Robin
There’s a routered Robin portrait at the park which I’m admiring for its child-like simplicity. An then there’s the real thing. Utterly …
Redshank in high-heels
This Redshank appears to walk with high-heels on as it potters busily on the tideline.
Confusing Gulls
Gulls are confusing. They all look superficially the same with their big bills, grey backs and beady eyes, but there are some …
Bullfinch – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
It’s forty years since the very first time I saw a Bullfinch. I’ve seen them since and always appreciated them as a …
Great Black Backed Gull – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
Forty years ago I spotted a Great Black Backed Gull and noted it down in my nature notebooks: Today I’m in Dartmouth …
Brent Geese
There’s a flock of geese heading my way. As they come closer they get darker and darker. Brent Geese come in light-breasted …
Cormorant
To me, Cormorants are proof, if proof be needed, that birds are descended from Dinosaurs. They are just so… reptilian!
Red-Breasted Merganser
Finally a bit of sun and a return trip to Exminster Marshes is rewarded by a Red Breasted Merganser so curious it …
Treecreeper
Treecreepers are one of those common but hardly seen species of birds; they take being elusive to another level. Seeing them from …
Herring Gull
I’m photographing the beautiful, delicate and precise Black Headed Gulls this morning when I see this monster approaching. I’m so used to …
Bohemian Waxwings
I’ve only ever seen a Bohemian Waxwing once and it was happily gorging itself on berries on a busy urban road which …
Grey Squirrel
This routered portrait of a Grey Squirrel in the park is a cartoon exaggeration of their actual characteristics. They do look beautiful …
The Grey Wagtail and making twitchers twitch
My old colleague Ken was very keen on birds. He seemed reluctant to divulge that he was a twitcher, perhaps out of …
Moles – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
Forty years ago I was interested in molehills. They are tantalising glimpses of a hidden mystery. What animal might live underground and …
Mute Swan – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
It’s forty years since I drew this Mute Swan after seeing them, probably at the local park. Now here I am at …
Blue Tit
Walking along an aerial boardwalk I see wonderful drawings of birds routered into the handrail. I love this one of a Blue …
Lapwing – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
Today I’m in Exminster in Devon looking at a Lapwing across the sodden fields.
Cormorants – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
Forty years ago on 17 August 1976, when I was a 12 year old boy, I saw Cormorants while on holiday in …
Mute Swans – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
I was 13 years old when I saw a Mute Swan from the train. How do I remember that I was on …
Dunnock – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
Dunnocks are beautiful birds but it’s hard to tell they’re so beautiful because they keep in the shadows, in hedges and under …
Earthballs – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
The Common Earthball is also known by the charming common name of the Pigskin Poison Puffball.
Jay – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
Here’s my nature notebook entry from 1976 about Jays: ‘You can not get near them,’ I said. It’s still true. However, with the wonder of modern telephoto lenses, large numbers of megapixels, and heavy cropping, it appears now that you can.
The trees have ears – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
I bought my first SLR camera when I was 11 from my neighbour Ron for £6. It was a massively heavy Russian …
Mandarin Duck
Mandarin Ducks are one of the most spectacular birds in existence. They are originally from the Far East and were introduced to …
Long-Tailed Tits – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
I love the description of Long-Tailed Tits that I wrote in my nature notebooks forty years ago: They really are a very …
Puffballs – forty years ago in my nature notebooks
When I was eleven years old I joined my local natural history and microscopical society. The next youngest member was called Darwin …
