Shedding Bricks

 

During the years that I spent on Crete, I realise now, that I unintentionally built a wall. On one side of this wall, was myself, nature and a select few members of the human race. The rest of the world, and the 21^st century come to that, was firmly on the other. Since returning to the UK, Ishbel has gradually been dismantling this wall by repeatedly dragging me, kicking and screaming, out of my comfort zone. She achieved a triple at the weekend: a mega-city, a mega-concert, and a mega-store.

The city in question was Manchester, a teeming metropolis of nearly 3 million people. We parked up a couple of miles east of the city centre and I prised my fingers from the edge of the seat. The walk into 'town' along the network of canals was most pleasant, with Geese, Swans, the occasional Moorhen, and even a Grey Wagtail to distract my attention. A little crowded through the gay village, but with a very pleasant vibe.

Our first destination was Clouds, on the 23^rd floor of the Hilton Hotel, for afternoon tea and cocktails (this was part of my Birthday treat). From there, I could see, just what a sprawling mass of humanity I was surrounded by. I looked down to street level – it was less frightening.

And now to the high point of the day. Even I, enochlophobe that I am, was prepared to venture into the 21,000 capacity, AO Arena, for the opportunity of seeing Roger Waters live. For those of you too young to remember, Roger was the co-founder of Pink Floyd, along with the late Roger 'Syd' Barrett. Lost in the music, complete with flying pigs and sheep, I was in seventh heaven. Even the walk back through crowds of revelling Manchester City supporters at midnight wasn't so bad, and Ishbel has nearly recovered the use of her right hand, which I may have been gripping rather too tightly.

And finally.. the mega-store. There was a particular item that Ishbel wished to purchase from IKEA, it was Sunday morning, and I was in need of breakfast, so we ventured into this humungous monstrosity. Ishbel came out empty handed. I for, some reason, emerged with a ladle and a yucca plant. Ah well, another three bricks in the wall come tumbling down.

Steve's Vintage Collectables. (click to visit)

Look out for our tobacconalia special over the next week. And if you haven't got your Dad a prezzie yet for Father's Day on Sunday, you'd best order today to get delivery by Saturday.

Steve's Books (click to visit)

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All the best,

Steve

Beyond Crete

 

For sixteen years, I lived a somewhat idyllic life on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean, and many of you know me from The Crete Nature Blog. I returned to the UK in 2020, settling in Cockermouth in Cumbria, where my life has changed, almost beyond recognition. It is now, I am glad to say, just as idyllic (albeit somehat damper) and new adventures await.

As well as having a host of new wildlife to observe, new plants to pluck from the hedgerows and cook in Steve's Wild Kitchen, I have also developed an interest in human history and begun to collect various curios to adorn my new 'bachelor pad' set in The Old Cornmill, on the banks of the River Derwent. These, I live with for a while and then sell on through my little online antiques shop, SVCwithEtsy. It makes a little beer money, but it's mainly for the joy of finding out the history behind the object.

I have also acquired a new life partner in Ishbel, who shares my love of nature and objects from a byegone age, which is presumably what she sees in me. Apart from me, she has also recently invested in a turn of the century campervan. It is in this, along with Mattie the hyperpup, that we intend to explore this beautiful country. So, join us, if you will, as we explore the countryside, take in a few antiques fairs along the way, sample as much local produce as we can, and generally appreciate Cumbria, Westmorland and beyond.

Make a note now, to subscribe to Steve's Nature Plus.

PS You may have noticed, in the second picture, a set of volumes held between two industrial book ends. This is my first full length novel, The MONOM, which is now available as a paperback and ebook on Amazon. This is the fifth book I've written since leaving Crete, and you can see them all on my author page.

All the best,

Steve

SVCwithEtsy.

