I have chosen the siskin as my bird of the month for May. These little yellow sweethearts have been our constant companions in the garden this month. We haven’t really seen siskins on the feeders here before – except the odd fleeting sighting in the winter – but this spring there has been at least …
I’ve chosen the oystercatcher as my bird of the month for April. I’ve always loved oystercatchers. They were my Gran’s favourite bird (and I have a Mairi Hedderwick oystercatcher print that was hers). They are seaside nostalgia. They are noisy and bold and a bit extra. They eat cockles like Londoners. There’s nothing not to …
I have chosen the jay as my bird of the month for March. Jays are woodland birds and we are lucky to live on the edge of a wood. Our neighbours have lovely mature gardens with lots of trees which brings the jays into the gardens. We’ve seen one on our feeders several times. Every …
My bird of the month for February is the mute swan. Here’s why: Swans have been really visible this month. At the start of the month the pond near us, at Tweedbank, was frozen solid and the swans stood awkwardly on top of the ice. I always think swans look funny standing. They are so …
We really love putting food out for the birds. Pig helps me scoop the peanuts and sunflower hearts and roll lovely round fat balls into the feeders. He’s very serious about carrying them back out to the garden without spilling any seed. Ross gave me a window feeder for my birthday and it has been …
[This year I have decided to study two big Horse Chestnut trees near our house. This is Part 7 of my sketchbook-learnings.] I’m a little behind with my update on the chestnuts. Things have been really very busy in my little business. It has been so hard for brick & mortar shops this year, and …
[This year I have decided to study two big Horse Chestnut trees near our house. This is Part 6 of my sketchbook-learnings.] These are the last few weeks of the dense, dark, green canopies. Slowly, slowly the golds will creep in and the burnt oranges will light their flames. Autumn’s winds will blow holes in …
The Drygrange Chestnuts Pt.6: July, August, and the last of the Greens Read More »
We are just back from a much needed few days by the sea. I’ve always been of the opinion that the closer you are to the ocean, the better you feel. I’ve just googled “why is being by the sea good for you?” and this is what I’ve learnt: doctors have been prescribing curative trips …
[This year I have decided to study two big Horse Chestnut trees near our house. This is Part 5 of my sketchbook-learnings.] In my last update I was celebrating the new green leaves that had burst forth all over the two chestnuts. That was at the end of April. Since then the trees have been …
The Drygrange Chestnuts Pt.5: May, June, Flowers and Environmental Justice Read More »
I’ve been absolutely fascinated by the woodland in spring this year. I missed three months of the woodland last year with being either too heavily pregnant to walk very far or stuck in the house recovering with the new-born. Whereas this year, during lock-down, I’ve had all the time in the world to stoop down …