Author Archives: Amanda Tuke
Thirty-minute birder column: Could do better?
I’m always on the look out for nifty free or good value resources for intermediate birders to use to improve their bird identification skills, so in my column for the June issue of Bird Watching Magazine I’ve recruited a team of generous volunteers to test some resources for me. The sound identification function on Cornell […]
London Pavement Plants – in flower this week
You don’t have to go far to find colour and interest in our city with new pavement plants coming into flower almost every day. From top left & clockwise, these are Black Medick, Shining Crane’s-bill, Common Field Speedwell and Rue-leaved Saxifrage. Urban botany is just fab and the smaller London plants rival our spectacular street […]
Thirty-minute Birder Column: Hull-timate birding
On my first, but definitely not last, visit to Hull to squeeze in some city birding, I had the pleasure of some company from my pal Paul Gamble, and the opportunity to meet up with inspirational birders/naturalists Dr Africa Gomez and Margaret Boyd. Culture, history and great birding spots within easy reach of the rail […]
Thirty-minute birder column: Changing Focus
Tackling the tricky subject of birders and bird photography was fascinating… and, similar to my personal experience, it was no surprise to discover the goodwill in the birdwatching community towards all the different ways folks choose to enjoy birds. I also had the pleasure of a city birdwatching trip with inspiring amateur photographer Rudy Chodankar […]
Thirty-minute birder column: Learn all about it
I’ve always been fascinated by how beginners learn about birds, or plants, or any other aspect of the natural world, and in this month’s column I had the opportunity to really explore this.
Thirty-minute birder column: Birders, deployed
What I love most about writing this column, as well as the ever-present excuse to pop out birdwatching (“It’s work love!”) is the fascinating people I meet from the birdwatching community. And these particular folk had some amazing stories to tell, as well as some great photos…
Wild Pavements Diary – a NYD hunt for flowers on the Thames Path
As new year’s eve celebrations ramp up, I find myself questioning the wisdom of arranging to meet plant-loving folk the following morning, but by the time it is morning, it’s great to have something to hop out of bed for. This is the first year I’ve plant-hunted on NYD with others and I’m really looking […]
Thirty-minute birder column: Avon Calling
Always nice to squeeze in some birding when I’m visiting family in the West Country, & the Bristol birders were a very welcoming bunch.
Thirty-minute birder column: Tractor Birdwatching
A visit to my brother’s dairy farm inspired this feature in which I could showcase the amazing things bird-loving farmers do for our wildlife and share my concerns about the fate of agri-environment incentives.
Thirty-minute birder series: urge for going
Know that feeling when our summer visitors are long gone, winter visitors are arriving, and you just need to get away? So that was how I ended up in Southend-on-Sea, having a wader-tastic time and making new birding friends.
The Urban Naturalist 