This has truly been a year of seasons. A long cold winter, sharp spring and hot dry summer. A damp, blowy autumn was inevitable. The natural world has responded well to the conformity. Trees such as elder have rarely been more berry laden and while the mushroom season was late to get going, when itContinue reading “Autumn Forays”
Lurid Boletes
Okay, so the name is a little off-putting and some people find that alcohol and Boletus luridus are not happy bed-fellows, but there is no denying the beauty of these chaps. I found these among a thin strip of beech trees beside a pine plantation and my only regret is not snapping a picture ofContinue reading “Lurid Boletes”
New Beginnings
20th May 2013 In the most yellow of springs, new life is popping up and out everywhere you look. I watched a tense, hour-long stand-off yesterday between a fox and a ewe protecting her new-born lamb. The poor old ewe was fairly exhausted having just delivered and I broke the unofficial wildlife watchers code andContinue reading “New Beginnings”
Part of the Process
13th May 2013 The Twitch is moving ever closer to publication. The first proofs have been checked and signed off and the cover itself is taking shape. It is a long old process taking sixty thousand words and making them presentable, and I have definitely avoided the worst of the tedium. Editing and proof-reading areContinue reading “Part of the Process”
Baby Grassie
April 29th 2013 I found three little grass snake hatchlings last autumn and did wonder if the long, cold winter would have been a bit too severe for them. Thankfully, at least one is okay…… No bigger than a worm but a thousand times as cute….
Grassies!
24th April 2013 And the grass snakes have finally emerged, too! They are cold at this time of year and docile as a result. Grass snakes are not found much further north than Hadrian’s Wall and after the cold of the past winter and early spring they have hibernated a full month longer here thanContinue reading “Grassies!”
Adders…….
19th April 2013 A perfect day for adders with a northerly wind keeping the air temperature in check but warm intermittent sunshine keeping the snakes out basking. I popped to my local patch for a quick poke about and found this male in his usual spot. I have seen a juvenile adder near to thisContinue reading “Adders…….”
Kevin Parr 