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 …
Newton Abbot Bowling Club
I’ve been sketching again in Newton Abbot, in Devon, this time it’s Newton Abbot Bowling Club in Courtenay Park. The Club was …
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? …
John Lethbridge’s Diving Engine
I’ve been sketching again in Newton Abbot, this time it’s the replica of John Lethbridge’s Diving Engine in Newton Abbot Museum. John Lethbridge …
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 …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #51
Hello and welcome to my Sunday Recommendation. Thanks for joining me. Every week I read great wildlife and nature books, stumble upon …
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 …
The Golden Lion
This town centre pub was originally called The Oxford Arms. Its foundations were laid in 1623 and its name was changed to The Golden Lion in 1722.
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 …
Ye Olde Cider Bar
Ye Olde Cider Bar is one of only a handful of remaining cider houses.
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 …
Alpine Swifts
Here’s an entertaining shot I forgot to post when I took it back in April 2023. The word went out that a …
Jacksons the Fishmongers
Jacksons is the place I get my fish and chips from when I’m in Devon, as the best alternative to Jacks on Westray when I’m in Orkney.
“As daft as a Coot”
I always thought that the common idiom was “As bald as a Coot”, so when my dad said “As daft as a …
Bluebells and Woodpeckers
For some reason I never did post this photograph in May last year. That’s odd, because it’s one of my favourites. A …