Back in the summer, when the days were longer, drier (marginally) and warmer (slightly!) we were once again at Welney Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Nature Reserve. That time we were ringing Tree Sparrow chicks. Battling through waist high nettles we opened each of the boxes that had been put up years before around the visitor … More Wonders at Welney
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
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
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
It has been a long time since I wrote a blog. With a bit of a shock I realise it is almost 6 months. The entire winter. It is not that we haven’t been out amongst wildlife and nature, ringing or exploring, although our winter ringing sites were comparatively quiet this winter. I did get … More A great year for owls
Sitting on a plastic chair cuddling my youngest as he finally succumbs to sleep, darkness surrounds me with a cold cloak. The surrounding trees and little wooden house, lose their colour disappearing into black silhouettes. The sky still holds some light, varying shades of dark blue rather than black yet. My other senses take over. … More Reflecting
Snaking through the valley, between steep sided mountains with rounded tops, the river runs like a silvery ribbon, parallel to the grey road and straight black lines of a railway. All three sandwiched together on the valley floor. Trees, grasses and bushes in a myriad of shades of green cover the valley floor, screening road … More Welsh boxes
It has been a very dry April in our corner of the world. Cold too. Unseasonably cold and dry. There has been little sign of any April Showers and I don’t remember the last time I felt, saw or heard a deluge of rain drops. The lack of rain may not only be causing consternation … More To Catch Crossbills
It felt good to be back in such a familiar landscape. A long strip of bright blue sky stretched above the forest ride, flanked by green and browns of the forest on either side. Sunbeams danced through the branches and evergreen needles of the trees; new leaves were beginning to burst on the bushes that … More An Epic Day
It had been a while. Home schooling a five year old with a 1 year old running around and into everything, resuming work and settling into doing that from home, all meant lockdown 3 has been a completely different kettle of fish to last year. Except from some limited ringing in the garden we had … More We’re back
Wild Barley 