The grass crunched beneath our boots. Each blade outlined by opaque crystals. A layer of ice topped the puddles of the gravel drive. The previous days rain had been caught out by a plummet in temperatures brought on by clear skies overnight. On branches of bush and tree small droplets of water were held frozen … More Frosty Garden, Frozen Fingers, Fabulous Feathers
The wind tears through the reeds and tall grasses along the margin of the pool. Their heads, heavy with seeds, buffeted one way and then the other as blasts of frigid air sweep through the chilly fen. Inside the hide the wind is a muted roar, the large windows and heaters providing a most comfortable … More Wonderful Whoopers of Welney
Mist was rising off the rippling water of the pools at Cranwich making them appear steaming hot, perhaps tempting one in for a quick dip. But this is not the time to be fooled as our breathe steams in the cold morning air. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, it’s golden rays streaming … More An Autumn Dawn
So here we are at the end of September and autumn is upon us. While the official ‘Constant Effort’ ringing period ended at the beginning of the month, at Cranwich we undertake a couple extra visits during the season. Our aim is to capture the departure of our main study species the Reed Warbler, including … More Autumn Gold
Storm Alieen was barreling into the UK and the Bay of Biscay between Spain and France was feeling it’s effects. Waking after a delayed start from Portsmouth and a rather bumpy night through the English Channel the group of intrepid whale watchers from the marine charity ORCA were out on deck at first light, albeit rather murky and damp, … More Stormy Bay
A keen, rather cool sea breeze blustered in through the open wooden windows of the hide, rippling the water and bending the tops of reeds and grasses of the lagoons. It was another of those days where the weather cannot decide what it wants to do. Out of the breeze it was warm, especially when … More Happy ‘Bird’ Day
From bird and insect watching to simply admiring wild flowers here is the story of my 30 Days Wild. 30 Days Wild is a campaign run by the Wildlife Trusts to encourage people to connect with nature and do something wild each day during the month of June. Now I like to think I am … More 30 Days Wild
It was a beautiful warm summers evening, although meteorically speaking it was still spring for just a few more hours. The sky overhead was a bright blue with just wisps of high clouds, while where the sun was closing in on the western horizon, the colour had been bleached out. On evenings like this the colours … More Little Wind Hoverer
It was a gorgeous, balmy, sunny evening. The bright blue sky clear above the sparkling greens of the forest. Everything seemed to glow in the long rays of sunshine as the sun headed for the horizon. Bright yellows of broom and gorse added a brilliant splash of colour to the palette of greens and browns … More Having a Hoot in the Forest
The last day of April. A bright, breezy day with a sky filled with high cloud that occasionally breaks to reveal patches of blue and rays of sunshine that warmed the wetland of the RSPB’s Lakenheath Nature Reserve. The footpath followed the top of the raised river bank that was lush with verdant green grasses. … More Lakenheath Nature Reserve
Wild Barley 