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…
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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…
Peak Park Mismanagement – who introduced the Ostriches?
In a consultation document similar to the one above, the Peak District National Park introduces the Ostrich into the uplands of England. Rarely has a public body been seen to stick its head into the peat, but that’s what the Peak District NP is doing. Last year the PDNPA consulted on its draft plans for…
A rather dull post – but it might be to your advantage
This blog was down for a few days a little while ago while something that doesn’t mean anything to me was fixed so that everything worked properly again. It’s magic as far as I’m concerned. However, now, for a while, I’m on a monthly payment scheme which allows me to get technical work done on…
Not so brrrr!
Yesterday the thaw came. When I ventured out of the house at lunchtime yesterday it was almost warm! There was still snow on the ground but it was getting slushy. The garden bird count was much lower – an experience it seems of many of us. The Fieldfares had gone back to the fields; there…
Brrrrr! 2
It’s still snowy here in east Northants – snowy and misty. Yesterday I saw 23 species of bird from the house: Red Kite, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap, Starling, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed…