“Gorse is out of bloom, when kissing’s out of fashion”
There was heavy snow in the early hours of Sunday morning. We didn’t need any more encouragement. The Gooley family set off for an explore…
Category: Plants
Reading Ice Patterns and Compasses
Here is a selection of images from a recent dawn exploration of my local hills. I’ve explained how to read these patterns and signs in…
Sulphur Tuft – Hypholoma fasciculare
Fungi represent a challenge when it comes to natural compasses. We can use them to make maps quite easily, but they don’t photosynthesise, so their…
Some Observations from Search and Rescue
My thanks to a helicopter pilot for this fascinating email and for permission to share it. And for adding the ‘ptarmigan altimeter’ to my collection!…
The Meaning of Missing Moss
Moss is important in natural navigation, but not the quick easy method that many seem to think. I’ve written about the challenge of using moss…
Courses Update
My thanks to everyone who has joined the online course. The cornerstone of the course is the 12 ‘Chapters’ – twelve instructional videos: The Senses,…
Fast Recognition and Optical Illusions in Nature
Our brains are pattern-recognising machines. This is true everywhere, but not least in nature, where it honed these skills over millions of years. Bird calls,…
Can You Spot the Roe Deer?
Can you spot the roe deer in the picture above? The enlarged picture below makes it much easier – it’s the exact same photo, blown…
Some Tips on Home-Hunting in the Tyrol
My thanks to Otta Wenskus for the following tips. They offer practical advice if you are looking for a flat or house near Innsbruck… And…