Dacrymyces deliquescens
There’s a tiny orange fungus on this wet rotting wood. I recognise it from my childhood. It can only be Dacrymyces deliquescens. …
Redshank – lover of good clean mud
The Redshank, Tringa totanus, is a Eurasian wader. It’s classified as part of a large family called Scolopacidae. It’s related to the sandpipers, …
Great Crested Grebe flypast
You’ve probably noticed that I love a good flypast. Here are two Great Crested Grebes going at speed down the River Exe. …
Black-Tailed Godwitterings
Have I mentioned that I love Black-Tailed Godwits before? Well, yes I have. And with good reason. What I must do now …
Muckymouth
This Black-Tailed Godwit is giving me strong muckymouth pie vibes. As a child I loved muckymouth pie. It’s a pastry-encased treat filled …
The Great Skua in the style of Robert Macfarlane – according to Chat GPT
I thought it would be a bit of fun to ask an artificial intelligence website to “Write about the Great Skua in …
Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Brent Geese are small Geese, only just bigger than a large duck. On the River Exe we have the dark-bellied Brent Geese …
Female Smew
Smew are described as compact diving ducks with delicate bills. Personally I’d call them dinky. The males are stunning bridal white with …
One person’s White Ibis is another person’s Bin Chicken
Even if it’s a common species it’s well worth appreciating. I remember going to Australia (I had half a day’s work there …
Smew three
Have I posted too many photographs of Smew? No, I didn’t think so.
Carry On Crow
There’s a piece of driftwood and a pool of water in the extended mud at the centre of the River Exe at …
Recurvirostra avosetta
There are Avocets on the River Exe and it’s a thrill to see them. Just look at that ridiculous curved beak. It’s …
Incoming Black-Tailed Godwit
I love a landing shot. This Black-Tailed Godwit was just about to touchdown in the shallow water at Seaton Wetlands. It looks …
Crowing
There’s a Carrion Crow on a marker buoy in Poole Harbour. It looks so intensely black in this light. I love how …
Coming in for a kiss
The Black-Tailed Godwits at Seaton Wetlands have been pairing up before their journey north to Iceland for a summer of raising a …
Dabbling Gadwall
If you ever think that a bird is a dull colour, take a closer look. The pattern of the plumage of this …
Marsh Harrier
I love seeing Marsh Harriers hunting. I’ve yet to see one kill anything yet, though. Surely it’s just a matter of time? …
Black-Tailed Godwit
The Black-Tailed Godwits at RSPB Radipole in Weymouth are getting their breeding colours ready for a summer of fun and frolics in …
Greenshank / Redshank
I love getting a close view of a Redshank. They’re such expert alarm-callers that they were refereed to as ‘the Warden of …
White-Tailed Sea Eagle
We’re on a cruise in Poole Harbour with Birds of Poole Harbour. We’re hoping to see one of the White-Tailed Eagles which …
Cattle Egret
I have a habit of shooting first and asking ID questions later. It’s a good habit to have. This is a classic …
Distal rhynchokinesis
Two Black-Tailed Godwits are interacting at Seaton Wetlands. It’s fascinating. The one on the left is the male. He’s dominant, flying and …
Pochard
The Pochard, Aythya ferina, has been called Pochard since the mid 1500s but the origin of its name is lost in etymological …
Life within life
Lichen is hardy. The salt spray, the desiccating sun, and the bitter wind don’t discourage it at all. They simply slow its …
Pineapple Weed
After finding an endless supply of Pineapple Weed on Westray last summer I’m now very keen on making some Pineapple Weed Posset. …
The River Exe – Dunlin
Dunlin are one of the commonest shorebirds found around the UK’s coastline. They form glorious flocks which twist this way and that …
The River Exe – Grey Plover
We call the Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola, the Grey Plover in the UK because they are, most definitely, grey. They’re a beautiful, …
The River Exe – Spotted Redshank
Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythopus, are such elegant birds. I love their long necks, precision bills and patterned plumage. It was a thrill …
The River Exe – Red-Breasted Mergansers
Red-Breasted Mergansers are saw-billed diving ducks. They’re spectacular in flight. We’re on a River Exe Cruise with Stuart Line Cruises. It’s sold …
Angelica
There are two species of Angelica on Westray. There is Wild Angelica, Angelica sylvestris, known as Caiko, which is a native species …