Perching Peregrine
We’re on a cruise out of Brixham when we’re told there’s a male Peregrine Falcon perched overlooking Torbay. There are only 1,500 …
The changing of the guard
The Woodpecker pair I’ve been enjoying watching have a routine. I need to watch them for many more hours before I can …
Bill Opticians
This is the gloriously Art Deco building which houses Bill Opticians in Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot. Fabulous, isn’t it?
The great black duck from Hudson’s Bay
Wee were delighted by a visit from “The great black duck from Hudson’s Bay” in Torbay last week. A Surf Scoter was …
Woodpeckers at dawn
I’m not that keen on getting up early unless I have a purpose. I need to be driven by a need other …
Ash downfall
Here’s a Cramp Ball. There are hundreds of them here. They love dead or dying Ash trees. I’ve been taking morning walks …
St George’s Mushrooms
Last week I said we should be getting St George’s Mushrooms soon. This week, they arrived. By the side of the wide …
The Richard Hopkins
I’ve been sketching in Newton Abbot again, this time the local Wetherspoons pub, The Richard Hopkins. Here’s what the framed history inside …
The gate at Lustleigh Cleave
I’m a big fan of farmers. They’re an endless source of resourcefulness. Whether it’s emergency repairs, using recycled materials, or simple engineering …
Diving Goosander
Goosanders love a bit of snorkelling and free diving. This one is taking the plunge at Daisy Nook Country Park. The teeth …
Ludlow
I’ve wanted to visit Ludlow ever since reading AE Housman’s poetry in A Shropshire Lad when I was 18. It’s taken a …
Boomtown Fair portrait #2
Here’s another of my photographs from the immersive music festival Boomtown Fair, held in Hampshire. I love the energy of the place, …
Why are immature gulls so hard to identify?
There are several groups of birds which seem impossible to separate without years of knowledge in the field.
The Pharmacy
I’ve been sketching in Newton Abbot again. There are still many historic places despite the widespread destruction of our heritage. The Pharmacy …
Arctic Tern feeding
A memory of last summer with the Arctic Terns of Westray. There were so few chicks in this colony that the remaining …
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 …
Phoenix Sounds
I’ve been sketching in Newton Abbot again. This time it’s my local record shop, Phoenix Sounds. I love the vinyl they have …
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 …
Boomtown Fair portrait #1
Boomtown Fair is an immersive music festival and more. I loved attending, espceially since there are so many paid actors and performers …
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 …
Indulgence Tea Rooms
I’ve been sketching in Newton Abbot again. This time it’s the Indulgence Tea Rooms in Devon Square. Here’s what they have to …
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 …