Follow me on Steve's Nature Plus

and also on Twitter Steve's Nature, Facebook Steve Daniels Naturalists, and Instagram

Steve Daniels Cumbria

The European Nature Almanack - January 2022

 

Welcome to the first edition of The European Nature Almanack in which we'll be discovering the things to look out for in the coming month in this wonderfully diverse continent. All of western and southern Europe are classified as temperate (according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification map of Europe) whereas eastern and northern Europe are classified as cold. We'll be concentrating primarily on western and southern Europe (because that's where I've lived and studied) but I'd welcome observations from northern and eastern Europe as well.

In the northern hemisphere we are in the grips of winter which becomes colder and more severe the further up you go, either in terms of latitude or altitude. In the plant world, it is mainly a time of dormancy and up here in Cumbria we are looking out for the first Snowdrops, whereas down in the Mediterranean, Anemones are the go to flowers. Snowdrops, which are part of the Amaryllidaceae family and related to daffodils, can be found at most altitudes from Stockholm, 59^oN, down to central France and Germany above about 48^oN. Below those latitudes you have to go into the Apennine, Pyrenees or Pindos mountain ranges to find them (unless you know different). Anemones, which are part of the Primulaceae, or Primrose family, can be found all around the European Mediterranean and also on the Atlantic coast of Portugal.

There are not so many insects around in the winter, which is not surprising as they are ectothermic creatures that cannot generate their own heat. The further south you go, the warmer the temperature, the more insects you'll find. Down in Crete you'll even find butterflies, such as the Red Admiral, on the wing in January. It is no coincidence that snowdrops reproduce asexually, mainly from bulb division, whereas anemones are insect pollinated. Up here in Cumbria you have to look under rocks or dig into the soil to find insect eggs or larvae taking refuge from the cold winter temperatures. Many insects, such as Caddisflies (not true flies but Trichopterans), have aquatic larvae which can be found at the bottom of ponds below the surface ice. January's Challenge for northern Europeans is to look for overwintering insect larvae, and for southern Europeans it is to spot butterflies on the wing.

I'm going to take as my bird of the month, the European Robin, which is familiar to us all across Europe. Although their diet is predominantly worms, spiders and insects, they are very adaptable and will eat winter berries when the ground is frozen and invertebrates are hard to find. There are various subspecies within the continent and southern birds tend to be more wary of humans than their northern counterparts. This may be because southern birds are less reliant on human activities (note the difference in foliage in the two pictures: and where you have foliage you have invertebrates), or, just possibly, it's because we don't have a habit of shooting them up north. It is called the European Robin to differentiate between other, unrelated, birds called Robins in other parts of the world, notably the American Robin which is a type of thrush and the Australasian Robin which is a member of the family Petroicidae and is slightly more closely related.

Reptiles and amphibians, being ectothermic, are all in hibernation at this time of year (even on Crete) but mammals are out and about. They are often easier to spot at this time of year as there is less vegetation to conceal them. The Red Squirrel is an animal I've been very pleased to get acquainted with since moving up to Cumbria and, although they have been largely displaced by the introduced grey squirrel, they are making a comeback in the UK due to dedicated conservation efforts. Elsewhere in Europe they can be found across the continent although they are rarely seen in either southern Italy or Greece. In northern latitudes they are to be found in coniferous forests whereas further south broad-leafed woodland seems to be preferred.

Steve's Wild Kitchen

Each month, apart from chatting about what we can see around Europe, I'll be giving you some ideas about what you can do with what you find while you're out and about. I've decided to try and become self sufficient in wine this year because it's a ridiculous price in the UK and most of it is imported from long distances which adds to my carbon footprint. Adding a bit of foraging into your diet is fun as well as being economically and environmentally sensible so why not make it one of your New Year's Resolutions? This is my generic recipe for country wine. Gorse flowers are good in the north while oranges (which need to be chopped up before mashing) are in season down south. Happy New Year.

Share your nature thoughts, photos and comments on Naturalists (the facebook page that accompanies this blog), or leave a comment in the box below.

Watch for updates on Steve's Nature + or follow me on Twitter (@cretenaturalist) or Instagram 

Steve's Books

If you're struggling with what to do with all those Amazon vouchers you got for Christmas, here are a few ideas.

