Outdoor interests and nature

Ideas and knowledge for enjoying the countryside, water and outdoor life while understanding the living things and places we share.

Find your interest

Hunting and landscapesMethods, wildlife and habitats: understanding hunting practices and their relationship with the land. Recreational fishingFish, waters and methods: understanding freshwater and sea fishing and their effects. Horses and natureBehaviour, breeds, movement and trails to understand horses in their surroundings. Walking and navigationRead landscapes, interpret maps and explore paths on foot or by bike. Wildlife watching and photographyWatch, recognise and document wildlife and landscapes without disturbing them. Fungi and foragingFungi, fruit and woodland cycles: understanding their ecology and observing carefully. Gardening, growing and beekeepingCrops, soil, pollinators and colonies: the nature that lives close to home. River and coastal activitiesWetlands, riverbanks and coasts: discover nature from the water and its shores.

Read on and explore

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

Artificial light and nocturnal flight: two documented effects in insects

One study reconstructed how certain insects fly around point light sources; another found fewer moth caterpillars under lighting in studied British habitats. The results describe specific mechanisms and contexts, not a universal response of all nocturnal insects.

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

Snails after rain: recording what you see on a pavement

A non-capture observation guide: document encounters, distinguish moisture from cause and retain the context of the references.

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

Wall geckos: observing at dusk

The Moorish gecko uses walls and buildings. Its activity patterns help plan a night-time record without lighting it up or attributing effects to artificial light.

Wildlife watching and photography · 1 min

How nocturnal passerine passage at Gibraltar is studied

Radar and infrared observations help study night-time movements near the Strait. Flight direction and species identity are different questions.

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

The red deer rut and population monitoring in Quintos de Mora

The red deer’s voice marks a reproductive season. In Quintos de Mora, this period is also used to monitor the population and its relationship with woodland.

Wildlife watching and photography · 1 min

How echolocation helps bats find insects

Sending out sound and receiving its echo helps bats explore their surroundings. Calls change during searching and capture.

Wildlife watching and photography · 1 min

Flowering and climate: what a record can—and cannot—tell us

A flowering date records a moment in a life cycle. Recognising climate patterns requires distinguishing that event from accumulated observation series.

Fungi and foraging · 1 min

Fire-associated fungi in Canary Island pine forests

Local records and experiments reveal different aspects of fungi appearing after fire.

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

How to follow a tree’s leaf buds opening

A green tip and an unfolded leaf are different observations. Record the transition without imposing a timetable on the tree.

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

How to document a track without naming its maker too soon

Before assigning a name, record the print’s size and the arrangement of the trackway. A description can remain useful even when the species is unconfirmed.

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

What makes a biodiversity observation useful?

A species name does not tell the whole story. Place, date and method help explain what was recorded and connect it with later visits.

Wildlife watching and photography · 2 min

How to record observation effort without confusing absence with non-detection

A zero can describe a search with no results, but it does not prove that a species does not live there. Interpretation requires knowing what was sought and how.