James Gilbert
@jamesgilbertmr.bsky.social
Naturalist, ecologist, writer.
“How pleasant it would be each day to think, Today I have done something that will render future generations more happy." Richard Jefferies, 1883.
Location: east Northamptonshire, UK.
“How pleasant it would be each day to think, Today I have done something that will render future generations more happy." Richard Jefferies, 1883.
Location: east Northamptonshire, UK.
Pinned
James Gilbert
@jamesgilbertmr.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Middle-aged me. Near-constantly thinking of times gone by, or about those lying ahead. My mind is only held still in the now by nature, when attentive to, say, flitting songbirds, nodding flowerheads, trembling leaves — then do I lose nostalgia or worry, and briefly find a sweet state of just being.
Out of season, it was extra lovely to this morning hear a blackbird singing — gentle, as is the mild breeze blowing.
November 10, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Out of season, it was extra lovely to this morning hear a blackbird singing — gentle, as is the mild breeze blowing.
Lovely to today see a woodcock in low zigzag flight, & a redwing flock in straight “tseeping” flight, high overhead. Both birds I hold dear; their company in navigating through the cold & dark months is a precious thing.
November 9, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Lovely to today see a woodcock in low zigzag flight, & a redwing flock in straight “tseeping” flight, high overhead. Both birds I hold dear; their company in navigating through the cold & dark months is a precious thing.
an ivy owl’s call
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 PM
an ivy owl’s call
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
gives way to moonlit silence
only leaves whisper
twilight rain
tapping leaves
ticking wren
tapping leaves
ticking wren
November 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
twilight rain
tapping leaves
ticking wren
tapping leaves
ticking wren
sudden late sunburst —
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
November 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
sudden late sunburst —
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
with a waxing russet glow
the oak-wood skyline
Just now during a break from work, I had excellent & unplanned close-up, naked-eye views of a tiny, beautiful goldcrest, flitting about an ivy-clad hedgerow oblivious to me as I watched through my car’s windscreen, sat sipping coffee. A special moment; one as if time had stood still.
November 5, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Just now during a break from work, I had excellent & unplanned close-up, naked-eye views of a tiny, beautiful goldcrest, flitting about an ivy-clad hedgerow oblivious to me as I watched through my car’s windscreen, sat sipping coffee. A special moment; one as if time had stood still.
The field maple is a definite favourite tree close to the year’s end; the pockets of subtle light its dainty, butter-yellow leaves bring to the woodland floor or hedgerow base, on a dim November day.
November 3, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The field maple is a definite favourite tree close to the year’s end; the pockets of subtle light its dainty, butter-yellow leaves bring to the woodland floor or hedgerow base, on a dim November day.
Good to this morning walk the local water meadows & underfoot feel the season’s first frost. Sunlight now sliding & inches across the sward. Takes away its bite, dulls the sparkle.
October 30, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Good to this morning walk the local water meadows & underfoot feel the season’s first frost. Sunlight now sliding & inches across the sward. Takes away its bite, dulls the sparkle.
It’s now been a year since adopting her. She’s already brought much immeasurable joy & happiness — but more importantly (& I presume!) she’s now a happy dog since being with me!
October 29, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It’s now been a year since adopting her. She’s already brought much immeasurable joy & happiness — but more importantly (& I presume!) she’s now a happy dog since being with me!
Last night my brother unexpectedly found on his doorstep (literally) a great crested newt! A widespread but uncommon (& legally-protected) species. We’re both thrilled, & the thing is that together already we’re making/planning wildlife +ve changes to his garden & a small plot saved fr development.
October 29, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Last night my brother unexpectedly found on his doorstep (literally) a great crested newt! A widespread but uncommon (& legally-protected) species. We’re both thrilled, & the thing is that together already we’re making/planning wildlife +ve changes to his garden & a small plot saved fr development.
Wren & robin sing from somewhere in the semi-darkness, telling me to seize the day.
October 29, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Wren & robin sing from somewhere in the semi-darkness, telling me to seize the day.
For me, the purest thrills are doubtless those found in nature. The afterglow endures — outlasts that of the best artificial experience, or any material purchase. Nature is entirely wholesome. Nothing is forced or staged. No fads or fashions, clauses or caveats.
October 28, 2025 at 12:04 PM
For me, the purest thrills are doubtless those found in nature. The afterglow endures — outlasts that of the best artificial experience, or any material purchase. Nature is entirely wholesome. Nothing is forced or staged. No fads or fashions, clauses or caveats.
