Read More“Following a visit by volunteers and student naturalists from the wonderful Natural History Society of Northumbria, this month I was asked to write a piece for a new blog series, Celebrating North East Nature.”
An Autumnal Cornucopia
Read More“My writing this month will swerve the stereotypical adjectives of this glorious season, and will instead hone in on the assemblage of phenomenal fungi that I have found, along with a couple of real periodic treasures of the fall - both of which were entirely unexpected encounters.”
Soaring Heights
Read More“The surrounding vegetation has been brimming for months now with Common Froghoppers, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood and Ringlet butterflies. But without doubt the most prodigious find at the pond in recent weeks was a female Southern Hawker dragonfly laying her eggs in the still water.”
Star of the Hebrides
Read More“Swathes of Spring Squill were blooming across the low lying grassy plains, along with tufts of Sea Thrift decorating the rocks or “Seapink” as it is known locally. Wading Oystercatchers were out in full force, noisily deterring any passers-by and on more than once occasion we found some seemingly dubious choices in location for their shallow scrape-like nests.”
An Unlikely Acquaintance
Read More“The clear-cut winner of this months’ star of the show award is a peaceful alliance between two of the most captivating mammals you will find on these shores.”
Creating Newtopia
Read More“Just last week though, it was a new discovery at that same Badgers watering hole that had me equally as excited as that day back in early December when I first noticed the pond being used.“