Tag: birds

  • A Day in Newcastle

    A Day in Newcastle

    I’ve been writing a lot recently. This week, when I went to Newcastle for an adventure, I decided to dedicate the day to photography.

  • The Beginnings of Winter

    The Beginnings of Winter

    Before I’d even got to the hide there was a chirruping in the bushes and I turned to see a group of juvenile yellowhammers mobbing their parents, hopping between branches for attention. Three birds flew past overhead and I caught the triangular shape of starling wings as they soared over me. The lake was quiet…

  • Bike Ride in the Woods

    Bike Ride in the Woods

    Another visit to one of my favourite wildlife places: Watchtree Nature Reserve. Zahrah and I hired bikes and set off through the reserve, taking a leisurely ride away from the hubbub of the café and car park to the quieter open fields and woodland. The lake was fairly busy. A pair of Mute Swans and…

  • Sun in the Woods

    Sun in the Woods

    After discovering Eskrigg and how fantastic a reserve it is, I really wanted to take Zahrah as she’d never seen a red squirrel before. After my success last time, I was sure we’d have some luck. I also wanted to give the Manager, Jim Rae, a copy of the film I made on the reserve…

  • Waxwing Hunt

    Waxwing Hunt

    On Friday Zahrah and I seized the day and drove out to Brampton, a town a short drive from Carlisle. We’d heard that the waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) had been sighted there and we both wanted to tick this incredible bird off our wish lists, do decided to try our luck finding them. Waxwings arrive in Britain in…

  • Birds at the bottom of the garden

    As of today, I’ve been living in my new house a week! It’s not the biggest or the most glamorous, but it’s certainly enough to feel like home. There is also a generously sized garden that oozes potential. Currently, the grass is several feet high and tickles the midriffs of the two apple trees, but…

  • Nick Baker at Birdfair

    Two weeks ago, Birdfair was held at Rutland Water Nature Reserve from Friday to Sunday. As we were on holiday in Scotland, we could only make the third and final day, but I am so glad we managed to experience this fantastic event. Upon arrival we were greeted by an explosion of colour and noise.…

  • Our Day On May

    When the May Princess left Anstruther harbour the sun was at its highest, so as we headed out into open water we were slowly baking but not daring to complain in case the rain came back. As I watched my fellow passengers slap on the sun cream, I was geographically disorientated, not quite believing I…

  • Urban Nature

    Last Wednesday, I caught the train to Hammersmith to meet up with Zahrah and embark on another of our wildlife excursions. Today we visited the London Wetland Centre, something I’d heard lots of good things about but never been. Upon arrival we were greeted by a lovely volunteer who explained the site map to us.…

  • Carna – Day Five

    Species seen:   Chaffinch – Fringilla coelebs Common Porpoise – Phocoena phocoena Common Seal – Phoca vitulina Common Shag – Phalacrocorax aristotelis Common Tern – Sterna hirundo Golden eagle – Aquila chrysaetos Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea Herring Gull – Larus argentatus Hooded Crow – Corvus cornix Lesser Redpoll – Acanthis cabaret Oystercatcher – Haematopus…