Going with the flow

One of my favourite views - looking eastwards from the moat, Dungeness Bird Observatory

2016. Not yet with us, but undeniably casting a shadow upon all that we do. Over the years I have found that the days between Christmas and the New Year to be irritants, hours that get in the way of reaching the 'brave new world' that is the coming new year. But it hasn't happened this year. I have been quite content to live in the present and not project myself into some unknown future. It's maybe because I really haven't committed myself to any great plans or aims for next year.

I do have stuff that will bubble away in the background. A repeat of the Surrey v Northumberland patch birding competition has been agreed, with baseline figures in place (mine lowered from last year). There are a few species of plant and moth that I have yet to see that I quite fancy seeing, but these will happen (or not) in a laid back style. I have, for a while, annually visited the Pulborough/Arundel areas of West Sussex and always wondered why I don't do so more often. Maybe I will in 2016. Dungeness visits will happen when the shingle calls me, as it undoubtably will. Harry's bench will be waiting, the skies will need scanning and the mind will wander across the shingle, the sallows and out towards the sea (above). Locally, in woods, downs, farms and heaths, there is much to seek: plants and butterflies to count, moths to trap and release - and maybe 2016 will be kinder from a birding perspective than the paltry rewards my local efforts garnered in 2015.

Above all though, what I wish for my natural history time is that it brings joy. Wonder. Pleasure. Contentment. And if all that comes to me by watching a Dunnock in the back garden, then so be it. As this year proved to me, time and time again, the truly memorable events occur when you least expect them and in places that you hadn't even considered that such things could do.

May your own hopes for 2016 be realised. Live in the moment. Keep well and be happy.

Comments

Derek Faulkner said…
Your last paragraph says it all for me Steve. Too many naturalist these days get too wrapped up in the need to compete, whether it be with bird lists, photographs, etc. and have forgotten about that simple joy of watching the Dunnock in the garden.
30 December 2015 at 15:45
Steve Gale said…
True Derek, but I would definitely swap the Dunnock for a Bluetails!!!
30 December 2015 at 18:05
Derek Faulkner said…
Well that's where we are different Steve, rarities don't bother me, I just enjoy being out and about.
30 December 2015 at 19:12
Simon Douglas Thompson said…
I was talking over ethics of birding and stuff with a guy here last night. I just like birds, and the idea of chasing a rare migrant, one that's bound to die a rather lonely death a long way of home, makes my flesh crawl
30 December 2015 at 22:07
Steve Gale said…
We all have our opinion on how to go about our birding Simon, and as long as we are happy with what we personally do, then all is well.
30 December 2015 at 22:18
Dylan Wrathall said…
Hoping that you and the family have a great New Year - Dyl & Bev
31 December 2015 at 20:48
Steve Gale said…
And the same to the both of you my friend.
31 December 2015 at 20:59
Lucy @ A Natural Interlude said…
Spot on, Steve. Finding joy in unexpected places is a most welcome gift. Wishing you a very happy new year and many more moments of joy in the natural world.
1 January 2016 at 13:18
Steve Gale said…
And may joy come a find you Lucy! All the best for this year, I look forward to reading about it.
1 January 2016 at 16:03
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Goldfinches and Lavender

Image
We have three medium-sized Lavender bushes in our back garden. Throughout the summer the flowers (which last for several months) are a magnet for insects and give off a most restful aroma. As tempting as it is to cut the dead stems in the autumn, we always leave them, as we know that during the late winter we will get visitors to feed on the seed heads... This video was taken from the kitchen window this morning. We will normally see one or two birds over a few days, but have had up to 14 at once. We never tire of watching them. Lavender is a wonderful plant to have in the garden, with year round natural history benefits. So what are you waiting for? They are readily available at a garden centre close to you right now! There is an historic association with Lavender in this part of northern Surrey and south London. Lavender fields have been harvested for many years, with one particular field close to Woodmansterne being very popular with day trippers. A significant proportion o
Read more

Time to reflect

I normally come up with the title for a post after I have written it. If I'm feeling creative it will be some sort of play on words, or if I'm not then an all-encompassing word or two will do. As for this particular post, and with a few things to discuss, I've written the title first, inspired by having just read a feature about musicians who have used the title of an album as the starting point for their creative exercise. Here goes... Firstly, blogs - yes, this very medium that I am writing in and you are reading from. - what content they derive, the reason that the content exists and what the writer should (or should not) expect from any reader that visits the blog. This was brought into sharp focus by a series of posts to be found here, at Jono Lethbridge's excellent 'Wansted Birder'.   His blogging output has recently included detailed and entertaining reports on his recent overseas trips which have received a bit of flak from certain quarters. None of us b
Read more

To tell it like it is, or not...

Image
I am grateful to Gavin Haig (Not Quite Scilly) who drew my attention to an opinion piece, penned by Matt Phelps, which appeared in the November issue of 'Birdwatch' magazine, entitled 'Positive Approach', which I have now read. In it, he suggests that there is too much negativity being posted on social media regarding the state of our birding world, which is then acting as a deterrent towards a younger generation in adopting conservation and wildlife study. He also suggests that a lot of this negativity is being generated by older birders, and that these old timers keep banging on about the 'good old days' which isn't helpful in encouraging the youth to pick up a pair of binoculars and get out into the field. Does he have a point? Now, I am undeniably an older birder, and I am also guilty of having posted, blogged, written and spoken about the slump in bird and invertebrate numbers. I also like nothing better than to revisit my notebooks and share in the hi
Read more