The Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus, translating as ‘flame-coloured owl’, also known as the Strigid owl, is a medium-sized owl commonly found on the heaths and moors of the British isles. It is a day flying owl, a little bit bigger than a Barn owl, with longer wings and a blunter face, its plumage is aContinue reading “The Short-eared Owl”
Tag Archives: #Moorland
The Water Ouzel
The Dipper, or Water Ouzel Cinclus cinclus, (cinclus originating from a Greek word ‘kinklos’, meaning ‘small’) is the British isle’s only aquatic song-bird, it is sleek yet dumpy at the same time with beautifully dark, chestnut coloured plumage and one of the finest swimmers you will ever witness. Aquatically Adept An expert swimmer the DipperContinue reading “The Water Ouzel”
Peatland Restoration in the Northwest of England
A brief look over Peatland Restoration efforts in the Northwest of England
The Tiny yet Tenacious Merlin
The Merlin, or pidgeon hawk, Falco Columbarius, falco meaning falcon and columbarius meaning dove, is one of the smallest birds of prey to be found in the British isles, similar in size to the Kestrel. It is also one of the fastest and most agile, flying very low to the ground at high speeds jinkingContinue reading “The Tiny yet Tenacious Merlin”
The Hart’s Tongue Fern
The Hart’s Tongue Fern’s scientific name is Asplenium scolopendrium, asplenium meaning ‘belonging to the spleenwort family’ and scolopendrium deriving from the Greek skolopendra, meaning millipede or centipede, which the underside of the fronds is supposed to resemble. It is a small, very hardy evergreen fern with dark green fronds and forms clumps with broad, wavyContinue reading “The Hart’s Tongue Fern”
Golden Plover
The month of September marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn, a season of change and movement, when our days noticeably cool and our nights become longer. For many creatures this transition from Summer to Winter triggers ancient instincts which compel them to find safety and shelter from the cold and inclementContinue reading “Golden Plover”
Jeppe Knave Grave
On the western shoulder of Pendle lies Wiswell Moor and on the summit of Wiswell Moor can be found a very out of place and peculiar grave, that of Jeppe the knave. Knave, Scoundrel and Outlaw The story of Jeppe, otherwise known as Geoff Curtis, that is commonly told in this corner of Lancashire isContinue reading “Jeppe Knave Grave”
The Clumsy yet Crucial Cranefly
This article looks at the Cranefly, AKA Daddy Long-legs, both generic names for adult members of the Tilupidae family. Its larvae, the scourge of the gardener and lawn aficionado alike, are known as Leatherjackets. Craneflies are what are called ‘true flies’, meaning they only have a single pair of wings, and their family name TipulidaeContinue reading “The Clumsy yet Crucial Cranefly”
Northwest Nature and History 