When I saw these birds nesting in Newcastle my reaction was my usual anoyance at the ubiquitous urban gulls. But these are pretty little creatures who spend most of their time at sea. Also they are in decline, so great to see them breeding in the summer at the Gateshead Gallery on Tyneside
This is one of the most important, but least known historical and archaeological sites in Britain. Gunpowder has played a huge role in modernisation; without it we would not have city states, mining, wars, hunting, and spectacular fireworks. This is from historian Brenda Buchannan: Gunpowder and the explosives and propellants which followed it provided a … Continue reading
This film follows 13 year old Aishoplan as she becomes the first female eagle hunter in Kazakh history. We see her with her family, helping with the family farm work, and staying in town where she and her siblings are at school through the week. She comes from a long line of eagle hunters, but … Continue reading
I am amazed to discover this collection of statues modelled on Gormley’s own body have been standing staring out to sea for a decade now. Locals seem to have no idea how many there are; they tell me to count them. There are 100 of them that toured several cities before being installed here, just … Continue reading
I can’t remember the name of this place, somewhere on the way back from Llangollen to Newport. A beautiful forest full of the scent of pine after too long in a hot bus. It had this fantastic Tudor building, protected by a concrete base, now used as a toilet block. This view made me realize … Continue reading
Walking on a beach on the Gower Peninsula, I spotted some unusual stones, rather anthropomorphic. This looks like a kidney Here’s a heart And another I thought this was a brain or it could be a Munch like face. And a footprint. Where’s Man Friday?
These two are generally seen as worlds apart, but here’s a picture of a foot and mouth virus. Beautiful, isn’t it?
This is from the furtherest reaches of science, a book by Phillip Howse, retired Professor of Entymology at Southampton University, called ‘Seeing Butterflies’, but is not about their taxonomy, but of how to find pictures on the wings of butterflies, moths and other creatures. Sounds like the professor has been ingesting some chemicals from his … Continue reading
It had been a rather scary few days watching the huge trees in our yard thrashing in the wind, but my plants are well sheltered. This gladioli looks like it took a hit but the soil is so thin it started lurching & is now being propped up by the lavender which is rearing out … Continue reading
It had been a rather scary few days watching the huge trees in our yard thrashing in the wind, but my plants ate well sheltered. This gladioli looks like it took a hit but the soil is so thin it started lurching & is now being propped up by the lavender which is rearing out … Continue reading
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