It's not often I venture inland to walk, so when I do it must be for a fantastic reason and I think you'll agree this view is fantastic. From the top of Bickerton Hill, locals say you can see nine counties. I was walking & writing this up for Country Walking magazine. Highly recommend it #bickerton

I'm absolutely thrilled to share my cover feature in this month's Bird Watching magazine where I ask 'Is the Green Woodpecker our Most Festive Bird?' Spoiler Alert: Yes it is! Available online & at all good retailers (December edition) 💚❤️💛 #birdwatching

It's been a mixed week of birding and caring for family, but when the sunshine breaks through the clouds and the birds lift with your spirits, it's definitely a Friday feeling to cling onto and take with you into the weekend. Have fun out there, happy nearly December 🪶📷 #birding

It's that time of year again. Christmas decorations are out of the loft and these beauties accompany our every move at this time of year ❤️#robin

Spotted! 🖤❤️🤍 It was a spring day today. Odd, but pleasant. #autumn

📢 ACTION NEEDED: The Govt's potentially disastrous Planning Bill is nearly law. An amendment passed by the Lords yesterday offers vital protection for nature – but it needs MP support to stay in. Tell your MP: please back Amendment 130 👇 https://wtru.st/PIB-last-chance

My first experience watching a Marsh harrier hunt at Parkgate marshland at the Dee Estuary #birdwatching

Couldn't help but edit this recent pic of me & pal at our second year at Bath Spa University for our MA in Nature & Travel Writing launch weekend. This is my current hormonal era: F-Bombs all round (I'm the one on the left btw) #mood

I'm a proper birder now: captured my first shit event 🪶💩🤣 #kestrel

Very sad news about the passing of Dr Jane Goodall this evening. Such an inspirational woman. Although I hope her light will radiate through the generations, it's undeniable that the world will be a darker place without her. RIP after all your efforts and tireless work for our natural world 💚

23rd September will stay in my memory forever as the day I experienced THIS: my first EVER close(ish) encounter with a wild #peregrinefalcon perched on a church ledge just 2 minutes walk from a busy, town centre. The difference some good kit has made to my birding life is huge! I'm thrilled.

Finally got my hands on some decent photography kit to help me learn (and write) about birds! These are today's results. It's a steep learning curve, using a bridge camera after many years using just my phone. I'm thrilled with the results. Now I just need to learn what's down the lens! #birding

I took a walk to an uninhabited island off the Merseyside coast. This archway is a Triassic portal to its treasures. #hilbreisland #wirral #westkirby #sandstone #Chirotherium #walking #deeestuary #irishsea #merseyside

Imagine having to publish your medical records to stop the horrendous public gaslighting, just because a journalist wanted to make a name for herself.

I was lucky to see a preview screening of #thesaltpath last night: it's a gentle, tender & beautifully shot adaptation but, as a superfan of the book, I thought the main issues were glossed over leaving the film a bit empty. It could have been handled better by the screenwriter. Your thoughts?

I'll make a concerted effort to improve my skills. I spotted the bird but was holding 3 dog leads. This is the result, a pin-prick on the edge of the photo. My 1st red kite, this side of the Estuary. We've lots of buzzards, but this is an exclusive. But you'll have to take my word for it (again)! 😬

I know I haven't quite grasped the protocol of sharing bird sightings on here. I usually only manage to share my Merlin App record or a very blurry pic. Today I've neither. Just the blank space where I've just witnessed a spoonbill fly past. You're going to have to take my word for it #birding

Thrilled to have just heard my first ever #Whimbrel at the ripe old age of 52! I heard 3 sets of peeps before I could whip out my phone to identify it (or them). Shame I can't add the audio on here, but I was super excited to be letting my dog out for a pee at that exact time! #migration

This was a nice little find on our trip to Anglesey. The first time we heard it, Merlin couldn't identify it. Then the following evening, just at sunset we saw it amongst the dry grass on a verge of weeds. Sounded like an insect, but it was definitely this little #warbler singing with an open beak 🎶

My thoughts after watching. As a mum of a young daughter & son (& a Jurassic Park fan - look up Malcom). A simplified version of evolution imo: Woman creates man. Man persecutes woman. Woman creates feminism. Feminism persecutes man. Man creates manosphere. Manosphere persecutes woman. #adolescence

I'm learning about the balance between stating the obvious in creative writing and suggesting and trusting your reader. I'd be interested to hear if the mix in this is too obvious. Who am I talking about and/or what infamous event am I referring to? Everyone should know about it. Link in profile 🖤

The excitement of spring is very nearly upon us and for me this time of year is the new year. I can feel the awakening in my bones as the natural world lowers its winter shawl and gently exposes a bit of skin. I spotted this blackthorn this week and it sparked some writing driftwood #writingprompts

Whilst I enjoyed the typically predictable but joyful narrative of the new #BridgetJones movie, I was horrified to see a triple balloon release. Balloons DO NOT take messages to heaven, they kill wildlife and put yet more unnecessary debris and detritus into the sea and land. Do better and Think!!

