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Nature notes from “our Care Home Correspondent”
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‘Over 1 in 10 UK species faces a real risk of extinction’
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International Dawn Chorus Day 2020
International Dawn Chorus Day is a super opportunity to celebrate nature – specifically birdsong, and what a symphony it was this morning at 5 am. On the first Sunday in May, people from all around the world throw off the bed covers and head outside to tune in to the beautiful sound of tweeting birds. …
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From Paul Budgen, FLS
Further to your earlier posting on the FFON blog, I offer you a photograph of a dark-edged beefly (Bombylius major), as requested. This was taken on 8th April this year, on a footpath near the local nature reserve, where you and I have walked, John (Cooper), on one of your visits to Broadstone. I have also attached…
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“Our feeders are a magnet for the sparrows and the hawk.”
Written by Graham Wellstead (Surrey, UK). With this splendid weather, long may it last, albeit quite chilly first thing, I have been up and about since first light. Our bird feeders are currently hosting our usual gang of 60 plus house sparrows, who alternate their position from feeding, to cover in the pyracantha hedge underneath…
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From a friend in Kinross-shire, Scotland
A friend in Kinross-shire, Scotland, kindly forwarded to us some photos for the Armchair Naturalist FFON website. We encouraged him to do so when he told us that he has red (not grey) squirrels in his garden. On hearing that, John (Cooper) wryly remarked: “We Sassenachs envy you your red squirrels!” Our correspondent was not able…
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Here in Germany, we do watch a lot from our windows
Written by John F. Burton in Germany, who knew and worked with Maxwell Knight: Thank you very much for your kind email and your inspiring internet (FFON) piece, which we enjoyed reading. Here in Germany, we do watch a lot from our windows (passing White Storks, Grey Herons, Cormorants, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Goshawks, Jays, etc.) and…
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Wooing the birds
Written by Beatrice Bray. The French twentieth century composer Olivier Messeain took avian observations to a new level. Not just content with listening to birds, he sought to recreate it in his music: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3gJFSH6W6wXVgybrqqNtFGq/the-composer-who-took-a-cue-from-birdsong I wouldn’t attempt to emulate either his musicianship or his record as an ornithologist, not least because my own expertise is…
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2 – What’s going on out there?
Episode notes: Simon, John and Margaret’s theme for today is “Resources and help for Armchair Naturalists” and they take a look at the useful equipment for natural history, but not before discussing the exciting comings and goings of wildlife during the international lockdowns. Please visit http://www.ffon.co.uk to find out more about our ‘Armchair Naturalists’ project or email thefrightenedfaceofnature@gmail.com with…
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Made in Chelsea
By Helen Jeffries – our London Correspondent. As it was such a beautiful day today, and I had a day off, I went for a walk along the Thames through Chelsea. Around this time of year the Royal Hospital, Chelsea (where the Chelsea Pensioners live) would normally be a hive of activity gearing up for the…
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My Garden
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It’s the Little Things by Susan Underkoffler, USA
This time of year, with Easter just past and Earth Day rapidly approaching (April 22), there is nothing better than running around in the woods appreciating the new Spring growth. Listening to the insistent hollow rappings of woodpeckers and the peaceful calls of white throated sparrows, crawling on hands and knees through the mud to…
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A Q&A session with our new Australian correspondent, Wes Hooper
Wes, our new Australian correspondent, lives north of Sydney, a couple of miles inland from the ocean and next to a set of three interconnected saltwater lakes. In response to some questions from FFON, Wes writes: Q: Australian wildlife is so beautiful; do people in Australia plant their gardens with wildlife in mind? Certainly, Australia has…
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Not one, but two Great spotted woodpeckers
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Greetings from London SE4
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Nature Notes from Our Care Home Correspondent
Here are some photos sent to us by an Armchair Naturalist who is currently in coronavirus quarantine, confined to one room of a Care Home, but enjoying looking out at plants in the grounds: In addition to the shrubs and trees (one adorned with blossom), there is a carpet of daisies. These are the familiar, but…
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From a friend in France
Written by Dr Jean-Pierre André Thanks very much for that excellent idea (FFON). I have many plants on my balcony (third floor, in town) and at times I can see some birds: sparrows, great tits, robin and blackbirds. Every day “wild” doves are asking for seeds (they eat as it were in the hand). In the sky,…
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Notes from the Back Garden Naturalist
Written by Graham Wellstead in Darkest Surrey Simon King urges us all to become armchair naturalists during these rather frightening times. However, if I sit down, I fall asleep. I, therefore, spend most of my waking hours outside in my relatively small suburban garden. Not, you might think, much of an opportunity to observe nature.…
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Is that a deer I see before me?
Written by Norma Chapman – leading deer biologist. Muntjac deer are now very widespread in Britain, not just in the countryside but frequently living in villages and towns. Gardens provide good places to feed and to lie-up where shrubs provide cover. Some people are delighted to be able to observe them but keen gardeners can…
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Tales from the Riverbank
By Helen Jeffries – FFON’s London Correspondent. Having unexpectedly got an extra day off on Easter Monday I set out in the freezing cold for a bracing walk along the Thames – across one bridge, along the Embankment, back across the bridge, and so home. While still on the bridge I saw two male mallards…
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“It’s been an exciting week for us two Norfolk Armchair Naturalists”
Written by John and Margaret Cooper. Easter, but it doesn’t feel like it because of the personal, national and global concern about Covid-19 and growing number of deaths. However, as the Queen said in her Easter message “Easter isn’t cancelled; indeed, we need Easter as much as ever”. This morning, as we are doing everyday…
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1 – It’s a great time to be an ‘Armchair Naturalist’
Episode notes: Simon, John and Margaret launch The ‘Armchair Naturalists’ podcast and discuss the art and science of natural history, and they encourage everyone to get involved and explore the natural world – even if that’s only possible from the comfort of an armchair. Please visit http://www.ffon.co.uk to find out more about our ‘Armchair Naturalists’…
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Being isolated at home in Pennsylvania, USA won’t stop forensic scientist and wildlife enthusiast, Susan Underkoffler from watching nature.
A contribution from Susan Underkoffler, forensic scientist and wildlife enthusiast, who is currently isolated at home in Pennsylvania, USA. One thing this crisis is good for is getting people outside to notice things they may not normally… I took my dog for a walk today and passed a dozen or so people from my tiny neighborhood on…
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Bats, birds, bold foxes and stargazing: is nature reclaiming the city of London?
Written by Helen Jeffries – our London correspondent. Since the clocks went forward I’ve been seeing some beautiful dawns as I walk to work through deserted London. Because a lot of central London architecture uses glass walls, the dawn catches the glass and blazes in reflected pinks and yellows. It feels strange to go out…
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Bats are brilliant to watch at dusk
