Words about wildlife & nature conservation
Yesterday I experienced something new and otherworldly: discovering a new side to my home county – Northumberland, for those who haven’t yet guessed – on a ten-hour trip into the … Continue reading Cetaceans on the Northumbrian coast
Walking at Weetslade Country Park this past weekend, the rolling grasslands of the former colliery site appeared almost Mediterranean. Parched grasses, sapped by what seems like an eternity of vigorous … Continue reading A paradise of parched grasses
A quick visit to Gosforth Park Nature Reserve today came up trumps with my first ever Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa). Now, this is a relatively common species, doubtless familiar to … Continue reading Broad-bodied Chaser
Britain’s seabird colonies represent a spectacle like no other: bustling, raucous municipalities where a multitude of species congregate to form a single, far larger, living being. An avian city, cramped … Continue reading Cuddy ducks, clowns and stench of guano
I’ve had very little time this week for my usual outdoor pursuits, largely owing to a growing workload and a multitude of mounting side projects. That said, yesterday I managed … Continue reading Nature Notes #3
Uncharacteristically, I haven’t managed many far-flung ventures of late – the combined result of some drastic life changes, a busy schedule and the build-up of myriad more menial tasks. This, … Continue reading Northumberland’s Wild Interior
The ‘Newcastle Diaries’ are intended as a new series of blog posts brought to life by a recent move to the city; inspired by a growing frustration at not being … Continue reading Newcastle Diaries: jewel in the crown
A Focus on Nature, the youth nature network, is a rather fabulous organisation. One which, through sheer determination, generosity and the hard work of its committee and members, has established … Continue reading A Focus on Nature is coming to the North-East
Bakethin, located a short-way upstream of Kielder Reservoir, is unique among nature reserves in Northumberland. Here, among the hulking frames of aged firs and a forest floor dominated by mossy … Continue reading Winter walking at Bakethin
Another year and another early start for yet another fine Northumberland Bird Race. Our team total of 106 species observed during the event, despite being very much down from the … Continue reading Northumberland Winter Birdrace 2018
Now, this is a post for the avian-inclined individuals out there… For those of you who didn’t know, I set myself a challenge at the start of 2017. One which … Continue reading Birding in Northumberland 2017: the highlights
If you haven’t heard already (you probably have) I have been nominated in two categories of this years UK Blog Awards. These are the ‘Green & Eco’ and ‘Social Influencer’ … Continue reading A very kind endorsement
I’ve dedicated much of my time to urban wildlife watching of late, specifically in and around the city of Newcastle – my home patch for the foreseeable future due to … Continue reading An Ode to the City
Unless you have been living under a rock, or are simply disinterested in this sort of thing, you will surely have heard by now that this Autumn has seen an unprecedented … Continue reading Enjoying this Autumn’s must see spectacle
To those familiar with this blog, you will know that I owe my passion for nature almost entirely to my Grandmother. The lady who first introduced me to the joys … Continue reading Half-Penny: how things have changed
Traversing the sunny (yet surprisingly cold) depths of Half-Penny this morning, one thing struck me above all else: the bounty of Autumnal fruit. This year, each and every fruit-bearing shrub … Continue reading Half-Penny: signs of the seasons
