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Journal › birds
Recording Ireland’s Birds
I really enjoyed Irish Wildlife Sounds and the Race to Record Ireland’s Birds, an in-depth Bandcamp Daily article about ornithologist, field-recordist and producer Seán Ronayne, currently in the process of completing a collection of calls and sounds from all known regularly-occurring bird species in Ireland.
Swift report
I heard a scream of swifts high above the park in West Bridgford on 2nd May, but didn’t see them, the sky obstructed by trees. Today, 7th May — five days later and on the same date as last year, I saw the first swifts above our house.
Previously: 2023, 7th; 2022, 11th; 2021, 16th; 2020, 5th; 2019, 9th; 2018, 7th; 2017, 11th.
The globe’s still working
Our swifts returned today, 7th May, a sign that “the globe’s still working” and “our Summer’s still all to come” (Ted Hughes’ Swifts). Previously: 2022, 11th; 2021, 16th; 2020, 5th; 2019, 9th; 2018, 7th; 2017, 11th.
This year, the warming climate also bought Alpine swifts to our shores, as early as March, but I haven’t seen one yet.
A day next-the-sea
Today, we enjoyed a long-overdue day out and much-needed fresh air. Up at 6:30am, we drove to the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea. We walked to Holkham Nature Reserve, had a ramble around the dunes, ate some snap at The Lookout, and took a stroll back along the woods. Saw a little muntjac deer and pair of marsh harriers. We also met two friendly pomeranians. Later, we went into town for a wander around the shops and devoured some gelato. I used a few neglected muscles and did five hours of driving; tired now and sore tomorrow.
Crumbs
A fun weekend. We spent Saturday afternoon with two best friends and their lovely new baby boy. Today, we drove to Castleton for some much-needed fresh air, including a wander up Cave Dale. We also met this soft robin, easily enticed with a few Cherry Bakewell crumbs.
Sparrowhawk
We heard something thump into the window below, got up to look, and WOW! — a female sparrowhawk wrestling her kill into submission. She must’ve chased her prey into the glass. Warning: this is obviously a bit grim for the pigeon.
Wye Valley retreat
We always said that when Bearface left us, we’d take a short break somewhere. Despite him passing at the height of Summer, we lucked into the perfect Wye Valley hideaway at short notice.
The swifts have returned
Our swifts returned today. 2021, 16th; 2020, 5th; 2019, 9th; 2018, 7th; 2017, 11th. ‘Our Summer’s all still to come.’
The swifts are here!
They’ve made it again,
Which means the globe’s still working, the Creation’s
Still waking refreshed, our summer’s
Still all to come
The Sneinton swifts are a little late this year — 2017, 11th; 2018, 7th; 2019, 9th; 2020, 5th — but they’re here, opening the skies with their screeching and filling me with optimism.
We went somewhere!
We actually went somewhere. We drove to one of our fave places, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, for land art and nature and distant horizons. I mean, we’ve walked around the local park once a week, but today we crossed two county borders. Went to Yorkshire. TRAVELLED!
Pictured: Geri with Andy Goldsworthy’s Hanging Trees. Me in my happy place. Sean Scully’s Wall Dale Cubed. In the woods, looking at nuthatches.
Cromford
The clocks went back, but not far enough to fix anything.
With sunshine forecast and Tier 3 imminent, we seized our last chance to enjoy this spectacular Autumn. We drove to Cromford for a circular stroll, but with hindsight, this wasn’t my best idea: steep hills shelter the Derwent valley, so the leaf-peeping was a little underwhelming. Below tree cover, the canal was a primordial brown, muddied from decomposing leaves. Everything was much brighter in the open, where dabchicks bobbed and long evening shadows traced undulating fields.
On the narrow towpath, we were forced to walk in single file — sometimes a little too close to the water’s edge — as unaccommodating family groups barged past. I grumbled a lot, and grow increasingly angry at such thoughtlessness.
I recalled my Dad’s final day out, in this valley all those years ago. And I thought about my Mam, sat at home, shielding for months on end.
We did have a lovely day today, but it can be hard to let the mind rest, even in the places that usually bring peace.
Birthday #47
Sunshine! Geri surprised me with the perfect homemade card and a delivery of Crosstown doughnuts. We drove to Dovedale for a short stroll and picnic; saw a red kite and a treecreeper. Watched Interstellar again; enjoyed Tarn Thai, prosecco and amazing tomato soup cake. Ate too much of everything.
Feeling grateful
There are still jobs to do before we complete our garden project, but they can wait. After all the effort, and with Autumn approaching fast, we wanted to make the most of this glorious weather.
So, out came the new rug and chairs and other carefully-considered comforts, arranged under my trusty old parasol. A useless old barbecue is reborn as a mini firepit, and last night we toasted marshmallows, in lieu of the annual Middle Cove beach meet.
I’m writing this outside. Dear old Bearface is curled asleep in a small basket; bees buzz around the remaining honeysuckle flowers; goldfinches argue over the best perch at the feeder. Earlier, I watched my wife water her plants and felt an incredible sense of gratitude, both for her and for my modest home.
I worry about all sorts of things all of the time, but I never lose sight of my good fortune.
An unexpected appreciation for woodpigeons
I’ve long had a disdain for woodpigeons. I mean, has any bird thrived more in recent years than the woodpigeon? While other species cling to survival, these lumbering oafs are everywhere.
Birdcam
I learned that our local birds like sunflower hearts and they’re now feeding regularly, so I wedged an old Blink cam in the tree. Here’s the best of day one, featuring house sparrows, blue tits, adult and juvenile goldfinches.
Black birders
My privilege allows me to take so many opportunities for granted. For example, in my teens I became a birdwatcher, and aside from getting mugged that one time, my hobby was without friction. So long as I didn’t trespass, nobody would ever call the cops on me.
It’s an entirely different experience for black nature-lovers. Last week, the everyday racism faced by Christian Cooper in Central Park made headlines. Poppy Noor’s follow-up, Being black while in nature, adds valuable insight, particularly the contribution from Drew Lanham.
Cooper’s experience directly inspired Black Birders Week, online until Friday. The event also stands as a response to the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
I'm really enjoying Lonely Mountains: Downhill, newly released for Switch this month. Fast-reaction games are not my thing, but this is nature-minded, and the mountains are a peaceful place to be.
Sometimes, I'll just pedal around, listening to whistling winds and birdsong. I might pause to appreciate a magnificent vista, or rest by a waterfall and watch butterflies. The game mechanics are spot on, and with a little practice, I'm even beginning to master the downhilling bit. I love it.
The swifts are back
The swifts are back, screeching high in the skies above Sneinton. They always return this week in May, around teatime. Bird migration is a welcome reminder that despite everything, the world still turns and seasons change.
Robin
A long weekend in Suffolk
We’ve just returned from our first trip to Suffolk, where open landscapes and abundant birdlife take centre stage and everything feels gently connected. The food’s pretty good too.