Author Archives: Amanda Tuke
Wild plants found @TheGroveDIY skatepark & garden, SE22 8LF, and a cool urban bird.
I popped down to the skatepark for a recce before the Wild Pavements – Urban Nature workshop I’m leading there on Thursday 7 Aug at 6pm, and found a good selection of common urban wild plants to point out to the group. & for the icing on the urban nature cake, I heard a Hobby […]
Doing good?
Yes, this is going to be controversial. In the August issue of Bird Watching Magazine, I explore the impact of feeding wild birds… and in particular the available evidence tying indiscriminate bird feeding to the decline of Marsh and Willow Tits. I’m afraid it’s not looking good.
The eyes have it
On a hot June day like today, it’s to remember just how icy-cold Berlin was back in February on the day when my Goshawk dream came true. And then a couple of weeks later I finally saw my first British Goshawk, down the road in Surrey.
Let’s raise our binoculars
What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the birders we’ve known and loved.
Sounds amazing…
I’ve been itching to have a go at nocturnal sound recording, so I sorted out some tech, worked out where to install it, and then this is what happened…
Noisy Neighbours
So there l was last June, having a quiet coffee in the back garden, when some new neighbours moved in. & oh boy were they noisy… So for my column in the Feb 2025 issue of Bird Watching Magazine, I just had to write about my wonderful summer of Hobby-watching.
Amazing Aberdeen!
After a birding trip to Aberdeen, it’s gone straight to the top of my list for the best cities to birdwatch in the British Isles. Have a read here to find out why. (NB. The caption on the main photo should read Citrine Wagtail rather than Citrine Warbler)
Hot stuff!
It’s true you don’t need much equipment for birding – a decent pair of binoculars is enough for most people – but when I was loaned a couple of thermal monoculars to try out for my November column, a previously unseen world was revealed.
Giving a good impression
Where do you start if you want help enthuse beginners with the benefits of city bird watching? In this column I share what I learnt from a group of beginner bird watchers in an urban cemetery.
Ringing the Changes
One very early morning back in July I had the privilege of joining a bird ringing session on Swanscombe Peninsula, which is just outside the M25 on the south side of the Thames. Terry Hilsden was a fantastic guide and a great advocate for the vital role bird ringing plays in conservation. I also caught […]
The Urban Naturalist 