The Dippers are back! I look for them in the stream across the road every day, and miss them when they're not around. This is the first I've seen since November, so I'm VERY happy! 2024 was not good for them (flooding, and building work by their nest site) so fingers crossed for 2025... #birds 🪶

It's been one of those 'feel good' days, full of blue sky and the gentle sway of reeds along the seams of the estuary. These reed beds are so important for wildlife and acknowledge my need for minimal disturbance as I tip-toe along the edges collecting litter and debris as I go #reedbeds

When are website building platforms going to start omitting X (or in this case Twitter!) and including Bluesky and Substack in their choices for social media links. It's very annoying and 2025 is THE year that things like this matter.

Out there, over the marshes of the Dee Estuary, just on the cusp of today's high tide, we saw our first ever Hen harrier. It was a moment. Add in a Kestrel, 2 x Marsh harriers and 2 x Buzzards it was worth the biting cold and numb fingers #birds 🪶

BREAKING: We’ve WON a historic case against the Rosebank & Jackdaw oil & gas fields. 🎉 👏 NO NEW OIL AND GAS! 📣 This is GAME-CHANGING. And it’s ONLY been possible thanks to YEARS of fighting by THOUSANDS of climate campaigners! Power to the people. ✊

Lunch with a side of wonder. A little robin reminding me to share the moment - maybe the sandwich too. Who's eyeing up who? #robin 🪶

47,000 signatures to ban driven grouse shooting. Plz sign petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70... if you would like to see this. Need 100k signs in 4 more months to get parliamentary debate.

He’s back . And he’s doing exactly what he said he would . Executive orders to expand drilling in the Alaskan wilderness , the guise of a ‘National Energy Emergency’ to slash red tape and regulation for fossil fuel companies , and the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement .

My Audible listening stats are in and it's been a great year for listening and learning. It looks like the author I listened to the most in 2022 & 2023 is the same author I listened to in 2024. Raynor Winn: She's my comfort listen. Who's your comfort listen or read? #naturewriting

It's been so cold here this week, the sand has drifted with the snow and froze, leaving dunes of ice along the shoreline. Something I've never seen here before. In the distance knot, curlew, oystercatcher and common redshank on the Dee Estuary. #birds

‘We need dramatic social and technological changes’: is societal collapse inevitable? Academic Danilo Brozović says studies of failed civilisations all point in one direction Story by me www.theguardian.com/environment/...

If like me you've read and been mesmerised by The Peregrine by J A Baker, and enjoyed his second book, The Hill of Summer, you'll naturally be intrigued and keen to read Baker's biography, My House of Sky by Hetty Saunders next. My dog sure is 🪶🐾 #jabaker #hettysaunders #theperegrine #myhouseofsky

The cormorant had stolen the prize spot - at my bit of the estuary - earlier this week. It's difficult having to drag myself away from this spot. I often eat my lunch here and there's always some drama going on, even at low tide #deeestuary

It's my last ever primary school carol service tonight. Admit it, there's going to be tears, and I'm going to miss it next year ✨🌲🕯️🎶 #nativity

Quote of the day: "things don't have to be perfect to be successful" Chris Mccausland ✨ #strictlycomedancing #chrismccausland #quoteoftheday

A big oak leaf along the path of many oak leaves this morning. I described these as 'amoeba' shaped in a recent creative nature writing assignment, which I now realise is a bit of a stretch, given they are shapeless. I get my very first set of results for that assignment tomorrow. Wish me luck! #oak

Doing some prep for my MA assignment & noticing again why I love this book so much. I came late to the love of birds. Yet I remember doing a garden bird project in primary school and loving that... over 40 years ago. Why do we allow ourselves to lose the interests we had as children? #naturewriting

28,000 signatures - thank you! It’s a joint effort. @chrisgpackham.bsky.social tells me not to fret but, still, I do, so please have a look at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70... and sign if you can. And share widely please.

🎉 positive news! Our latest video goes over only the good news for wildlife from the last few weeks! Watch now! ⬇️

I am *incredibly* late to the party, but I finally got around to reading #Rewilding. I'd thoroughly recommend it as a great introduction to the topic. I really enjoyed delving into the species of the Pleistocene and how they shaped our world. It really gets you thinking about shifting baselines.

Another beauty that I'm engrossed in at the moment. My reading list is huge, but anything to do with the sea has me spellbound, especially saltmarsh as I'm so lucky to have one on my doorstep... #naturewriting

With turning 50 I seem to have adopted Birding as my #1 hobby overnight. I've no equipment, not much of an idea what I'm looking at and not much time to dedicate to it, but my God it's addictive! I'm guessing that's some sort of Cormorant or Shag type? #birder

This feels very today-ish. A quote from J A Baker (John Alec to give him his full name)...

Just posted a round-up of all the books I've consumed this year over on Instagram www.instagram.com/sarah.marles My favourite by far & go to for inspiration & pure joy is The Peregrine by J A Baker. Cover to cover magic ✨ Find it at: My Nature Book Nook uk.bookshop.org/shop/natureb...

I got quite the cache on my walk this morning. Spotted them all too which was a bonus. Those Redwings can be skittish little suckers sometimes.

I think this is the largest sycamore leaf I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot. What do you think?