Michael J. Warren

Page from British Wildlife mag.

Front cover of British Wildlife mag, vol 37.4 (Feb 2026).

If you subscribe to the brilliant @britishwildlife.bsky.social mag, you’ll find an article about birds in place-names in there this month. Right before @amyjanebeer.bsky.social’s always beautiful Wild Story column. #BritishWildlife #PlaceNames #birdsandplace

Ancient by Luke Barley review – the secret history of Britain’s woodlands A former ranger tells the story of how the UK’s forests intimately shaped – and were shaped by – its people

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...

Lynx could return to Scotland – but can rewilders win over wary Highlanders? With most Scots supportive of reintroducing the wild cat, charities are focusing on those whose jobs could be affected

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

GOOD NEWS for one of the UK’s rarest birds. 😍 🙌

There are new signs of hope for Capercaillie at RSPB Abernethy, thanks to long-term collaboration between the RSPB, landowners, partners and the Scottish Government.

Hooray for Capercaillie!

Neotinea lactea, Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn

Next in my #CountdownToRhodes is a cool beauty and a favourite of mine, Neotinea lactea. It's an orchid with two distinct characters - one enjoys the lush dampness of woodland meadows, the other endures drier, stony hillsides. All are beautiful.

#bloomscrolling #OrchidsOfRhodes

House mouse

OS map showing Devon village of Musbury.

Another animal infestation! Place-name of the day 133 is MUSBURY (Devon). OE mus +burh, ‘mouse-infested fort’. I love names like this where you can really sense a story—a tale of exasperation in this case, presumably! #PlaceNameOfTheDay #PlaceNames #naturewriting

https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/catherine-clarke

I'm really looking forward to speaking at the Literary Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon (one of my favourite places in the world) on Saturday 9 May. I'm also excited to be the interviewer for two other events: in conversation with Tom Service, and with writers Stephen Rutt & Rose George. Book now!

Midge swarm in Scotland

OS map showing W. Yorkshire village of Midgley.

Place-name of the day 132 is MIDGLEY (W. Yorks). One of those that means exactly what it seems: OE mycg + leah, ‘midge wood/clearing’. #PlaceNameOfTheDay #PlaceNames #naturewriting

My mountain hare

My finger tracks next to the prints of a mountain hare (and its dropping).

OS map showing Carn nan Gearran Bana, west of Inverness.

Spent time with winter-white mountain hares in the Highlands yesterday, so place-name of the day 131 is Càrn nan Gearran Bàna (Inverness-shire). Scots Gaelic, ‘hill of the white hares’. #PlaceNameOfTheDay #PlaceNames #naturewriting

Hurry, 25% off my forthcoming paperback (June 5th) at Waterstones until 20th Feb. It’s a beauty too, gorgeously designed with pullout flappy bits! Also 25% off books by @sophiepavs.bsky.social and @katebradbury.bsky.social #thecuckoolea #naturewriting @chiffchat.bsky.social

If you haven’t got a copy of #cuckooslea yet, or indeed any of the other fine books on offer at Waterstones this Feb, nows your chance!

Indeed. Like the Gaelic word itself isn’t enough to be getting on with!

Ptarmigan, male.

OS map showing topographical name of Meall nan Tarmachan.

Me watching ptarmigan.

Back to birds today, and a Scots Gaelic example: place-name of the day 130 is Meall nan Tarmachan (Stirling). ‘Mountain of the ptarmigan’. Saw a pair of these today in snowy winter plumage, SO camouflaged against the whiteout in the Cairngorms. #PlaceNames #PlaceNameOfTheDay #naturewriting

Snowy boulder field in the Cairngorms. With ptarmigan!

Me watching ptarmigan.

Spot the ptarmigan pair! Masters of winter disguise on these snowy boulder field high up in the Cairngorms. A truly magical day in a Highland whiteout. Read all about it in my next book: Hibernal! #Winter #Ptarmigan

Rabbit tracks in snow.

Ah the old lapine Scream face. Up in the Highlands for some winter adventures. #BookResearch #SnowTracks #WinterWildlife #Hibernal

Common frog. Credit: Ulster Wildfowl Trust.

