MAGPIE: a neighbour's pet killed by a spot of DIY wizardry
HIGHLY visible in his black and white plumage, the magpie sparks terror in the hedgerow among vulnerable nesting birds. Equipped with a...
STARLING: a lucky escape from depths of my kitchen wall
STARLINGS have always struck me as the bird-table equivalent of human muggers - brash, noisy, bullying, and usually descending in a gang....
MOLE: preposterous mammal that inspired a morbid poet
ONLY someone with their head in the sand could have missed Britain's wild celebrations of the eclipse - which is probably what got me...
SWAN: sad story of beauty and the beasts
BEAUTIFUL and majestic, swans have the power to charm us like few other birds as they glide elegantly by in the water. A group of swans...
PHEASANT: sad tale of a former hunter
PLUMP, handsome and good to eat, the pheasant has become a stalwart of the British countryside - quite an achievement for a bird whose...
SWALLOW: snatching insects inches away from a jagged roof
QUICKER and sleeker than the vast majority of birds, swallows are a harder target than most for any hungry hawk to try to bring down....
CHICKENS: jolted awake by a noisy newcomer
KEEPING chickens is apparently the latest craze among metropolitan couples who swap their luxury city pads for country homes at the...
BLACKBIRD: one-eyed victim takes its chances
WITH its distinctive fluty song and familiar appearance, the blackbird remains one of the most popular birds of town or country. Males,...
RABBIT: how two pets were driven to an early grave
WATCHING that darkly entertaining rabbit saga 'Watership Down' for the umpteenth time recenty reminded me how much we take this likeable...
LIZARD: escaping motorbikes and cats
IT IS nice to know that sensitive wildlife areas are to get better protection, as confirmed in a recent Queen's Speech. Nice, because...
