadly pandemic should …
Here are a few familiar faces from my social distancing walk. This Mute Swan is one of the aggressive pair which have …
I’m looking up a tree when there’s a bit of a kerfuffle on the lake. Coots are deeply territorial birds. Or terror-torial. …
I’m out with my son in the early morning. He has a camera too and takes a photo of me. As we …
There’s a tail-flicking little wizard on the tideline. That tail-flicking is called teetering. It’s a Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos. There’s what looks …
I was recently informed on Facebook (if that’s even possible) that young birds are called chicks and not babies. Someone responded with …
There’s a beautiful song coming from the bush in front of me. It’s the ‘Northern Nightingale’, the Blackcap: Blackcaps practice leap-frog migration: …
There’s a Chiffchaff in the tree. At some stage a predecessor of the Willow Warbler and the Chiffchaff had a strange egg. …
I only have a snatched hour with the Long-Tailed Bushtits today. I still get some lovely views. I’ve been trying to get …
Today the Long-Tailed Bushtits are working as hard as ever to gather invertebrates: After a week I’m much happier with my photographs …
Here’s the scene next to a busy public footpath: It may appear tranquil but deep within the brambles is a Long-Tailed Bushtit’s …
The caterpillars keep on coming. Beak-fulls of them. Green ones, brown ones, grey ones and orange ones; they’ve all been carefully plucked …
It’s Day Four of photographing Long-Tailed Bushtits for me. After all, what is there to do when I’ve got no work and …
It’s Day Three of following the Long-Tail Bushtit family on waste ground near my house in South Devon. I say ‘waste ground’ …
Yesterday I spent five hours on a public footpath overlooking a Long-Tailed Bushtits’ nest. I’m happy that I wasn’t disturbing them. They’re …
The call of the Long-Tailed Bushtit is quite distinctive. It must be, because even I can recognise it. ‘Tsurp’, they say, to …
This was one of my favourite places for wildlife. Whether it’s standing entranced, listening to the pure pulsating power of a Wren …
We’re cycling early in the morning in South Devon when I spot a huge bird in the top of a tree. It …
Those look like Lime trees. I’m not sure though. They’re in the grounds of Forde House, a luxury Jacobean manor house in …
It’s over 20 years since Little Egrets colonised South Devon. I’m on the banks of the River Teign and one has caught …
I’ve just downloaded the Google app to my phone and am trying the Google Lens feature. It allows you to take a …
Pronunciation is such a local thing. Who would have guessed that the River Teign would be pronounced “teen’. Or that when pronounced …
I’m slightly worried about my local pigeons. I don’t expect to get much sympathy. They’re usually fed by a motley assortment of …
Sunday Review: Our Bright Night by Kirsty Merryn and Cryptic real and imaginary wildlife by Immy Smith.
This early morning sun is beautiful on my bicycle ride. So is this male Blackbird. Just look at the rictal bristles surrounding …
The Mallard’s chicks have hatched. That’s very exciting.
There’s a single plant in the middle of a lawn at the back of one of the industrial buildings nearby. It’s standing …
Apples are members of the rose family. Their flowers make sense once you know that. Is that what these are? These trees …
We’re in the middle of the South Devon countryside. It’s going dark. It’s been a pleasant walk but it’s getting a little …