Of all the time I misspent during my misspent youth, having now reached the age of greater wisdom (or at least grayer hair), I now count much of it wasted if it was not spent looking at gulls. Like many naturalists who include birds in their studies, I am absolutely rubbish at identifying gulls. Unlike […]
When I was growing up in a fishing town on the Oregon coast, gulls were seemingly everywhere at all times. From the waterfront to the rooftops of buildings throughout the town to the car park of the nearby national park, examples of a range sizes, shapes, and seemingly inexplicable white, grey, and brown color patterns could be seen at different times throughout the year. Quarrelsome, sometimes confrontational, and nearly always raucus, I – and most everyone I knew – at best ignored them whenever we could and insulted them when we couldn’t.
I have a confession to make: over the course of all the visits I’ve made to the UK, I’ve not once seen a live badger (emphasis on the “live”). So when I make my next trip, I’ll most certainly be consulting the new “RSPB British Naturefinder” by Marianne Taylor.
The first Robin (Erithacus rubecula) I ever saw was in the garden of the Natural History Museum. Even though it was a juvenile, I was thrilled to have finally seen one after reading about them for so many years. I finally saw one in adult plumage in Warnemunde, Germany some time later. It was truly a delight.