With less than five weeks until the end of the fishing season, I am normally fishing frenetically in early February, but even on those odd days when the river has shrunk back within its banks the wind has howled and I have left the rod bag in the calm of the hallway. I did manageContinue reading “Shapes”
Tag Archives: Nature
A glorious weekend in the country…
This weekend my friend Martin made his now annual escape from London life in order to kick back in the Dorset hills. In past years we have squeezed a bit of fishing in, but this time we spent two and a half days hunting birds. On Friday afternoon we were at Morden Bog hoping toContinue reading “A glorious weekend in the country…”
Rivers Run
It seems and age since I was last on the riverbank. Sufficient germs were shared at Christmas to keep me sniffling through January and my chest has an unhealthy rattle that is reluctant to leave. This end of the season is normally my favourite time to cast, and though I might not have actually beenContinue reading “Rivers Run”
Symbiosis
Whenever I’m creeping around the woods with a mushroom basket on my arm, my eyes regularly flick skyward. I’m not looking for birds, or checking for rain clouds but keeping in eye on the trees and more specifically the species beneath which I am walking. Fungal mycelium form a network of strands within the soilContinue reading “Symbiosis”
Bales
The autumn equinox is still a fortnight away and yet everything seems to be where it should. The mornings are late, dew laden and chilly but by lunchtime the insects are buzzing with the vigour of summer. Chiffchaffs and willow warblers are passing through but clearing their throats as they do and in a lightContinue reading “Bales”
Butterflies….
There are so many butterflies on the wing this summer. My lunchtime walks have seen dozens dancing away from every footstep. I have sharpened up my identification skills – relatively at least – and also tried my hand at a few photographs….it’s not easy without a viewfinder and the detail is lacking a little, butContinue reading “Butterflies….”
…more adders
Apologies, I do get a little preoccupied at this time of year….. I am trying to find Aggie – my favourite snake, who was still out on December 12th, but as yet I have not found her…… She may have perished or, hopefully, she has found somewhere else to see in the spring.
Early season snakes
So mild has this winter been that I worry for many of our hibernating fauna. The temperature may not have been cold enough for long enough to properly let the hibernators go into limbo and yet they would not have found the food to sustain their metabolism. The snakes have been showing for some weeks.Continue reading “Early season snakes”
Autumn Forays
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”
Kevin Parr 