"From Hay to Horniman and back again, a hobbit's tale by Bilbo Stubbins"

Following on from a Hay fest, I had a couple of days booked in the big smoke to catch up with two of the best Leeg & Trev.

Me and Lee went to see Frank Laws private view at Lazarides on the Thursday evening. the paintings were amazing from a distance they looked like photographs. When you got up close the detail was insane, he must have some patience hand painting all those bricks. Also there were free beers from whitstable brewery, which always helps. you can see his work here: http://franklaws.com/

This is a crop of one of my faves

We headed out for some more free beers and a store launch with a couple of megaladz from the staggersaurus rex Lisbon tour. We decided to head for a Wahaca, which was banging. I had Plaintain tacos, Pea & Mint Empanadas and Chilli flat-bread, which I had to swap for pinto bean, as it was boiling. I also had a passion fruit mojito which was also banging.

On the Friday we headed to south London, met up with Trev for a lads day out at the Horniman museum in Forest Hill. I was well looking forward to a museum date with the lads and just a general good catch up.

When we arrived there was an amazing taxidermy art exhibition by Polly Morgan called Taxidermy is dead (Long Live Taxidermy) you can see her work here: http://pollymorgan.co.uk/

I'm unsure how I feel about Taxidermy on the whole as I love nature and wildlife, but I can't deny that some of these pieces were insanely beautiful, there was a Gannet and a Cormorant and paintings of the birds nests painted with their cremated remains.

One of my fave pieces was called Harbour and was a fox, wrapped in Octopus tentacles, with birds.

On to the main hall animal collection, amazing cases filled with mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, skulls, skeletons. The owls, the kingfishers, obviously the walrus, the parrots and just generally the lush typefaces used all being highlights.

The second room we visited was masks, puppets and headdresses from different cultures around the world, the lighting made the whole thing very eerie.

A third room of African ceremonial masks and religious and cultural shrines from around the world very very interesting.

Then the history of musical instruments throughout the ages.
















A coffee and a delectable walrus chocolate biscuit in the rain, a visit to the shop for a walrus print to mark the occasion on the art wall and an amazing Navajo sand painting to finish off an amazing morning at I think my new fave museum in London. (pretty close run with Natural History mind)

It was off for some beers and a bit of lunch in Brockley. I had a beetroot hummus, rocket and walnuts on sour dough bread toasted, lemon and poppy seed cake and a grapefruit San Pel.

We met up with a friend of Lee's Rob who was gonna show us some good local boozers for the afternoon.













A 12 hour lads drinkng sesh ensued. with a stop off at the amazing Mamma Dough's for a bangin' pizza, a Peckham Pils and a lush Penderyn single Malt after dinner.

Needless to say class day out had by all despite the miserable weather.

"Hay you're part of it!"

Had the absolute pleasure of being asked to volunteer at the hay festival of literature last weekend, with RSPB Cymru. 

I had been for the day to hay the previous year, but this year I would be staying up there and working three days.

I was doing the black grouse whiskey raffle and selling RSPB pin badges for two days and then doing pond dipping, making bug hotels and mini beasts hunting with kids for one day.

The b&b I was staying in was super quaint and just run by one old dear, she cooked a mean veggie breakko too. 

There was an awesome print of a goshawk in the breakfast room so I knew I would feel at home.

Hay itself is genuinely one of the most beautiful towns I have ever visited, lush river, a cool castle, loads of book shops and curio shops, and all surrounded by stunning scenery. 

I was excited to try and walk a bit at least of the offa's dyke footpath, the ancient border between Wales and England. 

The festival itself although what's actually on is all a but highbrow for my working class taste, the way it's setup is amazing. It's like a little festival village, all under cover with walkways and art, food, cafes, bars and exhibition spaces so cleverly done. 

There is always something interesting going on and always a bit of celeb spotting to be done. This year I saw Leanne wood, Sarah Lancaster, mark Watson and Vanessa feltz all pass the stand. 

I got out for a few little walks in the evening along the river on the offa's dyke path and had a really memorable evening sat with a bottle of wine watching 20-30 bats catching bugs by the river. 

I also got to buy the new book by my fave author Neil gaiman, I'm a bit gutted I can't get to his talk this coming weekend up there though. 

I will definitely be heading back to hay soon for a weekend when the festival isn't on for a good explore. 

After the three days we had raised £1000 for the charity and signed up over 50 new members pretty awesome. Home feeling tired, but well being fully restored.

Few and Far Between

I have been reading a fantastic book by Charlie Elder, called Few and Far Between. I was lucky enough to stumble across his first book While Flocks Last in a Charity Shop, where he aimed to see every UK bird species on the red list before it was too late, which I loved.

I had been hotly anticipating the release of the follow up, where he would go in search of some of our rarest animals including: mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and even fish.

I am not one for pre-ordering when it comes to books or even usually buying them new, unless of course it's Neil Gaiman. However, I had been having a pretty shitty time and decided I would treat myself to a brand new book, at full price to accompany me on the commute.

