"It's bird watching Jim, but not as we know it"

Actually the mission for the day had a more blubbery smack to it, as it was seals that were on the agenda - Grey Seals to be precise. I am more inclined to watch birds than mammals but it seemed a golden opportunity to get close and personal with some of the UK's largest mammals, whilst under the informed tutalage of a couple of Island Wardens.

As a rather dense and very inexperienced bird watcher, my ignorance...

Field Trip Holy Island October 17th 2011

Perhaps I am biased but surely we have some of the finest birding territory in England but also some of the most abysmal weather.

It is always observed that the British are obsessed with the weather, but the bird watchers of Britain are all surely secretly practised in the art of the sun dance or earnest prayers… anything to stop the wind blowing the birds into the heavens or into thickets of the densest gorse. Anyway whatever...

Last night's offerings from the turn of the century are a lovely reminder of a golden age of bird illustration... and perhaps now we can see the pictures in a new light, with new eyes, as we no longer need an illustration to aid us when ID-ing eggs stolen from nests.

Tonights illustrations are taken from a wonderful tome acquired at a jumle sale. Birds of Australian Gardens by Peter Trusler (Text by Tess Kloot). - the book is so large and heavy it would not be amiss as a murder weapon...

As a lackadasical book dealer for the past 10 years, many bird books have passed through my hands, but more often than not I kept them, especially if beautifully illustrated. Something deep inside hears that voice "Look, pretty bird". There was something so deeply intereting in some of those late victorian books which passed on grim anecdotes regarding the antics and ultimately violent endings of corvids that were far to clever for their own good. The lovely plates served to brighten...

The last two words that used to spring to about nature watching were "soothing" and "satisfaction" Swedish massage yes, wildlife watching no.

A funny thing happened on the way to the kitchen last September, as I was going to pour myself another glass of Merlot, I noticed the garden security light had been triggered by something... this was unusual
as it doesn't pick up on my cats as a rule and the area is quiet at night.
It had to be something...