Simon Barnes Author and Journalist

Sports and Wild Blog

Simon Barnes
  • Home
  • Biog
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Pictures
  • Contact
  • Twitter

June’s last wild…

30 June 2017 by Simon Barnes 11 Comments

We’re running out of June. So Eddie and I decided to take a stroll onto the marsh, last time in Wild June and first time I had done so since the op on my knee last week. A bit of an adventure then. We took drinks, smoothie for Eddie and a beer for me, and found our usual place. Without, it has to be said, any vast expectations.

And at once a marsh harrier went past: a female, her creamy head shining out, one wing bearing a green tag for recognition – she was marked, I think, by the Hawk and Owl Trust. She was followed at once by a male: a stunning individual so startlingly pale I suspect he’s been mistaken for a hen harrier.

I’m pretty certain this is a bird I’ve seen before, but he looked even paler than usual. Perhaps my memory was at fault; perhaps he’d just had a bath. He came after the female in that fast shallow dive that harriers use, and playfully pounced at her back. She half-rolled, in what looked like playful acknowledgment, and they were gone.

So Eddie and I took our drinks in great content with the world. I felt that my first limping visit back here was rather specially blessed. The wild world will do that to you: make you feel that you — you and no one else – have been singled out for some of the planet’s finest things. It’s a fact that everyone who chooses to look and listen will have those moments  — moments when you feel uniquely cherished and rewarded by the wild.

As we sat back to revel in that feeling a bird flew directly overhead, just out of reach. I caught first the silhouette against the sky, with the dagger-bill, and then a flash of colour: like radioactive smoked salmon. And that of course was a kingfisher.

We finished our drinks to the music of whitethroat and willow warbler before making our way back. We had a loaf of banana bread in the oven, after all. And… it seemed that Wild June had delivered once again. All you have to do is go out to meet it halfway and it’s there waiting for you. And you alone, just like everybody else, uniquely blessed…

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Posted in Wildblog

Comments

  1. carolyn newman says

    30 June 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Simon ; it is just a joy to be vicariously in the wild world with you. Such an antidote to all the other rubbish going on. Thank you
    Carolyn Newman

    Reply
    • Edwards Robins says

      1 July 2017 at 2:38 am

      And that goes for me too. Thank you Simon and Eddie. Robot

      Reply
  2. Karen says

    30 June 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Beautiful…

    Reply
  3. Brian. says

    30 June 2017 at 5:50 pm

    What a wonderful description. Eddie’s lucky to have everyday access to such imaginative writing talent
    (as well as the banana loaf.) B

    Reply
  4. Sue Tracey says

    30 June 2017 at 8:13 pm

    Happy to hear you’re on the mend Simon. Yes, we that can see the beauty in the beauty around us are truly blessed. I count my lucky stars all of the time and constantly wonder at the fullness out there in the wild world.

    Thank you Eddie for all of your blogs over this Wild June, hope to hear from you soon. Sue

    Reply
    • cindy2194 says

      30 June 2017 at 8:47 pm

      Thank you Sue for messaging me, I do hope to do more blogs after June. Thank you for reading,
      love Eddie

      Reply
  5. Nicola Eeles says

    1 July 2017 at 9:17 am

    Dear Eddie, thank you for all your blogs – sad that June is over but hope you continue with your observations and drawings I have much enjoyed reading them. Lucky you in that hammock – I must get mine out.”

    Reply
  6. jaysere says

    1 July 2017 at 9:56 am

    I think it’s the “without great expectations” bit that some people can’t get about getting out in nature. I can see some of my friend’s puzzlement when I’m (almost) just as happy at coming back after a quiet birding session as a day packed with exciting migrants. Without the times of everything hiding then the magical reveals would not be as “frissonny” That’s why there are no birding video games. Although perhaps one where you turned on and nothing happened for 15 minutes (a faint murmur in the background of blackbirds and robins) would be a good curative for players brought up on instant conflict and resolution.

    Reply
  7. dirtmother says

    1 July 2017 at 11:23 am

    The Barnes writing team is brilliant. I know making it happen can’t be an easy business so thank you to all of you. It was How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher that showed me how I could enjoy wildlife and your blogs are always a little refresher course.

    Reply
  8. Sophie Adams says

    5 July 2017 at 2:05 pm

    SO BEAUTIFUL – THANK YOU !!

    Reply
  9. Anthony Bird says

    26 July 2017 at 10:31 pm

    Simon, I am uniquely blessed for having found your blogs(and your books and occasional newspaper articles, we do not take a daily paper)

    Reply

Please leave a comment Cancel reply

Receive Blog Updates By Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to my blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 5,424 other subscribers.

Recent Comments

  • Penny Woollams on Swift as a bow from an arrow…
  • Rob Howell on Swift as a bow from an arrow…
  • Jolyon Barton on Swift as a bow from an arrow…
  • Michael Clark on Cousin Caterpillar… one day he’ll wake with wings
  • Alan P on Swift as a bow from an arrow…

Categories

  • Myblog (7)
  • Sportsblog (7)
  • Wildblog (215)

Archives

  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

© Simon Barnes · info@simonbarnesauthor.co.uk
Home page photograph © David Bebber · Bird drawings © foxillustration.com
Created by Purple Hippo

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.