James Gilbert
@jamesgilbertmr.bsky.social
Naturalist, ecologist, writer.
“How pleasant it would be each day to think, Today I have done something that will render future generations more happy." Richard Jefferies, 1883.
Location: east Northamptonshire, UK.
“How pleasant it would be each day to think, Today I have done something that will render future generations more happy." Richard Jefferies, 1883.
Location: east Northamptonshire, UK.
Pinned
James Gilbert
@jamesgilbertmr.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Middle-aged me. Near-constantly thinking of times gone by, or about those lying ahead. My mind is only held still in the now by nature, when attentive to, say, flitting songbirds, nodding flowerheads, trembling leaves — then do I lose nostalgia or worry, and briefly find a sweet state of just being.
Twelve months ago I saw a most beautiful bird, one I had always quietly hoped to see since childhood. It was the first bird I tried to draw, and the subject of my first bedroom wall poster—
a long-eared owl.
Seeing for real that warm cryptic plumage, and an amber-eyed gaze aflame by weak sunlight.
a long-eared owl.
Seeing for real that warm cryptic plumage, and an amber-eyed gaze aflame by weak sunlight.
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Twelve months ago I saw a most beautiful bird, one I had always quietly hoped to see since childhood. It was the first bird I tried to draw, and the subject of my first bedroom wall poster—
a long-eared owl.
Seeing for real that warm cryptic plumage, and an amber-eyed gaze aflame by weak sunlight.
a long-eared owl.
Seeing for real that warm cryptic plumage, and an amber-eyed gaze aflame by weak sunlight.
What a wonderful, warm feeling there inside, when someone you admire & respect — consider an icon, even, in your own little world — responds to a few words you sent them. To make that time & effort to reply, given the large volume of correspondence they must always receive. So very kind & generous.
November 24, 2025 at 10:13 AM
What a wonderful, warm feeling there inside, when someone you admire & respect — consider an icon, even, in your own little world — responds to a few words you sent them. To make that time & effort to reply, given the large volume of correspondence they must always receive. So very kind & generous.
A red thread to the woodland-edge walk — haws, hips & kites that sail the bitter wind.
November 19, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A red thread to the woodland-edge walk — haws, hips & kites that sail the bitter wind.
Query to #rivers #streams people: is £ support/a grant available for a landowner wanting to remove a section of underground pipe carrying stream flow between 2 open channel sections, beneath former pasture?
#daylighting #renaturalising #wetlands
@carlsayer.bsky.social @steveormerod.bsky.social
#daylighting #renaturalising #wetlands
@carlsayer.bsky.social @steveormerod.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Query to #rivers #streams people: is £ support/a grant available for a landowner wanting to remove a section of underground pipe carrying stream flow between 2 open channel sections, beneath former pasture?
#daylighting #renaturalising #wetlands
@carlsayer.bsky.social @steveormerod.bsky.social
#daylighting #renaturalising #wetlands
@carlsayer.bsky.social @steveormerod.bsky.social
When you’ve fashioned something you’re pleased with (even proud of) though it receives no welcome, & there’s no feedback to help you understand the closed door. But again I’ll stay true to myself, & I won’t talk myself out of saying or doing & creating good, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
November 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
When you’ve fashioned something you’re pleased with (even proud of) though it receives no welcome, & there’s no feedback to help you understand the closed door. But again I’ll stay true to myself, & I won’t talk myself out of saying or doing & creating good, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
Fieldfares & redwings rise up en masse into the cool sinking air of blue hour; an old, tattered hedgerow ash is left basic in silhouette, quiet & still, under the waning crescent moon.
November 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Fieldfares & redwings rise up en masse into the cool sinking air of blue hour; an old, tattered hedgerow ash is left basic in silhouette, quiet & still, under the waning crescent moon.
Today, in the mild stillness at dawn, a song thrush sang for the first time in four months. Nowhere near his full-bodied spring best of course, yet still glorious. I’m reminded of just how much I love his voice, his beauty and exuberance.
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Today, in the mild stillness at dawn, a song thrush sang for the first time in four months. Nowhere near his full-bodied spring best of course, yet still glorious. I’m reminded of just how much I love his voice, his beauty and exuberance.
Twelve hours ago, on a doorstep wetted by rain, I saw a newt; there quite plain, under streetlight spill. One little newt. And should it be that still I feel joy — that still my heart glows — from such a frightfully minor happening.
November 14, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Twelve hours ago, on a doorstep wetted by rain, I saw a newt; there quite plain, under streetlight spill. One little newt. And should it be that still I feel joy — that still my heart glows — from such a frightfully minor happening.
Very pleased to step off the sodden high street into a warm, dry & cosy 2nd-hand book shop, w/my browsing leading to this buy. Looks a nice ‘40s compilation feat. Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Blake, Thomas, Clare, Hardy, Hopkins, Tennyson et al., on themes incl. night & day, summer & winter.
