Tits and Boobies: The shared humour of rude-sounding bird names
Returning from a 25th birthday party, I’m amused at how many people find joy in rude-sounding bird names.
Life in the Graveyard
With the Spring Equinox looming, I take a walk through the graveyard, admiring all the signs of life.
The Humble Blue Tit
Pretty, plucky and smart — In this mini essay I share why I believe we should pay more attention to the humble blue tit.
Becoming a Writer
I graduated, got a job, bought a flat and have just started a Nature and Travel Writing MA at Bath Spa University. Join me as I navigate this next chapter in my journey.
White Stork on Worth Marshes
A short catch-up and a recount of my trip to see the white stork on Worth Marshes in Kent.
Reclaiming and Reconnecting: My Recovery from Anorexia
As I am finding my feet when it comes to writing, it thought it about time to get a bit more personal and specify the place from which my writing is coming. It’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2021, so what better time than now to share how grounding myself in nature is providing the foundation for my recovery.
The Liminal Space Between The Human and The Natural World
A more philosophical post, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Romantic idea of the sublime of the natural world, and how it feels to witness nature at work.
RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 2021
I've been participating in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch for as long as I can remember; it is a rather special date in my annual agenda. An excuse to put down all devices, work and chores to focus solely on birds, AND conducting citizen science? Count me in! In the spirit of the BGB 2021, I thought I'd recount some of my recent garden visitors, and some musings I've made.
Pheasants and Bullfinches Galore - Moving to Somerset
Happy New Year! I’ve moved to South Somerset and I can’t wait to share my sights and experiences with you throughout the year, as well as share my progress as I look towards my future nature/career goals.
Monthly Warble - September 2020
The monthly round-up for nature and birding in September 2020.
The New Forest
From deer, raven and nuthatches to dreams of goshawk, my short break to The New Forest — including trips to Blackwater Arboretum and Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary — was amazing!
Monthly Warble - August 2020
This is a new monthly segment I’d like to introduce to my blog, to offer a rounded view of the month’s sightings and interesting discoveries, and also to add a more personal element to this blog.
Cliff Top Therapy
In this post, I discuss how I use nature to ground me on a bad mental health day. Watching kestrel fledglings, fulmars, house martins and rock pipits on a balmy evening post-storm was exactly what I needed on a day that didn’t feel so bright.
Creating a Nature-Friendly Garden
There are many incentives to attracting more wildlife into your garden and it can be as simple as putting out some bird seed or a few flower pots. Here’s how my family is working together to create our own nature garden.
Spring at Stodmarsh
Taking advantage of unlimited daily exercise in search of turtledoves, harriers and much, much more!
Zebra Jumping Spiders
Lockdown has allowed me to inspect some lovely little arachnids and discover their incredible adaptations.
Garden Birding
Being stuck in lockdown is difficult for everyone, especially when you can’t do the things you’d usually do with your free time, e.g. bird watching. But there is so much to learn from encouraging garden birds to come to you, and improving your wellbeing in doing so.