Writing and reviews with an environmental, science fiction, and fantasy touch
Winterton Dunes have featured in my life for the last ten years at least. I arrived in Norfolk in 2006, and may have visited them that summer. It was not until the BTO surveys for the Bird Atlas (2007-2011) that
Full moon is (or was) at 04:52 UTC (GMT) which means it’s 5:52 in the UK. I’d love to say I was there to see it at that moment, but sunrise is about an hour earlier, so the moon will
My wildflower patch was flourishing, but now it’s looking very sad. No rain since the start of June. No rain for most of May. And you’d think, with all the rain we had in March and April, the ground would
‘Paddle in the sea,’ I thought. The #30DaysWild prep suggested it as a random act of wildness. I could do that any time I’m at the coast. ‘Random’ appears to have been replaced by ‘planned’, but it’s the thought that
Nightjar was on my list for #30DaysWild, but I realised time was running out. It was 9pm on Saturday evening, and I thought, well, I’ve just got time to find one. Nightjar on Buxton Heath I was introduced to Norfolk
The Barn Owl ghosts across the fields, ever alert for field mice or shrews. It pounces, has a short struggle, then lifts off, something dangling from its feet, and heads off to feed the hungry brood. Yes, it’s June, it’s
Why include Woodbridge Tide Mill in my 30DaysWild challenge? It’s not a bird, or an animal, or even a tree. It’s the tide, that’s why. I had to go to Woodbridge this week (for golf) so I slipped in a
Summer solstice is the day the Northern Hemisphere is closest to the sun and we have the longest daylight hours of the year. The sunrise was slightly earlier yesterday, but the sunset will be later for a few days each
Bee facts: a few things of interest for you as part of my #30DaysWild challenge. Friends of the Earth are doing a Great British Bee Count until 30 June. I’m sure a week of data would be better than none.
The Tree Survey methodology is part of the NWT’s Schools Pack for #30DaysWild. I see no reason not to do it myself. My Tree Survey My tree is a purple prunus, or ornamental cherry. It’s about the size of two
UK Swift Awareness Week is 16th to 23rd June 2018. It’s the initiative of a small but very active group of bird lovers who know swifts are in danger, who set up an organisation called Action For Swifts. I learned
I’ve been going bats for several years now. Then I bought a bat detector. Since then I’ve known roughly which bats I’m batty about – or which are most batty near me, as the case may be. Detecting bats Bats
Iceberg B-15 broke away from the Antarctic ice shelf in 2000. It’s been tracked from space ever since, and it’s nearly gone. The wonderful Earthsky.org notified me of the event and I thought you’d be interested. This seemed so wild
Monday I did my fifth Breeding Bird Survey of the season. There are only six, so I’m nearly done. That is, there are two surveys each for three different patches I cover in NE Norfolk. The BTO Breeding Bird Survey
The cuckoo must be the most distinctive and widely known song in the world. Cuckoo clocks – who hasn’t heard one? Real cuckoos are often heard, but rarely seen, partly because the song echoes so far over the terrain. April,