I like Charlie am fascinated by what makes us seek out the rare and exotic, I am utterly fascinated by all wildlife. The book visits some remote places I can only dream about seeing and he gets to tick off some dream species for any naturalist. The book is really well written, funny, moving at times and utterly compelling.

I don't want to give too much away about what he sees, as some of you may want to read it yourselves, but I am absolutely fascinated by Seahorses and would bloody love to see them in the wild. Also, there is something about the Scottish Wildcat, it's like our last link in the UK to a bygone era where truly wild animals roamed our forests.

If you like me are passionate about nature and in particular wildlife, I cannot recommend it highly enough. The jacket his bloody lovely illustrations too, although the book has made me hope I get to see some of these species, more than anything it has made me want to visit more of the incredible places this country has to offer.

120 Club bro

Due to unforeseen circumstances and not being one to air my dirty under crackers in the public domain, it has been decidedly quiet here of late.

But I'm back, do not fear.

At the weekend I had the absolute pleasure of working at Machynlleth Comedy Festival for a third year. Since my first it has always been hotly anticipated, as one of the best weekends of the year, not only for the festival, but just visiting the place massively improves my well-being. I absolutely whole heartedly love Mach.

So many fond memories, my proudest sporting achievement - being crowned Mach Vols Lawn Bowls Champ. Visiting the Dyfi Osprey Project. This year I hoped to add to not only the trophy cabinet, but also the memory bank.

I was tech'ing at the Leisure Centre in a 50 seat room, which was above the swimming pool and bloody boiling. Almost everyone I worked with and for was amazing. Highlights for me were Nick Helm, Brett Goldstein and Mike Bubbins. Also, a zombie Puppet show for over 50 kids and parents, whilst in a particularly fragile state.





I also despite the weather got out for a few short walks taking in my favourite views of the town and festival from above following the footsteps of our one true prince.

On the way home I was lucky enough to get to visit a place of almost mythical prowess to me, I was unsure I would ever get to see for myself, Ynys-hir. I think I managed one of my best hours birding to date at 30 species in an hour, with one or two anomalies on top. Also, I finally got my 120th life list tick, which had been alluding me for a while, seeing my first Pied Flycatcher! The reserve was amazing and the resident artist's work in the visitor's centre was also amazing.

http://www.beckythorley-fox.co.uk/#/ynys-hir-residency-2014/4588584047

To have such an amazing weekend, even with the weather being poor, getting to make new friends, also made up for the fact I didn't get to defend my Bowls crown due to the rain.

Building a nest

Things have been quiet here, as I haven't been out and about due to moving house.

I'm pretty settled now and have ventured out exploring my new/old surroundings

I went for a nice walk out through Crumlin park and down along the river Ebbw.

In the park in one tree I saw 3 Nuthatch, two Lt Tit, Blue, Tit and Coal tit.



As I passed under the railway towards the river I saw Great Tits

On the river I saw a pair of Grey Wagtails and a pair of Dippers


I also saw signs of Otter spraint which is very promising.


I saw at least two areas where a bird of prey had made a kill firstly a likely Blackbird and then a pigeon, I was hoping they may have been Goshawk, but I have since been informed by Kes more likely Sparrowhawk.

I had some of the best views of Goldcrest I have ever had and then even better views of Grey Wagtail pair from the bridge.




I'm hoping to get out a bit more over the coming weeks and hope to continue my search for the elusive Goshawk. I have heard that you can walk all the way to Ebbw Vale along the river which I definitely want to do.

Hot & Spicy Birds

At new year I went out on to the Avalon marshes with my spiritual mentor Kestrel for our bi-annual wildlife watching expedition.

We set off early on a very cold, crisp, but bright, sunny, winter morning.

We decided to start the Westhay end of the Shapwick Heath reserve, somewhere I hadn't been before. up near Canada farm. 

We headed straight for Canada farm lake hide. There were around 250 teal, pintail, gadwall, wigeon, greylag geese, mute swan, mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebe, little grebe were all showing on the water. There was a kingfisher fishing from a tree perch just to the left, having success considering almost all the water was frozen.


Marsh Harrier went over and got all the Teal up, one of the Marsh Harriers had a Green wing tag, which I believe means its a North West Norfolk bird.



Shortly after seeing the Harriers we could hear a call which I assumed was kingfisher, but Kes guaranteed me was an otter, an otter came out of the reeds just in front of the hide and headed straight towards us, looked right at us turned around and dived under water.


We tried to follow it with our bins. but it vanished, then a little grebe dashed off through the water looking startled a sure fire sign the otter was back. This time there were three moving through the water, likely to be mother and two cubs.

Later further on the reserve Kes was testing me by asking me to ID birds as they flew over I got most right, but he was most surprised when I said Gooseander he grabbed his bins and confirmed I was correct Three male Goosander which Kes hadn't seen here before.


We also saw three different Bitterns and  a Great White Egret.

But the highlight was a tiny Harvest Mouse, up the reeds over the frozen water eating the reed heads, right in front of the hide for half an hour! Kes said he had never seen a harvest mouse here in over 20 years of birding the site.



I also recently made a delicious curry

Sweet Potato & Spinach Jalfrezi, a few people asked for the recipe so it's here if you fancy giving it a whirl.