Stephen Rutt
@steverutt.bsky.social
Author, birder, naturalist (he/him).
On the sandy soils of the Breckland, red-banded sand wasp is common. It catches caterpillars, immobilises them with a sting, lays an egg in them and drags them down a burrow. The egg hatches and the wasp larva eats it's way out of the living caterpillar.
August 18, 2025 at 7:05 AM
On the sandy soils of the Breckland, red-banded sand wasp is common. It catches caterpillars, immobilises them with a sting, lays an egg in them and drags them down a burrow. The egg hatches and the wasp larva eats it's way out of the living caterpillar.
I'm offering mentoring sessions now for writers of non-fiction.
One-to-one video call, 2000 words of your writing reviewed with honest feedback and pointers for development.
More information here: stephenrutt.com/mentoring/
One-to-one video call, 2000 words of your writing reviewed with honest feedback and pointers for development.
More information here: stephenrutt.com/mentoring/
July 11, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I'm offering mentoring sessions now for writers of non-fiction.
One-to-one video call, 2000 words of your writing reviewed with honest feedback and pointers for development.
More information here: stephenrutt.com/mentoring/
One-to-one video call, 2000 words of your writing reviewed with honest feedback and pointers for development.
More information here: stephenrutt.com/mentoring/
A walk in Galloway: common blues, bog asphodel & big orchids.
June 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
A walk in Galloway: common blues, bog asphodel & big orchids.
When the cinnabar finds the sunlight in a shady hedge.
June 11, 2025 at 1:12 PM
When the cinnabar finds the sunlight in a shady hedge.
(unseen, the grim slog of bird surveying: 1.30am alarms, the frigid chill of pre-dawn uplands, cold enough for the shiver of snipe song, cuckoos keeping themselves warm by cuckooing, the ecstatic swan-diving of tree pipits, hours of fruitless waiting and grey dawns, days going nowhere)
May 13, 2025 at 6:09 AM
(unseen, the grim slog of bird surveying: 1.30am alarms, the frigid chill of pre-dawn uplands, cold enough for the shiver of snipe song, cuckoos keeping themselves warm by cuckooing, the ecstatic swan-diving of tree pipits, hours of fruitless waiting and grey dawns, days going nowhere)
Scenes from a series of Galloway dawns.
May 13, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Scenes from a series of Galloway dawns.
Hair ice in the woods, lingering after the thaw. And a frost of fungi.
January 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Hair ice in the woods, lingering after the thaw. And a frost of fungi.
I love birch trees. Hard as nails. This one does not recognise your fence.
November 26, 2024 at 9:33 PM
I love birch trees. Hard as nails. This one does not recognise your fence.
Last night's stormlight
November 25, 2024 at 10:59 AM
Last night's stormlight
Calm before the inevitable weekend weather.
November 22, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Calm before the inevitable weekend weather.
Sunrise skein. And the view in the other direction.
November 22, 2024 at 8:32 AM
Sunrise skein. And the view in the other direction.
Frost on the ground but the peacock persists, sunning on the sandstone.
November 20, 2024 at 9:50 PM
Frost on the ground but the peacock persists, sunning on the sandstone.
In the space between dusk and dark, skein-lines drifting like a smoke
November 19, 2024 at 11:04 PM
In the space between dusk and dark, skein-lines drifting like a smoke
Morning, furred and thorned, the delicate bite of -3.
November 18, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Morning, furred and thorned, the delicate bite of -3.
And the persistence of common birds.
November 15, 2024 at 8:22 PM
And the persistence of common birds.
The brief return of the light
November 15, 2024 at 8:20 PM
The brief return of the light
These scarlet waxcaps, searing out of the grass on a gloomy day
November 15, 2024 at 8:18 PM
These scarlet waxcaps, searing out of the grass on a gloomy day
Hello. It's been a while. How are you doing?
I've had a shocking year. But here are some things that brought me joy. Firstly, a mega skein over Dumfries at sunset.
I've had a shocking year. But here are some things that brought me joy. Firstly, a mega skein over Dumfries at sunset.
November 15, 2024 at 8:16 PM
Hello. It's been a while. How are you doing?
I've had a shocking year. But here are some things that brought me joy. Firstly, a mega skein over Dumfries at sunset.
I've had a shocking year. But here are some things that brought me joy. Firstly, a mega skein over Dumfries at sunset.
Those are pink-feet. More moods: barnacle, brent, tundra bean (with greylag) and white-front.
September 1, 2023 at 11:25 AM
Those are pink-feet. More moods: barnacle, brent, tundra bean (with greylag) and white-front.
1st September. Maybe three weeks until the geese return. I can't wait.
A mood board from past winters.
A mood board from past winters.
September 1, 2023 at 10:24 AM
1st September. Maybe three weeks until the geese return. I can't wait.
A mood board from past winters.
A mood board from past winters.
Downriver at otter-speed.
August 28, 2023 at 12:30 PM
Downriver at otter-speed.
I have reached the stage of parenting where we watch bees together. I have reached the stage of parenting where I try to stop the bee being patted.
August 27, 2023 at 4:01 PM
I have reached the stage of parenting where we watch bees together. I have reached the stage of parenting where I try to stop the bee being patted.