	Chubby's Crematorium & Burger Bar A book of humorous poems to cheer, amuse and entertain your friends with.		The Quick Guide to Creepy-Crawlies All you need to know to identify any type of insect, spider, worm or snail very simply and find out more about it.
	The Eggs of Saramova A science fiction novella for those who don't like science fiction. A fast-paced thriller that is, literally, out of this world (and it starts right here in Crete).		Not Just For Twisted Women A light-hearted look at life through the eyes of the fairer sex.

See sample pages of all my books and keep abreast of latest publications here: http://author.to/SteveDaniels

All the best for 2022

Steve

Welcome to Winter!

 

After a glorious week of sunshine in Crete we returned to lashings of rain. Ishbel has a locally bought car; the windscreen wipers turn on automatically as you cross the Lancashire/Cumbria border. The rivers were rising dangerously: a large tree, travelling at speed down the River Cocker, embedded itself in the parapet of Main Street bridge in a desperate attempt to escape, and my first job was to erect the flood defences. After that it snowed and since then we've had storms Arwen and Barra to contend with. Welcome to winter!

December 1^st is the beginning of 'meteorological winter'. True winter starts with the solstice on the 21^st. It marks a turning point in the year – from this point, the nights, slowly but surely, begin to get shorter and the days longer. Gorse remains in flower and we eagerly await the first snowdrops, followed by the crocuses and lesser celandines. Meanwhile, in Crete, I have recorded no fewer than 64 plants in flower during the winter months.

The majority of insects rely on plants in one way or another and the numbers show a similar trend. 129 species recorded by myself in Crete in the winter months, as opposed to only 5 in Cumbria.

Birds come out more evenly, 30-40 species in each location. Despite the lack of insects, the north of England sees a great influx during the winter months as birds seek to escape the even harsher conditions of the Arctic. European migratory species tend to by-pass Crete on their journeys to sub-Saharan Africa, but as the climate warms, I have noticed that more species are choosing to overwinter in Crete.

All of which, serves as an introduction to next year's blog series: The European Nature Almanack, which I shall begin at the end of this month with things to look out for in January, both in Crete (35 degrees north of the equator) and Cumbria (55 degrees north of the equator). I'd be interested to learn of your observations if you live between those latitudes.

Until next time,

All the best,

Steve

Stuck for a gift idea for Christmas? Inexpensive, easy to wrap, light to carry (and if you order now you might even be able to read them before you wrap them!)

 Steve's Books

Chubby's Crematorium & Burger Bar A book of humorous poems to cheer, amuse and entertain your friends with.
The Quick Guide to Creepy-Crawlies All you need to know to identify any type of insect, spider, worm or snail very simply and find out more about it. Yvonne: This was a gift for a family so that the children can understand what they see on days out. The second was for me. Logical and easy to use. If you know anyone who likes nature you can be confident that gifting this book will give years of pleasure.
The Eggs of Saramova A science fiction novella for those who don't like science fiction. A fast-paced thriller that is, literally, out of this world (and it starts right here in Crete).
Not Just For Twisted Women by Steve Daniels  A light-hearted look at life through the eyes of the fairer sex. Janet: If you are short on time but enjoy reading and are maybe not into long extended novels then Not Just For... Twisted Women provides readers with concise stories that stand alone and most certainly entertain with their ultimate twists. Loved it. Helen: A very good read! Well written and entertaining! Margaret: Each quick tale gives a glimpse into a character's life and has an often humorous twist at the end. I would love to read more. Yvonne: These days many people find it hard to find the time to read a novel, so this book of short stories is ideal to dip into. It is also makes a good gift.

