This week has been a jolly good one; one jam-packed with exquisite encounters, cold fingers, early mornings and, of course, some brilliant birds. Each day taking me somewhere new in the local area as I attempt to get the year list off to a decent start and reacquaint myself with the local wilds from which IContinue reading “Another week in Northumberland”
Category Archives: Nature Diary
The Waiting Game
Sometimes it is nice to just sit still; to abandon the urge to chase nature and allow wildlife to come to you. To wait; a moss-clad boulder, park bench, bank or fallen branch the ideal perch from which to watch the natural world go by, and from which to admire the myriad secretive creatures setContinue reading “The Waiting Game”
Martin Hughes-Games is wrong about Planet Earth
For clarities sake, let us get this out of the way first: I, personally, am a fan of both the Planet Earth series and presenter Martin Hughes-Games. More fond of the former than the latter, in truth, but boasting a positive perception of both. This post is not at all intended as an attack on Martin.Continue reading “Martin Hughes-Games is wrong about Planet Earth”
6 Reasons I Spend Time In Nature
I spend the majority of my free time outdoors: birding, writing, taking pictures, recording, watching and, occasionally, ambling absent any particular aim. For me, the wilds that lie beyond my front door are a second home. On in which I can be myself, think, muse and hide away from the tedium of modern life. FromContinue reading “6 Reasons I Spend Time In Nature”
Dwelling on Deer: Culls and Control
There is no way around it, our small island is positively bursting with deer. So many in fact, that the issue of overpopulation and its subsequent implications are up there with the other great threats facing our countryside. And, arguably, of much greater concern than other issues prone to dominating the headlines – many of which,Continue reading “Dwelling on Deer: Culls and Control”
An Introduction to the Youth Nature Movement – Ben Eagle
There is something notable happening in conservation. For years, conservationists have bemoaned the perceived lack of interest that younger people take in the natural world. They point to nature deficit disorder as a distinct consequence of a generation of children lacking outdoor experiences. The internet is cast as a negative force, with children spending upwardsContinue reading “An Introduction to the Youth Nature Movement – Ben Eagle”
The Grouse debate: some follow-up thoughts
Alas, I have been uncharacteristically quiet on the issue of driven grouse shooting of late, though this does not mean I have not been keeping track of the proceedings. I watched the evidence session, the parliamentary debate, and have busied myself today reading through various outpourings associated with the government’s decision not to ban the practice.Continue reading “The Grouse debate: some follow-up thoughts”
Perceptions of Wildlife: The Young Conservationist
Another “perceptions of wildlife” guest blog this week, following the same setup as the last post by urban humanist Tayla May. This week’s post comes from young conservationist and budding scientist David Hunter, who was asked the same questions regarding his perceptions of wildlife and often controversial species. As you will see, his answers demonstrateContinue reading “Perceptions of Wildlife: The Young Conservationist”
Perceptions of Wildlife: the Urban Humanist
Following on from a recent blog post where I looked at my own perception of wildlife and the management of opinion-splitting species, I decided to start a new series of guest blogs. Posts which, I hope, will begin to look at the differences in stakeholder attitudes towards wildlife. With the aim of comparing outlooks betweenContinue reading “Perceptions of Wildlife: the Urban Humanist”
Raptor Persecution – Eleanor Upstill-Goddard
A change of pace this week as fellow Wildlife Articles blogger Eleanor Daisy Upstill-Goddard writes on the subject of raptor persecution. An issue close to the hearts of many, myself included, which has attracted a great deal of attention of late. And rightfully so, with abhorrent instances of illegal killing still seemingly commonplace in ourContinue reading “Raptor Persecution – Eleanor Upstill-Goddard”