My Big Shock

The BBC Wildlife Magazine is compelling, clever and informative. There are many other words I would use to describe it as well but I can’t really fit them all in. It is one of my absolute favourite magazines [It’s in the top 3] which I enjoy reading even if I miss a few of the issues. It is one of the biggest wildlife magazines in the UK and is filled with articles, photographs and diagrams alike by some of the world’s leading photographers and biologists.

And now, my very own letter has been published on page 88 of the August issue of the magazine. It has been tagged as Star Letter and it engulfs me in a tidal wave of joy. One logo can make you feel like you can do anything in the world.

I find it hard to de – stress and relax but being out in nature keeps those feelings at bay as I immerse myself in the explosion of wingbeats that is a woodpigeon bursting from a great oak. And that is why I started my blog, to write about my own little natural world. But that is not all. It helps me to channel my feelings and emotions in a way I find complicated verbally.

However, one part of this multiplies the ecstasy of this whole thing by a huge amount. The letter has received a response, which is published in the magazine, from my idols, Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, famous naturalists. This has really made my day [Or perhaps DECADE] and I am full of appreciation for this.

For anyone not familiar with his work, Chris Packham is a well known naturalist who has often appeared on and presented many series on the BBC. He has been on BBC Springwatch since 2009 and has also presented lots of other shows, for 35 years. Megan McCubbin is Chris Packham’s stepdaughter and has joined him on BBC Springwatch and other programmes. They both presented Wild Mornings with Chris and Megs during the first lockdown and they are some of my favourite naturalists.

If you do manage to pick up a copy, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Now I feel is a good time to go back over some memories from past birding adventures but bear in mind, I won’t be going too far back because there isn’t enough space.

So here are a few memories…