Achenes of Old Man’s Beard
Old Man’s Beard is a plant I’ve never consciously seen in flower before. I’m determined to look for it this summer. I’ve …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #32
Hello and welcome to my Sunday Recommendation. Thanks for joining me. Every week I read great wildlife and nature books, stumble upon …
Under the bridge
It’s raining so we take shelter under the bridge. No, not the multi-million pound club in the grounds of Chelsea Football Club; …
Rats!
As we walk through the industrial estate I see a small, very cute, brown face with whiskers staring out of the undergrowth. …
The Overconsumption Chronicles – Volume 2
Today, chronicling the difficulty of repairing things. I’m attempting to consume less, yet I’m finding the rest of society isn’t organised to …
One of the most important plants in the UK is also one of the most hated
Beautiful, isn’t it? Recognise it? It’s Ivy. It flowers when little else does and provides an essential stop-gap of nectar. It has …
1380 kilometres from home
We amble down to Newton Abbot Quay. There’s a raucous squabble under the bridge as Black Headed Gulls compete for food. “Look …
Whitethroat
Here are a couple of photographs of a Common Whitethroat, Curruca communis, which I took last summer. It’s a chunky warbler with …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #31
Hello and welcome to my Sunday Recommendation. Thanks for joining me. Every week I read great wildlife and nature books, stumble upon …
A Sparrowhawk amongst the Pigeons
We’re at Newton Abbot Quay again for a daily walk. Something has to be done, given the amount of pasta we’re eating. …
Return of the vagabond waif
We’re back in the tiny scrubby woods for our daily walk. It’s full of litter. Imagine a world where every sip and …
Bumbarrels on parade
There’s a small group of Long-Tailed Bushtits calling overhead. They’re vibrating a ‘Tseee-Tseee’ call amongst the empty branches as they move through. …
The Elder jellies
I’m tramping through scrub on a path used by dog walkers and alienated teenagers. It’s only rubbish which catches my eyes and …
From Siberia with love
The Puffin Whisperer comes back from a walk and turns the back of her camera towards me to show me a bird …
Crossed mandibles
Beak deformities are quite common amongst birds. This Woodpigeon has crossed mandibles. I’d expect it to interfere with eating but it doesn’t …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #30
Hello and welcome to my Sunday Recommendation. Thanks for joining me. Every week I read great wildlife and nature books, stumble upon …
Take off
It seems that only one day in every seven is sunny at the moment. And the days are short. So I’ve got …
Catkins
On my walk I grabbed a few shots in passing of glorious catkins in warm evening light. It’s reassuring to see trees …
Blushing
One of the most common fungi in UK woodlands is The Blusher. I’ve just found this photograph I took of one back …
Herring Gulls
Herring Gulls are fabulous to watch. I’ve enjoyed taking photographs of them in urban areas. There’s something quite alien about their presence. …
There are no words
If you ask this swan what species it is, it won’t tell you. It’s Mute.
Black-Headed Gulls at the Quay
Staying local for your exercise is difficult if brownfield sites are built upon, public spaces are full and green spaces are privately …
The Hall of Einar Sunday Recommendation #29
Hello and welcome to my Sunday Recommendation. Thanks for joining me. Every week I read great wildlife and nature books, stumble upon …
Grotesque
It was my birthday this week and unusually I’ve been able to see my birthday present being made in front of me. …
Sexton
This summer in Orkney we met up with two friends and fellow enthusiasts for a moth-trapping evening. I loved setting up their …
Staying local
In the first lockdown it was revealing just how much nature was all around me. I didn’t need to spend ages preparing …
The Overconsumption Chronicles – Volume 1
When people complain about overconsumption there’s an inalienable truth at play. It’s the same truth that governs people’s attitudes to income. The …
A world of joy
If you can possibly manage it, get a magnifying glass. It turns the world into a magical one full of joy. Just …
The woman with sausages
Listen to artists. It doesn’t matter that you don’t understand them yet. Listen to them; then do what they suggest. They have …
Kitchen drawer wildlife
Woodlice. There are 3,500 species in the world and between 35 and 40 in the UK. They’re animals which many children know. …