I recognise them – they are Daisies! These plants jostle with the Dandelions to fill my lawn – I have a slight preference for the Daisy. Plantlife says it’s OK to pick a few Daisies now and again – good for them! It’s a long time since I made a daisy-chain – it’s time…
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A 2-month spring break is coming soon
It is too late in the year to be regarded as hibernation, and possibly too early to be aestivation, and vernalization means something else entirely, so I’m not sure what to call it. However, this blog will be undergoing a 2-month period of semi-torpor from 4 May – 4 July. I am travelling, coming and…
Spring comes late to east Northants
Last week I was away for four mornings but from Saturday to Wednesday I have been for my regular walk around Stanwick Lakes each morning. There have been so few birds that I have resorted to looking at plants! Like this Coltsfoot – one of the few plants I recognise (at least on a good…
Flowers we can pick (1) – Dandelion
Plantlife says that, provided we don’t go over the top, we can pick some of our commonest and prettiest flowers. That’s quite brave of them! I’ll cover one of the ‘Pickable 12’ each week at relevant times through the spring and summer. Let’s start with the Dandelion – and you can come pick them in…
Nice wine, nice bird
We had a good bottle of Malbec before attending a performance by comedian Mark Steel at the Derngate Theatre in Northampton a couple of weeks ago. We didn’t just have the Malbec – we had it with Pizza etc in the nearby Pizza Express. I’ve been wondering ever since why an Argentinian wine has…
Hotting up for Avery Island
I’ve never been to Avery Island, Louisiana, but I’ve often thought I would – maybe I need to hurry up. For most people, Avery Island means very little, but for those to whom it means anything, it will probably be as the home of Tabasco sauce. I like Tabasco – I had some on cheese…
Not many migrants
There haven’t been many spring migrants (birds) around in Northants so far. I still haven’t seen anything more than Chiffchaffs and a few Sand Martins – but then I’m not out all the time. But the Chiffchaffs are singing in lots of places. Their song cuts through the air and delivers the message that spring…
Hare today, goner tomorrow!
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust is helping with a survey of Mountain Hares. They’ve got the science to tackle a job like this. To see a shocking video of Mountain Hare ‘management’ see here.
David Cobham – 1930-2018
It was with sadness that I learned on Monday of the passing of David Cobham, author, film-maker and conservationist. My sympathies are with his wife Liza Goddard. David was an enthusiast on birds of prey and wrote two good books on the subject, A Sparrowhawk’s Lament (2014) and Bowland Beth (2017). I will miss the…
On a course, at a meeting
I’m off to Cheltenham for three days at the races. I know that this is a subject that leaves some readers of this blog cold, others will be annoyed that I spend my time in this way, and yet others will wish they were there too. Any of those reactions is fine – but I’m…