Michael J. Warren
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drmjwarren.bsky.social
Michael J. Warren
@drmjwarren.bsky.social

Writer, naturalist, medievalist, teacher. Trustee of Curlew Action. The Cuckoo’s Lea, Bloomsbury, out now: birds in our ancient and modern senses of place. Marshes. Winter. Whisky.
https://linktr.ee/cuckooslea
www.birdsandplace.co.uk .. more

Education 22%
Art 15%
Pinned
Well, here it is. My copy arrived. Out 5th June. This is the beautiful indie-exclusive edition with it’s gorgeous sprayed edges. Thanks ever so @amyjanebeer.bsky.social, Mary Colwell and @jon-moses.bsky.social for your generous cover quotes. @chiffchat.bsky.social #naturewriting

I’m not a frequent cold water swimmer, but when I have done it (in the sea on Islay in March, in a river in the Lakes in Feb—cold!) I’ve felt alive. Like running, I can’t say I genuinely love the experience (well more than running, for sure!), but I’m always pleased I’ve done it.

My next book might be for you then, Nic (when I’ve written it, that is!) Hibernal: Britain’s Winter Wild—-12,000 Years of Survival and Wonder. May come to you for experiences of cold water swimming. 😉

Next week I'm on the brilliant #BBCCountryfile Plodcast with Fergus Collins (out 2nd Dec). For now, here's a teaser--a soundscape episode recorded there. Big up the Essex marshes! link.chtbl.com/8j_GMQQa @essexbirdnews.bsky.social @esbr-essex.bsky.social #EssexMarshes #birdsandplace

Reposted by Michael Warren

Black Friday all a bit much yesterday? Try my @theguardian.com country diary antidote, for something a little different...

#countrydiary #naturewriting #BlackFriday
Country diary: My Black Friday? A night-time skulk in the woods | Nic Wilson
Purwell Ninesprings, Hertfordshire: A chilly evening spent interpreting rustles and admiring the silhouetted trees – now that’s what I call a bargain
www.theguardian.com

The RSPB has been researching exactly the grim irony I explore in my book: disappearing birds’ popularity in road names. @rspb.bsky.social, in The Cuckoo’s Lea, you’ll discover how old bird names did it properly! #PlaceNames #birdsandplace @deborahmeaden.bsky.social @dramirkhangp.bsky.social

Hi @jacriding.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social you're in our great line-up of books 2026! Please spread the word our programme is now complete and may be viewed here: campdenmayfestivals.co.uk/literature/e...

Reposted by Michael Warren

Hi @jacriding.bsky.social @drmjwarren.bsky.social @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social you're in our great line-up of books 2026! Please spread the word our programme is now complete and may be viewed here: campdenmayfestivals.co.uk/literature/e...

Reposted by Michael Warren

You’ve seen the signs: ‘Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted’. They lie. In the UK ‘trespass’ is a civil offence, not a criminal one. You cannot face prosecution simply for being on someone’s land, off a designated Right of Way, open access land, or land where bylaws permit access, without permission.

Inspired by my recent chat with @yolobirder.bsky.social about winter birds, and as I drink coffee from my brambling mug this morning, bird place-name of the day 117 is Finchale (Priory) in Co. Durham. OE finc + halh. ‘Nook of land inhabited by finches’. #birdsandplace #PlaceNames #naturewriting

My Xmas list too! Thanks

Reposted by Michael Warren

[email protected]’s ‘Village’ & a re-issue of Mary Chamberlain’s ‘Fenwomen’ give voice to an otherwise largely silent corner of England, writes @nicolawriting.bsky.social, telling the evocative, hard-lived stories of rural working class women www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/11/vill...

Reposted by Michael Warren

Brand new podcast episode available now with the brilliant @drmjwarren.bsky.social ! Warm your heart cockles on this wintery day with tales of places named after birds, whisky and log fires and the bird that sh*tbombs its enemies!

goldengrenades.com/podcast/epis...
Episode 41: Michael J. Warren
Michael J. Warren is a writer, naturalist, medievalist and teacher of English with a passion for the places and birds of Britain. Michael is the author of two books, most recently The Cuckoo’s Lea…
goldengrenades.com

Thanks Lev. I had a great time chatting with Kit.

It’s available today, my episode with @yolobirder.bsky.social for his brilliant @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social podcast. Listen on to discover my chosen 5 birds to join me in Armageddon (plus chat on #thecuckooslea)! goldengrenades.com/podcast/ #GoldenGrenades #naturewriting #birdsandplace

😁

Ah thank you, Laura. Delighted it’s going to be a Xmas present. 😁 Encourage your gifter to seek out the lovely indie bookshop edition while some are still out there: www.bookabookshop.co.uk/shop/the-cuc.... Not all indies sell it online, so check details before purchasing.

Me neither, until Bloomsbury told me. @chiffchat.bsky.social

Well now, #BBCWildlife magazine, glad you think so. ☺️ Right there with the likes of @sophiepavs.bsky.social and @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social and @nicwilson.bsky.social. #naturewriting #bestnaturewriting2025

Well now, I wonder what my next book is going to be about? Entering research stage. See you on the other side. #NewBook #naturewriting #Winter

☺️☺️☺️

Pleased to see #thecuckooslea is on display to the left. And I’ll count as one of your interviewees in a couple of weeks’ time. ☺️

Bird place-name of the day 116: ULEHAMS FARM (Essex). OE ule + ham. ‘Owl-haunted farm/estate’. #birdsandplace #placenames #naturewriting

Bird place-name of the day 115: SNITTON (Shrops). OE snite + tun. Possibly ‘snipe frequented estate/settlement’. #birdsandplace #placenames #naturewriting

Raven — The Birds and Place Project
www.birdsandplace.co.uk

Reposted by Michael Warren

🚨 BLACK FRIDAY DEAL!

Join @drmjwarren.bsky.social on an lyrical journey around Britain in search of the birds that haunt our place names.

The Cuckoo's Lea is on offer from Amazon for a limited time! Don't miss out!

*Detectorists

Hah, yes, Sarah. I’m a massive Dectectorists fan! I thought of that often when writing the book, and @yolobirder.bsky.social and I discuss this connection in the recent @goldengrenadesco.bsky.social episode I recorded with him (out in 2026 I imagine).