BST has gone
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack
October 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
BST has gone
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack
with the first lip-chapping wind
a fieldfare’s chack-chack
Seventeen years to the day since seeing a bearded vulture (lammergeier) in the Swiss Alps. This magnificent bird suddenly appeared below me from within a pocket of mist, straight-&-level gliding a short distance before banking & vanishing behind a precipice. Over in seconds, with me for life.
October 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Seventeen years to the day since seeing a bearded vulture (lammergeier) in the Swiss Alps. This magnificent bird suddenly appeared below me from within a pocket of mist, straight-&-level gliding a short distance before banking & vanishing behind a precipice. Over in seconds, with me for life.
a clear-the-head walk
amid tall & turning trees
worries lost in leaves
amid tall & turning trees
worries lost in leaves
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
a clear-the-head walk
amid tall & turning trees
worries lost in leaves
amid tall & turning trees
worries lost in leaves
sunshine & showers
a short-eared owl silver-washed
floats in rainbow light
a short-eared owl silver-washed
floats in rainbow light
October 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
sunshine & showers
a short-eared owl silver-washed
floats in rainbow light
a short-eared owl silver-washed
floats in rainbow light
if we stayed in one place
and as time passed
watched the trees grow older
as we do our own children
maybe we would care for them
protect them
like they were our own children
and as time passed
watched the trees grow older
as we do our own children
maybe we would care for them
protect them
like they were our own children
October 20, 2025 at 9:47 AM
if we stayed in one place
and as time passed
watched the trees grow older
as we do our own children
maybe we would care for them
protect them
like they were our own children
and as time passed
watched the trees grow older
as we do our own children
maybe we would care for them
protect them
like they were our own children
It’s really difficult to separate how others behave (something I can’t control) & how that affects my feelings & opinions (I can control what/how I say to others). This in the context of my ecological awareness/eco-sentience hence my apparent near-constant -ve outlook on most things to most people.
October 19, 2025 at 10:23 AM
It’s really difficult to separate how others behave (something I can’t control) & how that affects my feelings & opinions (I can control what/how I say to others). This in the context of my ecological awareness/eco-sentience hence my apparent near-constant -ve outlook on most things to most people.
a fresh breeze returns
over the now gold tree tops
red kites twist & turn
over the now gold tree tops
red kites twist & turn
October 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
a fresh breeze returns
over the now gold tree tops
red kites twist & turn
over the now gold tree tops
red kites twist & turn
Yesterday my parents saw a golden eagle, soaring high above them in a patch of blue Alpine sky. They did not go looking for one. They were thrilled! I was thrilled for them. And today still I am feeling joy through their experience. An afterglow as if I had seen such magnificence with my own eyes.
October 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Yesterday my parents saw a golden eagle, soaring high above them in a patch of blue Alpine sky. They did not go looking for one. They were thrilled! I was thrilled for them. And today still I am feeling joy through their experience. An afterglow as if I had seen such magnificence with my own eyes.
stubborn gloom —
a blink of blue sky
in the wingbeats of a jay
a blink of blue sky
in the wingbeats of a jay
October 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
stubborn gloom —
a blink of blue sky
in the wingbeats of a jay
a blink of blue sky
in the wingbeats of a jay
guided by stars
outriding white horses
magical redwings
outriding white horses
magical redwings
October 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
guided by stars
outriding white horses
magical redwings
outriding white horses
magical redwings
with the swallows gone
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
October 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
with the swallows gone
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
the park feels more lonely
than it does cold
Mist envelops town. In the air hangs a hybrid scent of woodsmoke & decay. The odd lime leaf falls to the pavement, carried nowhere. From a thick holly hedge sings a dear robin, in tone with the hour, the day, the season.
October 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Mist envelops town. In the air hangs a hybrid scent of woodsmoke & decay. The odd lime leaf falls to the pavement, carried nowhere. From a thick holly hedge sings a dear robin, in tone with the hour, the day, the season.
mist-layer pasture
woodsmoke drift shows breath of wind
rooks trickle to roost
woodsmoke drift shows breath of wind
rooks trickle to roost
October 11, 2025 at 5:46 PM
mist-layer pasture
woodsmoke drift shows breath of wind
rooks trickle to roost
woodsmoke drift shows breath of wind
rooks trickle to roost