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The news that both short-eared owls and a hen harrier have been making regular appearances in the high Cotswolds over the past week, coupled with a fine, bright and relatively windless day today, made for a positive scrum at The … Continued

I arrived at Oakley Wood Crematorium today for the funeral of Malcolm Ranieri, FRPS, renowned photographer, published author, and lover of vintage transport, classical music and Doctor Who, to find myself in the slowest cortège I’ve ever been a part … Continued

Sheep One: You’re my best friend, you are. Sheep Two (to me): You know I have to put up with this all day, right? Sheep One: I really, really love you. Sheep Two: Somebody kill me now. Please. R and … Continued

The piano tuner came today, and there’s nothing more calculated to drive me from my desk than the noise of a piano being tuned in the room immediately below my study. I thought about going out for a walk, but … Continued

I woke up this morning to the first proper frost of the year. I say that as though it’s a positive thing – and I am trying to think of it as a positive thing – but if I’m honest … Continued

It’s a good thing that mallards don’t eat fish – you wouldn’t want to get mugged by this mob. After yesterday’s horrible weather, this morning was cold but clear, and R and I went for an early walk around Croome, … Continued

On a day when I had to brave bitter, driving rain to fill up the bird feeders, because even in those conditions tiny garden birds were queueing up hoping for food, and R decided that it was time to break … Continued

Almost the entire herd of fallow deer were hanging out in groups in the West Park at Charlecote today, but there were just a couple of solitary bucks in the Front Park, lying very quietly, this one under some trees … Continued

I had to do some work today – actual work – and such was the shock to my system that R felt the need to take me to Broadway afterwards and buy me a cheese scone, to build my strength … Continued

I arrived at the Water Rail (aka the Concrete) Hide at Upton Warren this afternoon to find it stuffed to the gunwales with bird photographers and gear. Someone hutched along one of the benches a little to let me sit … Continued