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: We continue to track the vines, & peaches &c. A man brought me a common sea-gull alive: three crows had got it down in a field, & were endeavouring to demolish it.
November 26, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: We continue to track the vines, & peaches &c. A man brought me a common sea-gull alive: three crows had got it down in a field, & were endeavouring to demolish it.
1776: This is the first great frost. Gathered in all the grapes. Grapes are good.
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: This is the first great frost. Gathered in all the grapes. Grapes are good.
1776: Grey, sun, sharp wind, grey & mild.
November 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Grey, sun, sharp wind, grey & mild.
1776: Great fog, sun, shower, bright.
November 23, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Great fog, sun, shower, bright.
1776: The ground was covered with snow at Buxton in Derbyshire.
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: The ground was covered with snow at Buxton in Derbyshire.
1776: The thatch is torn by the wind.
November 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: The thatch is torn by the wind.
1776: Mrs. Snooke's old tortoise at Ringmer went under ground.
November 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Mrs. Snooke's old tortoise at Ringmer went under ground.
1776: This afternoon the weather turning suddenly very warm produced an unusual appearance; for the dew on the windows was on the outside of the glass, the air being warmer abroad than within.
November 19, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: This afternoon the weather turning suddenly very warm produced an unusual appearance; for the dew on the windows was on the outside of the glass, the air being warmer abroad than within.
1776: The stock-dove, or wild pigeon seems to be come: this the last winter-land-bird of passage that appears with us.
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: The stock-dove, or wild pigeon seems to be come: this the last winter-land-bird of passage that appears with us.
1776: Phalanae still flie under hedges of an evening.
November 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Phalanae still flie under hedges of an evening.
1776: Began trimming the vines: the new wood is not very well ripened for want of sun last summer.
November 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Began trimming the vines: the new wood is not very well ripened for want of sun last summer.
1776: Spitting rain, grey, spitting, starry. One of the first trees that becomes naked is the wallnut: the mulberry, & the ash especially if it bears many keys, and the Horse-chestnut come next. All lopped trees, while their heads are young, carry their leaves a long while. Apple trees & peaches...
November 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Spitting rain, grey, spitting, starry. One of the first trees that becomes naked is the wallnut: the mulberry, & the ash especially if it bears many keys, and the Horse-chestnut come next. All lopped trees, while their heads are young, carry their leaves a long while. Apple trees & peaches...
1776: Nuthatches rap about on the trees. Crocuss begins to sprout. The leaves of the medlar-tree are now turned of a bright yellow.
November 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Nuthatches rap about on the trees. Crocuss begins to sprout. The leaves of the medlar-tree are now turned of a bright yellow.
1776: Fieldfares flock. Flesh-flies still about.
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Fieldfares flock. Flesh-flies still about.
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.