See sample pages of all my books and latest blogs, and keep abreast of latest publications here: http://author.to/SteveDaniels

Crete Nature Catch-up
Series 1 - Welcome to Lasithi	Series 2 - The Rhythm Of Life	Series 3 - A Journey Begins
Series 4 - The Milonas Valley	Series 5 - This Is Ferma	Series 6 - Upland Villages
Series 7 - The Forty saints	Series 8 - Sunday Strolls	Series 9 -Stormy Weather

*********************************************************************

LINKS:

Share your nature thoughts, photos and comments on Naturalists (the facebook page that accompanies this blog)

Crete Revisited

 

It is now sixteen months since I left Crete to move to the north west of England. An exciting chapter in my life has begun which includes a new home in a converted corn mill, new hobbies such as kayaking and a new partner in Ishbel. Despite being well travelled, Ishbel had never been to Crete before and so, last month, the pair of us flew into Heraklion for a week of discovery and rediscovery.

Staying in out-of-season Malia, we were welcomed with a furniture rattling earthquake in the early hours. It was good to be back! A quick historical introduction at the Minoan Palace turned into a natural history lesson when a few millennia were put aside by a profusion of colourful butterflies and the sudden appearance of a Dwarf Mantis.

It was also an occasion to catch up with old friends such as Steve Lenton, with whom we spent a beautiful morning on Katharo plateau searching out the unique Cretan Flora including the rare and endangered Crocus oreocreticus which can only be found in the mountains of east Crete. Above us, buzzards and a Eurasian Griffon wheeled in the cool mountain air.

Mixing business with pleasure, we went down to the old homestead in Ferma, which I am pleased to say, seems to have suffered little from a year of neglect. Nothing that a good spring clean couldn't fix. It was a happy home for Christina and I, and I hope that it will be an equally happy home for the next owners, whoever they may be. It is now on the market through Real Professionals at 89,000 euros. A bargain for someone.

All too soon it was time to say a fond farewell to the island that was my home for sixteen years and to say goodbye to the Crete Nature Blog. I shall continue the Cumbria Nature Blog until the end of the year, but next year I'll have something new for you: a monthly European Nature Almanack which will compare the things to look out for whether you're in the north or south of the continent.

All the best

Steve

Steve's Books

Chubby's Crematorium & Burger Bar A book of humorous poems to cheer, amuse and entertain your friends with.
The Quick Guide to Creepy-Crawlies All you need to know to identify any type of insect, spider, worm or snail very simply and find out more about it. Yvonne: This was a gift for a family so that the children can understand what they see on days out. The second was for me. Logical and easy to use. If you know anyone who likes nature you can be confident that gifting this book will give years of pleasure.
The Eggs of Saramova A science fiction novella for those who don't like science fiction. A fast-paced thriller that is, literally, out of this world (and it starts right here in Crete).
Not Just For Twisted Women by Steve Daniels  A light-hearted look at life through the eyes of the fairer sex. Janet: If you are short on time but enjoy reading and are maybe not into long extended novels then Not Just For... Twisted Women provides readers with concise stories that stand alone and most certainly entertain with their ultimate twists. Loved it. Helen: A very good read! Well written and entertaining! Margaret: Each quick tale gives a glimpse into a character's life and has an often humorous twist at the end. I would love to read more. Yvonne: These days many people find it hard to find the time to read a novel, so this book of short stories is ideal to dip into. It is also makes a good gift.

See sample pages of all my books and latest blogs, and keep abreast of latest publications here: http://author.to/SteveDaniels

Crete Nature Catch-up
Series 1 - Welcome to Lasithi	Series 2 - The Rhythm Of Life	Series 3 - A Journey Begins
Series 4 - The Milonas Valley	Series 5 - This Is Ferma	Series 6 - Upland Villages
Series 7 - The Forty saints	Series 8 - Sunday Strolls	Series 9 -Stormy Weather

*********************************************************************

LINKS:

Share your nature thoughts, photos and comments on Naturalists (the facebook page that accompanies this blog)

Explore the region with the #CreteNature interactive Hiking and Nature Map

Cretan Flora Flowers of Crete BIRDS OF CRETE Crete Birding

Greek Butterflies and Moths Aquaworld Aquarium

Visit Greece (National Government Tourist Office)