Swift Justice (This article first appeared in the Autumn 2015 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) Six swifts sped past my office window distracting me from my keyboard slavery. The screen’s hypnotic grasp eluded, I nipped downstairs for some fresh air and … Continue reading → The post GOB 69 – Swift Justice appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
What will they think of next…. (This article first appeared in the September 2015 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) “I’m not sure, I didn’t look to see if there is anything about”… was my reply to Hawkeye as we drove towards … Continue reading → The post GOB 68 – What will they think of next…. appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Road Rage (This article first appeared in the August 2015 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) I was asked to speak at the Scottish Bird Fair – or to give it its proper title ‘Scotland’s Big Nature Festival’, and knowing that there … Continue reading → The post GOB 67 – Road Rage appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder .
Vintage Birds… (This article first appeared in the July 2015 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) Waiting while Hawkeye found more ways to spend my ‘hard earned’ in ‘George’ at Asda my eye’s corner spied the Herring Gulls on the grass verge … Continue reading → The post GOB 66 – Vintage Birds appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Blackcap… (This article first appeared in the June 2015 edition of ‘Birdwatching’ magazine) There is something immensely charming about a Blackcap. Their Jet black or red-brown bonnet setting off the subtle grey throat and belly and washed out olive wings, … Continue reading → The post GOB 65 – Blackcap… appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Listing to one side… (This article first appeared in the May 2015 edition of Birdwatching Magazine) Somewhere wreathed in mist and hidden by a time vortex is the schism that divided those who need to note their observations and those … Continue reading → The post GOB 64 – Listing to one side… appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Hands up who like fluffy kittens? (This article first appeared in the April 2015 edition of Birdwatching magazine) Hands up who likes furry pets, penguins and Puffins. OK. Now, hands up who likes starlings, snakes and spiders. A few generations … Continue reading → The post GOB 63 – Hands up who like fluffy kittens? appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Let’s Shake On It (This article first appeared in the February 2015 Edition of Birdwatching) Popular myth would have it that we used to be a nation of ladies gentlemen… our word was our bond. The great and good had … Continue reading → The post GOB 61 – Let’s Shake On It appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder .
What have you done today to make you feel proud? (This article first appeared in the January Edition of Birdwatching) So asked Heather Small on her album ‘Proud’. Two things led to me asking myself, and you, that question. The … Continue reading → The post GOB 60 – What have you done today to make you feel proud? appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Go Ahead… Make My Day (This article first appeared in the January 2015 edition of Birdwatching magazine) I was lying in bed counting diving Gannets. (When you get to my age sleep is like a birding tour, every day you … Continue reading → The post GOB 59 – Go Ahead… Make My Day appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Shoes, Ships & Sealing Wax… (This article first appeared in the December 2014 edition of Birdwatching magazine) Birding has gone all hi-tech lately, with apps and software, anti-shake bins and pictures taken through your scope by mobile phones, but have … Continue reading → The post GOB 58 – Shoes, Ships & Sealing Wax… appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Jollies, Junkets, Freebies & Fam Trips (This article first appeared in the November 2014 edition of Birdwatching magazine) It astounds me that those who have get more, and those who haven’t often get that taken away! Stars attending galas leave … Continue reading → The post GOB 57 – Jollies, Junkets, Freebies & Fam Trips appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Record Breakers (This article first appeared in the October 2014 edition of Birdwatching) When an old mate of mine got his newly retired dad into birding some of the birds he saw were a surprise. Before he ticked Swallow he … Continue reading → The post GOB 56 – Record Breakers appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Gone Fishing (This article first appeared in the September 2014 edition of Birdwatching) I enjoy watching boxing. I feel that brute force and athleticism combine, creating choreography no less fascinating than the ‘beautiful’ game we English get so over in a World … Continue reading → The post GOB 55 – Gone Fishing appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Nature’s Wonderland (This article first appeared in the August 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) Which is Britain’s largest nature reserve? Is it in Wales, or Scotland or perhaps East Anglia? Look out of your window…yes folks, there it is! Our gardens … Continue reading → The post GOB 54 – Nature’s Wonderland appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Do Bears Sit in the Woods? (This article first appeared in the July 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) If, like me, you grew up in 1950s England you will probably have a love/hate relationship with the French. The French have been … Continue reading → The post GOB 53 – Do Bears Sit in the Woods? appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Curious Beaks (This article first appeared in the June 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) There must be many ageing birders who use their mind’s eye to travel back to their birding roots. They say that, once you are past thirty you … Continue reading → The post GOB 52 – Curious Beaks appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Columbus Red Wobbler (This article first appeared in the May 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) Arching my eyebrows I concentrated as my guide cupped hand to ear and repeated: “Columbus Red Wobbler” I shook my head again when he pointed to … Continue reading → The post GOB 51 – Columbus Red Wobbler appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
The Truth About Cats & Dogs (This article first appeared in the April 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) It is time we started to tell the truth about cats and dogs and how they impact on wildlife. For far too long … Continue reading → The post GOB 50 – The Truth About Cats & Dogs appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Give me my Raptor today… II (This article first appeared in the March 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) Mrs Grumpy and I are fans of Van Morrison and whenever we sing along to ‘Give me my rapture today…” we change rapture … Continue reading → The post GOB 49 – Give me my Raptor today… II appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Rose-coloured Binoculars (This article first appeared in the February 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) I’m waiting for the perfect winter raptor day to dawn bright blue, crisp and frosty – a clear day when I can see far across flat fields. … Continue reading → The post GOB 48 – Rose-coloured Binoculars appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
This Other Eden (This article first appeared in the January 2014 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) January 1st may be ‘hangover day’ for many, but for me it always marks the start of the year list so its barely light when I open … Continue reading → The post GOB 47 – This Other Eden appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
The End of Days (This article first appeared in the December 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) In the Bahman Yasht, the book of the oldest monotheistic religion – Zoroastrianism, the end of days is… …a time when the sun is more … Continue reading → The post GOB 46 – The End of Days appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
November (This article first appeared in the November 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) Thomas Hood famously wrote: No sun – no moon! No morn – no noon – No dawn – no dusk – no proper time of day. No warmth, … Continue reading → The post GOB 45 – November appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder .
Squaring the Circle (This article first appeared in the October 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) Country File Investigates… …my fat backside! I used to watch country file every week because, in the old days, sandwiched between sheepdog trials and hedge-laying there … Continue reading → The post GOB 44 – Squaring the Circle appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Weasels Take Over the Wild Wood (This article first appeared in the September 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) The minister squirmed away from the BBC interrogator. The question, which he failed to answer three times, was ‘…how big a reduction in … Continue reading → The post GOB 43 – Weasels Take Over the Wild Wood appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
Serial Killers (This article first appeared in the August 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) At the Bird Fair a couple of years ago I had a bizarre conversation about hunting with a very well known American writer on the natural world. … Continue reading → The post GOB 42 – Serial Killers appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
All Things Come… (This article first appeared in the July 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) I have been known to cite my arthritic condition as the reason behind my birding method – patiently waiting for birds to just turn up. I … Continue reading → The post GOB 41 – All Things Come… appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
The No Show Man (This article first appeared in the June 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) A week or two back I looked out to see seven Ring-necked Parakeets on my washing line. They may not belong in the UK, but … Continue reading → The post GOB 40 – The No Show Man appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder .
What’s that big red bird again? (This article first appeared in the May 2013 edition of ‘Birdwatching’) Having a large international birding website, its hardly surprising that I get asked for ID help from around the globe. While the right … Continue reading → The post GOB 39 – What’s that big red bird again? appeared first on Grumpy Old Birder ....
