Nine nature blogs you all should follow

It is no secret that I love blogging. Writing about wildlife is a great passion of mine, something that has allowed me to meet and interact with a number of highly passionate individuals, many of whom likewise maintain blogs of their own. At present, rarely a day goes by without at least an hour spent trawling the web, updating myself as to the comings and goings of various naturalists, many of whom put my humble little page to shame with their talent and dedication. With this in mind, I thought I would put together a post highlighting some of my favourite wildlife bloggers, pointing out their respective websites so you yourself can take a look. From accounts of day-trips, opinion pieces and creative writing to local patch reporting and educational articles; the blogs listed below are all fantastic and all worth a gander if you find yourself with time to spare.

1. Appleton Wildlife Diary – Alex White

A wonderful account of the wildlife seen around Alex’s home county of Oxfordshire and occasionally further afield, written wonderfully and adorned with some fantastic photography. I was first made aware of this site through the BBC Local Patch Reporters thread and have been a loyal reader ever since. Alex also recently contributed a cracking piece to the ‘Rants for Change’ blog, touching on an issue all too familiar to many young naturalists. This can be found here. – It feels me with great pride to see members of the younger generation taking such a proactive interest in natural history.

2. The Reremouse – Morgan Bowers

Easily one of the most eye-catching and attractive blogs I have ever seen but also jam-packed with informative posts regarding everything from bushcraft to species identification and even cookery! Morgan’s site is easily one of the more educational pages in this list and is definitely worth a visit. You may even learn a thing or two, I certainly have. Oh, and if you are a badger lover like I am, this is certainly the blog for you.

3. Barcode Ecology – Megan Shersby

Megan’s blog, much like my own, focuses predominantly on her personal experiences in nature and is simply bursting with exciting trip reports among a number of other things. It has been lovely to follow Megan’s adventures though perhaps more interesting is her tendency to challenge herself each year through her ‘wildlife resolutions’, something I do not see all too often on other sites. Barcode Ecology is also fairly interactive, the occasional quiz popping up to keep readers on their toes from time to time.

4. Kingfisher Blog – Warren Price

Warren’s blog is unique in the sense that it revolves predominately around a single species, the Kingfisher. Both educational and enjoyable, it is possible to follow the lives of Warren’s local Kingfishers through informative updates and superb photography. Seriously, the vast majority of the photos included here are enough to leave you weak at the knees, pin sharp and perfect. Well worth a read.

5. Wild South London – Will Harper-Penrose

Before saying anything about the blog itself, I must first point out that it is Will’s writing style that keeps me glued to his updates. He has an unbridled knack for painting a very vivid picture of his adventures, so much so that it almost feels like you have enjoyed the experience alongside him. Like many of the best blogs, ‘Wild South London’ is an account of the author’s adventures and explorations in nature, coupled with excellent photography and absolute dedication to natural history. A recipe for success in my book.

6. Birding With Gus – Gus Routledge

Another firm favourite of mine, this blog courtesy of Gus Routledge combines very educational posts with accounts of local adventures and is nothing short of a pleasure to read. Anyone with an interest in botany (or birds) should certainly take note of this one. By my own admission, I usually drift off into a stupor whenever plants are mentioned, Gus’s blog, however, keeps me hooked for some reason and strangely, by my standards, I find myself reading about (and enjoying) posts centred around mosses and liverworts!

7. Self Titled – Dan Rouse

It is actually quite surprising that I have made it most of the way through this list without including a blog by another birder. Well, here one is. Dan’s blog comprises the right mix of trip reports, informative pieces and occasional opinion articles and really is a gem. I am familiar with Dan though ‘Next Generation Birders’ and know first hand just how enthusiastic she is when it comes to the natural world. All of this shines through on her blog and it is certainly worth hitting the follow button on this one.

8. Self Titled – Tiffany Imogen

Tiffany is without a doubt one of the most creative and gifted writers I know and each post; whether centred on cooking, various adventures or the dissection of owl pellets is a treat to behold. This is perhaps the only blog on this list that also includes occasional elements of poetry and creative writing, a refreshing change from the scientific mumbo jumbo that dominates some sites out there. Likewise, Tiffany’s flair for art and photography shine through and I cannot stress enough just how much I enjoy keeping up with her various comings and goings. She is also another BBC Local Patch Reporter and I would advise anyone to follow, browse and subscribe to their heart’s content.

9. Daily Nature Blog – Connel Bradwell

*Squeal* Killer Whales – That alone should give you more than enough reason to follow this blog. Connel’s fantastic ‘Daily Nature’ site is unique in the sense that is one of the only international blogs that I follow with any sort of dedication. Combing informative posts from across the pond with tales from the East Midlands, this blog is both entertaining and educational and really is worth a look. Connel is also the only “vlogger” to feature on this little list of mine, his Youtube videos a sure fire way to brighten up even the most tedious of days. Connel was recently highly commended in the BBC Wildlife Blogger Awards 2015, a just reward for a fantastic member of the online blogging community.

Of course, should you find yourself with some free time, you could browse the range of articles contained on this site too…