November 14, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Very pleased to step off the sodden high street into a warm, dry & cosy 2nd-hand book shop, w/my browsing leading to this buy. Looks a nice ‘40s compilation feat. Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Blake, Thomas, Clare, Hardy, Hopkins, Tennyson et al., on themes incl. night & day, summer & winter.
This week I discovered the poem “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann. It got me. There is, I think, some sound life advice within. I share the poem here, in case it also does others good.
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
This week I discovered the poem “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann. It got me. There is, I think, some sound life advice within. I share the poem here, in case it also does others good.
Today I had a walk over the small plot of land that my brother (together with his neighbours) has recently bought & saved from development, & was thrilled to discover, inside the hollowed trunk of this beautifully tatty ash tree, a barn owl roost site.
November 12, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Today I had a walk over the small plot of land that my brother (together with his neighbours) has recently bought & saved from development, & was thrilled to discover, inside the hollowed trunk of this beautifully tatty ash tree, a barn owl roost site.
Earlier today: a charm of goldfinches topping a hawthorn hedge, delightfully so in both colour & sound.
November 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Earlier today: a charm of goldfinches topping a hawthorn hedge, delightfully so in both colour & sound.
Out of season, it was extra lovely to this morning hear a blackbird singing — gentle, as is the mild breeze blowing.
November 10, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Out of season, it was extra lovely to this morning hear a blackbird singing — gentle, as is the mild breeze blowing.
Lovely to today see a woodcock in low zigzag flight, & a redwing flock in straight “tseeping” flight, high overhead. Both birds I hold dear; their company in navigating through the cold & dark months is a precious thing.
November 9, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Lovely to today see a woodcock in low zigzag flight, & a redwing flock in straight “tseeping” flight, high overhead. Both birds I hold dear; their company in navigating through the cold & dark months is a precious thing.
an ivy owl’s call
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 PM
an ivy owl’s call
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
twilight rain
tapping leaves
ticking wren
tapping leaves
ticking wren
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
twilight rain
tapping leaves
ticking wren
tapping leaves
ticking wren
sudden late sunburst —
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
November 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
sudden late sunburst —
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
Just now during a break from work, I had excellent & unplanned close-up, naked-eye views of a tiny, beautiful goldcrest, flitting about an ivy-clad hedgerow oblivious to me as I watched through my car’s windscreen, sat sipping coffee. A special moment; one as if time had stood still.
November 5, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Just now during a break from work, I had excellent & unplanned close-up, naked-eye views of a tiny, beautiful goldcrest, flitting about an ivy-clad hedgerow oblivious to me as I watched through my car’s windscreen, sat sipping coffee. A special moment; one as if time had stood still.
The field maple is a definite favourite tree close to the year’s end; the pockets of subtle light its dainty, butter-yellow leaves bring to the woodland floor or hedgerow base, on a dim November day.
November 3, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The field maple is a definite favourite tree close to the year’s end; the pockets of subtle light its dainty, butter-yellow leaves bring to the woodland floor or hedgerow base, on a dim November day.
Good to this morning walk the local water meadows & underfoot feel the season’s first frost. Sunlight now sliding & inches across the sward. Takes away its bite, dulls the sparkle.
October 30, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Good to this morning walk the local water meadows & underfoot feel the season’s first frost. Sunlight now sliding & inches across the sward. Takes away its bite, dulls the sparkle.
It’s now been a year since adopting her. She’s already brought much immeasurable joy & happiness — but more importantly (& I presume!) she’s now a happy dog since being with me!
October 29, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It’s now been a year since adopting her. She’s already brought much immeasurable joy & happiness — but more importantly (& I presume!) she’s now a happy dog since being with me!
Last night my brother unexpectedly found on his doorstep (literally) a great crested newt! A widespread but uncommon (& legally-protected) species. We’re both thrilled, & the thing is that together already we’re making/planning wildlife +ve changes to his garden & a small plot saved fr development.
October 29, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Last night my brother unexpectedly found on his doorstep (literally) a great crested newt! A widespread but uncommon (& legally-protected) species. We’re both thrilled, & the thing is that together already we’re making/planning wildlife +ve changes to his garden & a small plot saved fr development.
Wren & robin sing from somewhere in the semi-darkness, telling me to seize the day.
October 29, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Wren & robin sing from somewhere in the semi-darkness, telling me to seize the day.
For me, the purest thrills are doubtless those found in nature. The afterglow endures — outlasts that of the best artificial experience, or any material purchase. Nature is entirely wholesome. Nothing is forced or staged. No fads or fashions, clauses or caveats.
October 28, 2025 at 12:04 PM
For me, the purest thrills are doubtless those found in nature. The afterglow endures — outlasts that of the best artificial experience, or any material purchase. Nature is entirely wholesome. Nothing is forced or staged. No fads or fashions, clauses or caveats.
BST has gone
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack
October 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
BST has gone
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack