Gilbert White
@gilbertwhite.bsky.social
Journal entries from 1768-1793 of the pioneering C18th English naturalist, posted on the day of the year they were written. Currently posting 1776.
Built by @adriantoll.bsky.social
See gilbertwhite.org for more info.
Also see @johnclare.bsky.social
Built by @adriantoll.bsky.social
See gilbertwhite.org for more info.
Also see @johnclare.bsky.social
1776: Leaves fall very fast. My grapes are delicate, & in great abundance still.
November 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Leaves fall very fast. My grapes are delicate, & in great abundance still.
1776: Redwings. These birds begin to appear at last.
November 10, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Redwings. These birds begin to appear at last.
1776: I saw no fieldfares all thro' my Journey. If they come, as Rays says they do, "ventis vehementer spriantibus" they can have had no advantage of that kind; for the autumn has been remarkably still. Magpies sometimes, I see, perch on the backs of sheep, & pick the lice & ticks out of their...
November 9, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: I saw no fieldfares all thro' my Journey. If they come, as Rays says they do, "ventis vehementer spriantibus" they can have had no advantage of that kind; for the autumn has been remarkably still. Magpies sometimes, I see, perch on the backs of sheep, & pick the lice & ticks out of their...
1776: Infinite quantities of haws & sloes. Nothing could be more lovely than the ride from Andover to Alresford over the Hants downs. The shepherds mow the charlock growing among the wheat.
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Infinite quantities of haws & sloes. Nothing could be more lovely than the ride from Andover to Alresford over the Hants downs. The shepherds mow the charlock growing among the wheat.
1776: The great fieldfare returns. Beetles abound every evening. Farmer Canning's new barley-ricks smoke & ferment like hot-beds already.
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: The great fieldfare returns. Beetles abound every evening. Farmer Canning's new barley-ricks smoke & ferment like hot-beds already.
1776: Flies abound. They stay long after the hirundines are withdrawn. Tipulae sport in the air.
November 6, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Flies abound. They stay long after the hirundines are withdrawn. Tipulae sport in the air.
1776: Farmer Cannings has fine weather for his barley harvest.
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Farmer Cannings has fine weather for his barley harvest.
1776: Mr. Canning is now ricking one field: the other is standing. The grain is lank, & the cocks cold, & damp. The trufle-hunter was here this morning: he did not take more than half a pound, & those were small.
November 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Mr. Canning is now ricking one field: the other is standing. The grain is lank, & the cocks cold, & damp. The trufle-hunter was here this morning: he did not take more than half a pound, & those were small.
1776: Mr. Cannings has now 48 acres of barley abroad either standing ot in cock: it was not sown 'til the rains came in the beginning of June.
November 3, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Mr. Cannings has now 48 acres of barley abroad either standing ot in cock: it was not sown 'til the rains came in the beginning of June.
1776: Four swallows were seen skimming about in a lane below Newton. This circumstance seems much in favor of hiding, since the hirundines seemed to be withdrawn for some weeks. It looks as if the soft weather had called them out of their retirement.
November 2, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Four swallows were seen skimming about in a lane below Newton. This circumstance seems much in favor of hiding, since the hirundines seemed to be withdrawn for some weeks. It looks as if the soft weather had called them out of their retirement.
1776: My Brother's turkies avail themselves much of the beech-mast which they find in his grove: they also delight in acorns, & wallnuts, & hasel-nuts: no wonder therefore that they subsist wild in the woods of America, where they are supposed to be indigenous. They swallow the hasel-nuts whole.
November 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: My Brother's turkies avail themselves much of the beech-mast which they find in his grove: they also delight in acorns, & wallnuts, & hasel-nuts: no wonder therefore that they subsist wild in the woods of America, where they are supposed to be indigenous. They swallow the hasel-nuts whole.
1776: The rooks visit their nest-trees in vast clouds.
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: The rooks visit their nest-trees in vast clouds.
1776: They sow wheat on the downs sometimes as soon as the end of July provided the season is not showery.
October 30, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: They sow wheat on the downs sometimes as soon as the end of July provided the season is not showery.
1776: Grey crows return. These are winter birds of passage, & are never seen with us in the summer. The flocks are feeding down the green wheat on the downs, which is very forward, & matted on the ground.
October 29, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Grey crows return. These are winter birds of passage, & are never seen with us in the summer. The flocks are feeding down the green wheat on the downs, which is very forward, & matted on the ground.
1776: The month of Oct. has been very dry: mill-ponds begin to want water. Sheep frolick.
October 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: The month of Oct. has been very dry: mill-ponds begin to want water. Sheep frolick.
1776: Larks frolick much in the air: when they are in that mood the larkers catch them in nets by means of a twinkling glass: this method they call daring.
October 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Larks frolick much in the air: when they are in that mood the larkers catch them in nets by means of a twinkling glass: this method they call daring.
1776: The leaves fall fast. The hanger begins to look bare. There is this year a remarkable failure of mushrooms: & the more to be wondered at, since the autumn has been both moist & warm. There is a great failure also of trufles in my Brother's outlet at Fyfield, notwithstanding in simular...
October 26, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: The leaves fall fast. The hanger begins to look bare. There is this year a remarkable failure of mushrooms: & the more to be wondered at, since the autumn has been both moist & warm. There is a great failure also of trufles in my Brother's outlet at Fyfield, notwithstanding in simular...
1776: Butterflies. One bunting in the northfield: a rare bird at Selborne.
October 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: Butterflies. One bunting in the northfield: a rare bird at Selborne.
1776: The weather has been so mild that the tender annuals continue in full vigor.
October 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: The weather has been so mild that the tender annuals continue in full vigor.
1776: Deep fog, dark & still, spitting fog.
October 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: Deep fog, dark & still, spitting fog.
1776: The nuthatches are busy rapping with their bills about the wallnut trees: & as I find wall-nuts fallen down there, with holes picked in their shells; no doubt they were made by those birds.
October 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: The nuthatches are busy rapping with their bills about the wallnut trees: & as I find wall-nuts fallen down there, with holes picked in their shells; no doubt they were made by those birds.
1776: Butterflies appear, tho' the hirundines seem to be gone. A cock pheasant flew over my house, & across the village to the hanger.
October 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: Butterflies appear, tho' the hirundines seem to be gone. A cock pheasant flew over my house, & across the village to the hanger.
1776: Black snails are still about, tho' the shell-snails have withdrawn for some time. Slugs keep-out all the winter in mild weather. It seems strange that naked snails should be more hardy than those that have houses to their backs.
October 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: Black snails are still about, tho' the shell-snails have withdrawn for some time. Slugs keep-out all the winter in mild weather. It seems strange that naked snails should be more hardy than those that have houses to their backs.
1776: Leaves fall very fast. Butterfly.
October 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: Leaves fall very fast. Butterfly.
1776: Many butterflies about.
October 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1776: Many butterflies about.