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.
Oh, thank you! — I’m pleased that it was of interest just once!
February 3, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Oh, thank you! — I’m pleased that it was of interest just once!
A short piece I wrote about wintertime rooks at the day’s end.
February 3, 2026 at 10:19 AM
A short piece I wrote about wintertime rooks at the day’s end.
This dawn I heard not one singing blackbird, but three or four, in full-bodied song. The calm suburban air infused with carefree melody. A precious moment.
February 2, 2026 at 8:26 AM
This dawn I heard not one singing blackbird, but three or four, in full-bodied song. The calm suburban air infused with carefree melody. A precious moment.
Thank you, Amy.
January 30, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Thank you, Amy.
Thanks for your kind remark.
Not a place I’d want to spend even one minute!
Not a place I’d want to spend even one minute!
January 30, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Thanks for your kind remark.
Not a place I’d want to spend even one minute!
Not a place I’d want to spend even one minute!
Thanks so much for reading, and for your kind words, Sheryl.
Yes, I know and appreciate exactly what you mean!
Yes, I know and appreciate exactly what you mean!
January 30, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Thanks so much for reading, and for your kind words, Sheryl.
Yes, I know and appreciate exactly what you mean!
Yes, I know and appreciate exactly what you mean!
I wrote about wintering gulls; a roosting scene set further up the (Nene) valley in which I live.
January 30, 2026 at 9:15 AM
I wrote about wintering gulls; a roosting scene set further up the (Nene) valley in which I live.
Ah lovely. And lucky you!
January 30, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Ah lovely. And lucky you!
My garden would absolutely be a lesser place without the humble blackbird.
January 30, 2026 at 7:35 AM
My garden would absolutely be a lesser place without the humble blackbird.
An excellently written post — thank you.
January 29, 2026 at 11:42 PM
An excellently written post — thank you.
Thanks so much, Shakira.
January 29, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Thanks so much, Shakira.
Thank you, Laurinda.
January 29, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Thank you, Laurinda.
Thank you, Susanne.
January 29, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Thank you, Susanne.
Thank you, Britta.
January 29, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Thank you, Britta.
Thank you, Rob. I’ll listen to this in a quiet moment later. Thanks again.
January 29, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Thank you, Rob. I’ll listen to this in a quiet moment later. Thanks again.
Thank you, those are lovely words.
January 29, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Thank you, those are lovely words.
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” — is what I tell myself, as I process the news of the passing today of a loved one.
As I type: outside, in the garden, in a dark corner beyond the lounge window lightspill, I can hear a song thrush singing—with all his might. There’s comfort in his rich voice.
As I type: outside, in the garden, in a dark corner beyond the lounge window lightspill, I can hear a song thrush singing—with all his might. There’s comfort in his rich voice.
January 29, 2026 at 5:54 PM
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” — is what I tell myself, as I process the news of the passing today of a loved one.
As I type: outside, in the garden, in a dark corner beyond the lounge window lightspill, I can hear a song thrush singing—with all his might. There’s comfort in his rich voice.
As I type: outside, in the garden, in a dark corner beyond the lounge window lightspill, I can hear a song thrush singing—with all his might. There’s comfort in his rich voice.
Grateful thanks to Mark for allowing me a spot on his excellent blog.
Guest blog #naturewriting by @jamesgilbertmr.bsky.social
Gullwing Hour markavery.info/2026/01/29/g...
Gullwing Hour markavery.info/2026/01/29/g...
January 29, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Grateful thanks to Mark for allowing me a spot on his excellent blog.
Many thanks, Mark, for allowing me a guest blog, I’m grateful for it.
January 29, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Many thanks, Mark, for allowing me a guest blog, I’m grateful for it.
Yes! — heard at last!
(Lovely writing.)
(Lovely writing.)
January 28, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Yes! — heard at last!
(Lovely writing.)
(Lovely writing.)
Earlier spellbound & charmed by a large, chittering, buzzy, golden-sunlit flock of finches & buntings — linnet, chaffinch, goldfinch, reed bunting & yellowhammer. Many dozens! Streaming to & fro between thick hedgerow & brassica-seed crop. The sight, the sound; the joy & wonder!
January 28, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Earlier spellbound & charmed by a large, chittering, buzzy, golden-sunlit flock of finches & buntings — linnet, chaffinch, goldfinch, reed bunting & yellowhammer. Many dozens! Streaming to & fro between thick hedgerow & brassica-seed crop. The sight, the sound; the joy & wonder!
Absolutely love the loud, exuberant song of the song thrush. Really do. Really do. Really do.
January 27, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Absolutely love the loud, exuberant song of the song thrush. Really do. Really do. Really do.
Thank you. I work as an ecologist — my love of and appreciation for nature is the reason why.
January 26, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Thank you. I work as an ecologist — my love of and appreciation for nature is the reason why.
At my desk, writing (for work, not pleasure) and in this present moment I can hear nothing but the ticking of the wall clock and the window pane-muffled — but still loud — notes of a song thrush. To have and hear him so near, is just wonderful.
January 26, 2026 at 11:51 AM
At my desk, writing (for work, not pleasure) and in this present moment I can hear nothing but the ticking of the wall clock and the window pane-muffled — but still loud — notes of a song thrush. To have and hear him so near, is just wonderful.