Birdwatching is difficult

I used this phrase when talking to a friend. I was surprised that I'd said this because birding is normally enjoyable. But I have experienced some problems with my hobby. It's important that I work out a way to cope with these, because if birding turns against me then my mental health is at risk …

Erith, Crossness and some helpful ponies

I did this walk along the Thames Estuary on a unexpectedly free Sunday. Somehow that made it even more rewarding. As on most of my Estuary walks, the weather stayed appropriately grey. I started at Erith on the southern bank of the river. Its long pier was a reminder of its time as a Thames-side …

Walking the Thames to Rainham Marshes

In March I had a challenging week at work, partly because of Brexit and also because of worries about colleagues or their relatives being ill. I spent the whole week looking forward to walking at the weekend. I chose one of my favourite routes, along the Thames from Rainham to Purfleet in Essex. The RSPB …

Listening to Birds in Regent’s Park

I'm less keen than most people on the approach of Spring. The gentle temperatures of early April turn into the hot, humid weather of a London summer. But, in spite of my pessimism about the change of seasons, I enjoyed visiting Regent's Park in central London in March. There were plenty of signs of the …

Positive isolation

The word 'isolation' has many different meanings. It can be a neutral geographical term. For example, Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic is regarded as the world's most isolated island. But it can also have a negative connotation, such as when an individual person is isolated from society. A few weeks ago I felt …

Iceland

A few months ago I wrote about my trip to Shetland in August 2018 in late September I went even further north to Iceland. It was a family trip, kindly organised by my sister. Our first impression was how cold it was! Leaving the mild autumn in Britain for the cold winds of Iceland was …

Being different

What is is like to feel different? Many people who have been afflicted by mental health problems feel that they are isolated. If someone has never experienced depression, it's difficult to understand the everlasting low moods of someone who suffers. If you are affected by social anxiety, then only you can understand why it's completely …

A week in Shetland

Ampm around 325BC the Greek geographer and explorer Pytheas made a remarkable voyage to Northern Europe. Although his account hasn't survived, it appears that he navigated round the British coastline and then sailed further north to encounter Arctic ice and the midnight sun. Pytheas used the word 'Thule' to name a distant land he visited. …

Obsessed?

I have become obsessed with birds. Often it is difficult for me to think about anything else, and I feel bitter when life forces me to do so. I expect everyone else to take an interest in birds too. I assume that all my friends will be interested in listening to me talking about them. …

My mind is on a bird’s back – by Ruth

My friend Ruth is in a hospital ward at the moment. She has kindly contributed this post about how mindful birding is helping her. Ruth's previous guest post is here. I cling on to the back of the sea bird and feel the wind on my face as we soar through the sky narrowly missing …