Monthly Archives: July 2026

Swifts are a special species of bird, remaining airborne for ten straight months each year and not landing for the first three years of their life. Their committed avoidance of the ground has led to them having one of the fastest level flight speeds of any bird, but also tiny feet that aren’t much goodContinue reading “Acting Swiftly”

The pinnacle of the birding year, a birder’s Glastonbury, has been and gone once again. And what an event it was, brimming with talks, walks, workshops and showcases. I’m going to need some convincing that there is another event that brings naturalists, conservationists, ornithologists and just general nature enthusiasts together quite like this. For me,Continue reading “Global Birdfair 2026”

Nightjars are a wondrous species. Fern Owls, we used to call them, a beautiful traditional name that is a nod to our long-standing fascination with them. Their mottled, cryptic plumage gives them a ghost-like quality, combined with the fact that they’re crepuscular, which means they’re only active at dawn and dusk. Their churring, mechanical songContinue reading “Nightjars on Dartmoor”