For easy-going naturalists.
John and Margaret Cooper submitted the piece below, with photos, for the FFON Armchair Naturalist, from their friend Dr Jennifer Whybrow BVSc MSc MRCVS. Jennifer’s notes reflect changes during April,…
“Our Care Home Correspondent”, who is no longer confined to her room in quarantine is now able to explore the Care Home grounds. Here are some notes and photos she…
Written by Oliver Cottis. Spring is the best time of year and we are stuck at home. With such a depressing grind of negativity, I don’t think it’s ever been…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Written by Paul Beecroft. My garden is a busy place no matter what month of the year it is. As I sit at my computer today (April 20th) in full…
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.…
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…
Looking North from Blyth Hill towards Canary wharf, my city in lockdown – so sad and weird. Oh the sound of silence and breath of clean air. An occasional plane,…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
We’re recording our first podcast session tomorrow (Tuesday 7th April) evening – if you have a question to put to the FFON /ARMNAT team, please email it to thefrightenedfaceofnature@gmail.com and…
A male Blackbird (Turdus merula) taking sunflower hearts:
Written by Chris Middleton FLS. What a great idea Armchair Naturalism is. A perfect time to make some observations, and to encourage others to do the same. I like to…
By Helen Jeffries As a key worker in central London I’ve seen a very different side to my city since the partial lock-down. Walking to work at 6.30am for the…
