Category Archives: birdwatching

Home again

Posted on 19 March, 2015 by Yasmine

It’s hard to imagine now that before moving Up North, My Taller Half and I spent six years living in Southend-on-Sea in Essex. Southend is where miles of suburban flatlands meet miles of Thames estuary mudflats. Terrible for hillwalking, fantastic … Continue reading →

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Murmurings

Posted on 4 March, 2015 by Yasmine

It started a couple of weeks ago. First a trickle, then a torrent. Starlings are on the move and a large number of them have decided that Wolsingham is a great place to hang out. And I get a ringside … Continue reading →

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The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen

Posted on 16 May, 2014 by Yasmine

For over a year we’ve had a tame blackbird living in our garden. With her pied plumage, she was easy to spot. More an honorary chicken than a blackbird, she would chide me if I was late in the morning … Continue reading →

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Seafaring

Posted on 10 July, 2013 by Yasmine

When I moved to the North East, oh, five years ago, I wrote a list. On that list was a bunch of places I wanted to visit and things I wanted to see. One item on the list was to … Continue reading →

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Coming round for dinner

Posted on 17 August, 2012 by Yasmine

New house, new garden. I’m still getting to know my new avian neighbours. House sparrow, chaffinch, blackbird, siskin, wren, robin, blue tit, coal tit… the garden is constantly abuzz. Well not today it isn’t, as I’ve had a special dinner … Continue reading →

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Wrong Turn Right Choice

Posted on 24 June, 2012 by Yasmine

This is the final instalment of my Spring 2012 Teesdale Trilogy, rudely interrupted by the Olympic Torch… So where was I? We were camping in Middleton-in-Teesdale for the Jubilee long weekend and decided to try out some of the walks … Continue reading →

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Ring Ouzel!

Posted on 16 April, 2012 by Yasmine

I saw my first ring ouzel last year on a visit to Weardale, and was determined to find this remarkable mountain blackbird again this year – this time with photographic evidence. The ring ouzel is a blackbird that likes it … Continue reading →

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Making the most of what you’ve got

Posted on 30 March, 2012 by Yasmine

As regular readers will know, I’m not currently living in my perfect house. The views are of other people’s windows, and the landscape is sterile – a new build desert. I was recently surprised to discover that a kestrel has … Continue reading →

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Roof garden

Posted on 1 March, 2012 by Yasmine

It feels like a long time since we moved house, but it’s only been three months. I’ve gone from wildlife-rich to wildlife-poor, but the streets – and roofs – are not as empty as I thought. While Crook is brimming … Continue reading →

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summertime

Posted on 12 July, 2011 by Yasmine

I’m acutely aware that I haven’t blogged for a while. I’d say I’ve been busy but the truth is I just haven’t got around to it. So what’s been happening? All’s very quiet in the garden. The tree sparrows still … Continue reading →

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