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.
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.
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.
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.
Seventeen years to the day since seeing a bearded vulture (lammergeier) in the Swiss Alps. This magnificent bird suddenly appeared below me from within a pocket of mist, straight-&-level gliding a short distance before banking & vanishing behind a precipice. Over in seconds, with me for life.
October 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Seventeen years to the day since seeing a bearded vulture (lammergeier) in the Swiss Alps. This magnificent bird suddenly appeared below me from within a pocket of mist, straight-&-level gliding a short distance before banking & vanishing behind a precipice. Over in seconds, with me for life.
with the swallows gone
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
October 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
with the swallows gone
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
seedhead bronze
seen in the marsh harrier
ghosting now gone
seen in the marsh harrier
ghosting now gone
September 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
seedhead bronze
seen in the marsh harrier
ghosting now gone
seen in the marsh harrier
ghosting now gone
Lost in the colours, light and movement at a chalk stream turn.
September 28, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Lost in the colours, light and movement at a chalk stream turn.
Odd it must be to some, but cranefly emergence is an event I am very fond of. These delicate, gangling things strongly evoke the autumns of my outdoors-pottering youth. Now that change can be wearisome and worry comes easier, the eternal promise of their appearance is ever more comforting.
September 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Odd it must be to some, but cranefly emergence is an event I am very fond of. These delicate, gangling things strongly evoke the autumns of my outdoors-pottering youth. Now that change can be wearisome and worry comes easier, the eternal promise of their appearance is ever more comforting.
Something I wrote in sadness following a recent river walk.
September 23, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Something I wrote in sadness following a recent river walk.
I’d like to read “A Message from Martha” though, as ridiculous as it sounds, I don’t think I can bring myself to know more than the basics of this remarkable tragedy! Seeing these two at the NHM a few years ago was so very poignant.
September 1, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I’d like to read “A Message from Martha” though, as ridiculous as it sounds, I don’t think I can bring myself to know more than the basics of this remarkable tragedy! Seeing these two at the NHM a few years ago was so very poignant.
August 31, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Ten days gone. Wanting & waiting to return. Peace came at the untamed coast, there being still, tuned to the tides & breakers.
August 25, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Ten days gone. Wanting & waiting to return. Peace came at the untamed coast, there being still, tuned to the tides & breakers.
Sombreness pervaded a post-industrial (steel works) area walked yesterday. But thoughts of a brutal past were eclipsed for precious minutes, when my eyes met this small soft haze of harebells, nodding in the light metallic breeze. Still their delicate beauty shines front of mind.
August 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Sombreness pervaded a post-industrial (steel works) area walked yesterday. But thoughts of a brutal past were eclipsed for precious minutes, when my eyes met this small soft haze of harebells, nodding in the light metallic breeze. Still their delicate beauty shines front of mind.
For #wildflowerhour this week, common sea-lavender, prettifying intertidal rock.
August 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
For #wildflowerhour this week, common sea-lavender, prettifying intertidal rock.
A quiet cove. Nothing but the placid sounds of an outgoing tide & the thin calls of a rock pipit.
August 16, 2025 at 9:11 AM
A quiet cove. Nothing but the placid sounds of an outgoing tide & the thin calls of a rock pipit.
A three-falcon coastline: kestrel, merlin, peregrine.
August 15, 2025 at 6:47 AM
A three-falcon coastline: kestrel, merlin, peregrine.
British temperate rainforest. Time has told that diverting from routine to wallow in such a place is all I need; the world now is small, yet little is my desire to stray abroad. I lose myself in a place like this. I realise — know in my heart — that nowhere else will I feel so attached & content.
August 13, 2025 at 9:20 PM
British temperate rainforest. Time has told that diverting from routine to wallow in such a place is all I need; the world now is small, yet little is my desire to stray abroad. I lose myself in a place like this. I realise — know in my heart — that nowhere else will I feel so attached & content.
I contemplate the fleetingness of me.
August 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I contemplate the fleetingness of me.
bracing face-on winds
vastness beyond white gull wings
sheer-drop urge to fly
vastness beyond white gull wings
sheer-drop urge to fly
August 9, 2025 at 10:20 PM
bracing face-on winds
vastness beyond white gull wings
sheer-drop urge to fly
vastness beyond white gull wings
sheer-drop urge to fly
The kites of town are presently very vocal — parents & offspring communicating via loud wailing calls. This lost breast feather hints at the adults’ beautiful shades of flame.
August 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The kites of town are presently very vocal — parents & offspring communicating via loud wailing calls. This lost breast feather hints at the adults’ beautiful shades of flame.
tall grasses wave
in the wind before rain
a buzzard’s mew
in the wind before rain
a buzzard’s mew
July 20, 2025 at 4:20 PM
tall grasses wave
in the wind before rain
a buzzard’s mew
in the wind before rain
a buzzard’s mew