The long, narrow boat skims over the brown murky water of the river, sending white water rolling from its hull, creating a loud rushing sound. The boat has a solid roof and plastic sides that are rolled up, straps flapping in the wind. On both sides of the boat the wide brown water stretches away, … More Costa Rican Rainforest
‘I must be crazy’. ‘What am I doing’. The thoughts chased round in my head as I navigated the winding roads of North Wales in the pitch black. It was early, still dark. No other drivers on the road. ‘I must be crazy’. ‘What am I doing’. I had woken us all at ridiculous o’clock, … More Dolphins of course
Beaked whales. Those elusive, little known toothed whales. Odd looking, with strangely shaped mouth lines, few or no teeth, and even then its only males where the teeth erupt through the lower jaw protruding like tusks. Pelagic species, found in the open ocean over deep water habitat. These are some if the deepest diving species, … More Beaky Blinders
It was not what I expected on a Sunday morning dog walk. Knowing the heat of the day was to come, I headed out earlyish to walk Barley. All was normal as I wandered down the long grass of Melford Common, down the gentle slope that leads to a small road that splits the field … More Swan Rescue
I was standing on the very familiar deck 10 if Brittany Ferries Pont Aven as she steamed out of Plymouth heading into the English Channel. A breeze tugs at my hair and jacket like an incessant toddler wanting my attention. The sky is clear and blue, the sun casting a molten gold that shimmers across … More Where I Belong
We have been colour ringing the Mute Swans in Thetford for a few years now. I say we. Its the Royal ‘we’. Lee does all the catching and ringing, although I have helped on occasion. But the benefits of adding a colour ring are really started to show, and its revealing a story that could … More A Swan Soap Opera
‘Just seen this’ came the message, accompanied by a still photograph, a screenshot from a video, of some dry, shriveled up, brown plants in front of some generic green foliage and the water of the river behind, just the odd group of bubbles in the right-hand corner. Despite this rather nondescript photograph I knew exactly … More Morning mustelid moment
Clouds billow, like marshmallows, on a distant horizon. They look ominous as they kiss the sea, hinting at the rain to come. Above there is nothing but blue sky. A stiff breeze tugs at loose clothing and whips the top of the deep blue waves into white horses. Despite this the swell is low and … More An opportunity to reconnect
A hot summer’s day. The sky a blazing blue. The tang of saltwater wafting on a slight breeze. A short distance away there are steep crumbling cliffs that overlook an azure sea lapping at golden sands of the North Norfolk coast. In our immediate vicinity the sun beats unrelenting on dense bramble and scrub that … More Oh how I love these birds of many colours
A week of sunshine, clouds, rain, thunder and lightning. Sometimes all in one day. A week of hiking through Welsh woodlands, splashing through streams, trooping up and down steep slopes, carrying kit and kids, avoiding stinging nettles, branches and sheep poo. Of stopping to admire the view. From steep sloping valleys, a patchwork of woodland … More A Week in Wales
Wild Barley 