Category Archives: wildlife

Lammas Day, Suffolk Coast

Posted on August 8, 2016 by

Lammas Day – the first day of August. School holidays, warm weather, beach visits, perhaps a swim in the sea? Or, on a windy cloudy day, a walk; a beach walk. At low to mid tide it is possible to … Continue reading →

Posted in Suffolk, Travel, Walking, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

In Bear Country

Posted on June 21, 2016 by

This was bear country. No doubt about it. Over breakfast Alfred from the guesthouse had said, “You should make sure that you talk when you go walking there – or maybe sing – that way you won’t take them by … Continue reading →

Posted in Balkans, Eastern Europe, Travel, wildlife | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Winter solstice – Wells to Blakeney

Posted on December 24, 2015 by

It was the day after the winter solstice – a bright sunny day with the wind from the south, the temperature mild. Conscious of the turning of the year, a last minute escape from the frenzied Christmas build-up seemed appropriate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Norfolk, Walking, wildlife | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Horsey

Posted on November 29, 2015 by

A grey morning, late November; a blanket of thick, high-tog cloud slung over the wet flatlands of northeast Norfolk. The day begins serendipitously when, approaching the car park at Horsey Windpump, two distant grey shapes are spotted in a roadside … Continue reading →

Posted in Norfolk, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Crowland

Posted on July 20, 2015 by

Crowland – the name seems to be well chosen. Walking into the village I cannot help but notice several dozen crows perched on the wires above the village sign: a welcoming committee taking a brief respite from wind-wheeling above the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Travel, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Wayland Wood

Posted on May 11, 2015 by

Last month I posted on hanami in Japan; on how the fleeting beauty of cherry blossom captured the Japanese imagination and seemed to unite the country in an appreciation of the transitory nature of the seasons. I observed that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Norfolk, wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Murmuration

Posted on January 19, 2015 by

Norwich, mid January. At dusk over the past few weeks an avian spectacular has been witnessed taking place in the sky over St Stephen’s Street. As the daylight dwindles around the four o’clock mark a swirling murmuration of roosting starlings … Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, Norfolk, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Snettisham

Posted on December 1, 2014 by

There’s a good omen as we leave Heacham before dawn: the sharp cry of a tawny owl emanating from somewhere in the woods. Fifteen minutes later, walking from Snettisham RSPB car park towards the beach at The Wash, there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Norfolk, Travel, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh!

Posted on May 30, 2014 by

I don’t quite know what it is that has made me think of Vietnam recently. Maybe it was a casual mention in a conversation that made me realise that I don’t have a very vivid memory of the short time I … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Travel, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Slow Travel Norfolk

Posted on March 7, 2014 by

Well, it is finally out – my new book Slow Travel Norfolk. Here is a brief extract from the book about an extraordinary rook roost that takes place at Buckenham Carrs each winter: A  large  wooded  area  just  east  of   Buckenham  … Continue reading →

Posted in Norfolk, Travel, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments