Category: Nature

The View from Here: an early-morning secret

The view from here holds many secrets

For the second morning in a row I’ve climbed the stairs early, to a golden morning.  Clear open skies, sharp shadows, a gentle, fresh breeze.  The trees are almost all in leaf now, a verdant jumble of shapes, textures and soft movement.  The leaves are new, their colours vivid: chartreuse, lime and emerald.  But others add softer hues: shades of grey-green sage and viridian, and here and there the pale white undersides of leaves turned uppermost by the wind.  Continue reading “The View from Here: an early-morning secret”

Polruan and Fowey, come rain, come shine. Part two … sun

Yesterday our ferry had whipped harsh words around my head as we sailed: cold, wet, grey, brooding. This morning our ferry laughed gaily and sang of buoys and boats, seagulls and sunshine.

The day after our inaugural crossing to Fowey we were scheduled to return, this time in the morning in readiness for a guided walk.  And this time the sun was out.  What a difference!  Continue reading “Polruan and Fowey, come rain, come shine. Part two … sun”

Polruan and Fowey: come rain, come shine. Part one … rain

Sadly, our particular ferry did not have a roof … the journey was damp and bracing. Grey and mercifully short.

We’ve now crossed to Fowey and back twice.  What a contrast between the two visits.

When we set out for our first festival event – a talk of B’s choosing – the sky was dark and a few spots of rain fell as we climbed into the car.  “It’ll stop,” we said, “It’s nothing.”  It did not stop.  We did not take coats.

Continue reading “Polruan and Fowey: come rain, come shine. Part one … rain”

Birds on the Balcony: squabblers and mobsters

It does not do to get on the wrong side of a crow

Today I watched two examples of aggressive behaviour that brought home to me how little I know about even the most commonplace of our birds.  The sparrows were particularly quarrelsome this morning: Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: squabblers and mobsters”

The View from Here: April’s last Hurrah

And so April gave me what must surely be her last hurrah: a pin-sharp, vibrant morning to remember

As I climbed up the stairs not long after dawn this morning I knew from the quality of the light it would be bright and frosty.  And it was – in spades!  It was a stupendous morning! Continue reading “The View from Here: April’s last Hurrah”

The View from Here: capricious April

… one thing remains constant: the weather may be mercurial but the view from here is always entrancing

As I sat here, early this morning, it hailed.  Great chunks of ice clattering down. But at least we haven’t had snow, like many parts of the country.  Although snow would have been nice now I think about it… Continue reading “The View from Here: capricious April”

Birds on the Balcony: front row seats

What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?

There’s been plenty of domestic bird activity for me to watch lately.  Spring-time is a busy period in the avian calendar.

As April reached the three-quarter point I was charmed by a pair of house sparrows, Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: front row seats”

Birds on the Balcony: civilised rooks and tumbling buzzards and Gilbert

I wonder whether Gilbert would have been able to explain the wonderful buzzard activity I witnessed

I stood at the window for some time when I arrived upstairs this morning.  The birds obligingly came in numbers and posed prettily.  The dull light seemed to amplify their colours.  Quarrelsome chaffinches; fragile long-tailed tits and their slightly larger blue cousins. The smart livery of the great tit, and on the other end of the balcony an especially smart female Woodie fed for long minutes whilst I watched.  Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: civilised rooks and tumbling buzzards and Gilbert”