Dawn Chorus (I blame the great tit) a short story by Hannah Longmuir We’ve been in this house seven springs, now. And in seven springs I have intended to, and failed to, slip out into the woods, in May, while the rest of the household sleeps, to hear the dawn chorus in full voice. Small […]
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The Chaffinch & the Blossom-Cloud a short story by Hannah Longmuir On Tuesday, I was walking inside a cloud when I was scolded by a chaffinch. The cloud was formed of blossom, where the blackthorn grows on both sides of the river path, and only in April can you walk into the iridescent blossom-fog to
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The Flycatcher & the Honeysuckle how a mystery little bird filled my patio with joy Sometime in June I noticed a little bird – about the size of a robin – that we don’t normally see in the garden. Mostly it sat on the fence, sometimes the trellis. Pale tummy, grey head and back, darker
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Swallows, Swifts and Martins an identification guide. In April, I sky-scan. Eyes up, waiting. And then I see her, the first swallow of the year, and I can breathe again. The swallows are back. And the thrill of the unmistakable shrill screech of the swifts! They are the last to arrive back, in May, and
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May Review: Only Joy I have nothing bad to say about May. She’s been kind to me. May is a naturally joyful month. All the fresh bright greens in a billion different shades, leaves so bountiful the trees are weighed down, canopies so dense that they form dark tunnels. Bees buzzing, swallows and swifts filling
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April Review: New Life The Baby arrived at the end of March. Life has been a bit topsy-turvy since then. Here’s a very brief review: She’s safely here! Our wee Trixie girl has joined the family. Her birth was joyful and peaceful and straightforward and I am beyond grateful for that. She’s got these wonderful
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February Review: Stormy but sweet This is how February went: snowdrops, muddy puddles, blackbird, pheasant, snowdrops. All with a background of wind. Outside, February was stormy. Dudley! Eunice! Franklin! More trees down, more powercuts. We found a whole nest, perfectly formed and still intact, on the ground. Beautifully arranged sticks and little fluffy white feathers.
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Bird of the Month December: Fieldfare My very last bird of the month! And a stunning final entry, I think. Our gorgeous winter visitor, the fieldfare. The reason I chose the fieldfare for December is very simple – at the beginning of the month, I was driving home in the golden early afternoon winter sunshine
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Bird of the Month November: Barn Owl I chose the barn owl for my bird of the month for November because, for me, the barn owl is a bird of dark nights and big moons. My little boy is completely enraptured by the moon at the moment. Full moons, moons shrouded in clouds, daytime moons
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Bird of the Month October: WoodPigeon October is my favourite month of the year, and this one has been really lovely. Those who have read the Bird of the Month blogs through the year might have spotted some slightly melancholy months (I’m looking at you, March and April) but I’m pleased to report that October has been a
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