OS map showing Devon village of Frogmore.

Place-name of the day 129: FROGMORE (Dev). OE frocga + mere. ‘Frog pool’. #PlaceNames #PlaceNameOfTheDay #naturewriting #NatureAndPlace

Cheeky pine marten peeking round a tree. Credit: Scottish Wildlife Trust.

OS map showing Norfolk village of MARTHAM.

Still departing from birds for now, place-name of the day 128 is MARTHAM (Norf). OE mearth + ham/hamm. ‘Dwelling or hemmed-in land where martens are seen’. I’ve still never seen one of these beauties. #PlaceNames #PlaceNameOfTheDay #naturewriting #NatureAndPlace

📚 lovers ❤️ following @janeaustenlit.bsky.social don't miss our wonderful #Cotswold evening in May with Austen expert Paula Byrne #booksky TICKETS on line now www.campdenmayfestivals.co.uk/literature/e...

🎉 OCEAN WIN: The UK has begun the process of ratifying the High Seas Treaty, after King Charles granted the bill his official Royal Ascent 🫅

This is a massive step forward for our blue planet, and will benefit us all 🩵

OS map of Northamptonshire village of Brockhall.

Two badgers peeking out of a sett entrance surrounded by wild garlic.

Place-name of the day 127: BROCKHALL (Northants). OE brocc + hol. ‘Badger hole’. Simples. Likely began as a name for a local landscape feature first. Possible that the settlement was specifically named because of the nearby sett though. #PlaceNames #PlaceNameOfTheDay #naturewriting

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/all-saints-church-southbourne/a-history-of-england-in-25-poems/e-pdypeo#:~:text=The%20book%20has%20been%20a,the%20beautiful%20All%20Saints%27%20Church.

Stained glass window inside All Saints church

Catherine Clarke

This is going to be so special - an evening of #history, #poetry and #music in support of the beautiful All Saints Church, #Southbourne. I'll be reading from my book #AHistoryOfEnglandIn25Poems, with new content and reflections too. Tickets available now via the QR code or link. #Bournemouth #Dorset

If you missed @drmjwarren.bsky.social in Lincolnshire catch up with him in the #Cotswolds in May #booksky #nature 🦉 www.campdenmayfestivals.co.uk/literature/e...

Michael J Warren talking at Whisby nature reserve.

A really lovely talk @lincswildlife.bsky.social’s Whisby reserve today. In the audience was Grahame Hopwood, just retired, warden for 22 years, devoting half a career to making Whisby superb nightingale habitat. Sadly, they no longer breed here. 😢 #nightingales #naturewriting

Red fox

OS map showing Somerset village, Foxcote.

Continuing my mammalian temporary departure from birds, place-name of the day 126 is FOXCOTE (Som). OE fox + cot. ‘Cottage for the foxes’ (probably metaphorically referring to den). #PlaceNames #naturewriting

2026 could be your year! Not tricky to hear and see come March/April.

Photo not mine. Blackcap in snow.

Blackcap singing in my garden on a cold(ish) rainy day in early February. 😬🤨😩🙄 (not sure of my emotion). #climatechangewinters #changingseasons

Singing nightingale in blossom.

The Cuckoo’s Lea by Michael J. Warren

Only two days to go till my talk @lincswildlife.bsky.social’s Whisby reserve. Come to here about nightingales and how they transform our sense of place in spring. Tickets here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-talk-... #AuthorTalk #naturewriting

I’ve read that as well. Would like to see the source though, because ‘cattle’ isn’t an Old English word (comes from French), and the name is Old English. I’m afraid that interpretation is apocryphal—someone has just speculated!

A selection of illustrated colour plates and colour charts from bird books of Bullfinches

My latest blog post, as Writer in Residence for the very exciting Kintbury Chase and Eco Centre, is up. Here are Bullfinches, Colour Charts, Cages & Song, the Bullfinch-breast pinking of oak cotyledons & taxonomic guides to pre-photography identification kintburyecocentre.org/webpage.php?...