The Wilden Marsh Blog

ABOUT

Hi! My name is Mike.

Nature and nature photography are my current passions. I don’t feel inclined to travel far to get my nature fix. Travelling takes time and time is a precious commodity in my world. Exploring local fauna and flora is valuable life activity and an exciting pastime. I am obsessive, but not in the extreme; obsessiveness is helpful when it comes to achieving goals.

I enjoy my own company and that of my dog, Spike: a black Welsh Cocker Spaniel with an excellent singing voice. I too am Welsh, but I don’t sing well – whistling is more my thing. I am a Celt, with archetypal Celtic traits such as stubbornness, persistence, and inquisitiveness.

I’m not in the first flush of youth, nor am I decrepit. My legs excel at conveying my senses to exciting places, without complaint or excessive stress. My body rarely complains of cold, wet, or heat, nor does it overreact to prolonged hard work. I have all my teeth. I can out-walk my 8-year-old Cocker; mind you, on completion of a twenty-mile walk, Spike will have covered more like 40 miles. If Spike concentrated on running forward, instead of in every which way, he would beat me paws-down.

All in all, I am fortunately sound in mind and body. Those that know me might suggest I provide documentary evidence of my mental health claim, but I don’t have it.

Watching nature is fun, and I find nature photography fulfilling. I am out in the countryside day and night, rain and shine, but not all day nor all night. I am Warden of Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve: a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

This blog is a photographic journey, along which I record the main subtle changes see during my interactions with the fauna and flora of Wilden Marsh and Hoo Wood throughout seasons and years. I hope to convey my simple perceptions of nature, using three tools: my right eye, my camera, and my computer.

I will try to post three images that catch my eye each day. The operative phrase is “catch my eye.” I am not expecting to turn leaves over or look under stones; the photo opportunities must appear in front of me – well, that’s the plan. I will manipulate images as I see fit.

My ability to identify all species I photograph correctly is not reliable. I will work on the principle that the more species I incorrectly identify, the more I am likely to identify correctly in the end. I’m neither embarrassed nor belittled by being wrong.

I hope you enjoy my journey.

If you would like to send me an email, you can do so at:

mikeatwildenmarsh@hotmail.co.uk

Alternatively, use this contact form:

COPYRIGHT NOTICE!

© Michael Griffths and Wilden Marsh: The Wilden Marsh Blog. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michael Griffiths and Wilden Marsh: The Wilden Marsh Blog, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

150 Comments on “ABOUT”

  1. Mike, your photography is simply stunning. I have enjoyed your writings, but I have to wonder whether people are missing your photography because of the thumbnail sized pictures embedded in the articles. Each of your photos is a gem.

    Reply

    • Thank you for your very kind comment, Linda. I have to say that I think your photography is much better than mine.

      I usually put a ‘ Click on image to enlarge’ at the top of the post. No one has mentioned the point to me before. I would have thought that most people would know that double clicking a thumbnail image will enlarge it – I could be wrong, though.

      I look forward to your macros.

      Reply

  2. Mike, Tenwhiskey here.

    I received an hour long lecture from a trapper in Alaska once on beaver. I was flying the bush at the time and we had a weather delay, so had time.

    I popped off an answer to your comment on my post (for which I thank you). It didn’t really cover the particular and specific differences. I re-thought that and came here. I’m not certain of the depth of your interest in bones of the subject or other things so will content myself for now.

    I’ve added your mail address to gmail.

    Thanks.

    Reply

    • There is more than one answer to my question, so how do you like this one: Until very recently, we didn’t have any beavers in the UK. We have now imported beavers from Norway, or Scandinavia. I’m not sure which. Anyway, we have set up a few breeding sites in appropriate areas in the hope that they will multiply and benefit our ecology.

      Reply

  7. Howdy Mike –

    Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I’m glad you did, It looks like I’m going to enjoy yours also.

    Reply

  9. Thank you for stopping by my blog. You have a wonderful blog. You are fortunate to be in an area where you are so close to nature. We have a few animals visiting. We have a family of skunks and raccoon’s living nearby and they visit us often. I look forward to more of your blog.

    Reply

  11. Hi! I may have neglected to do this earlier today, but….I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award..Please visit my post for details. 🙂 (It’s a fair amount of work to respond to this process, I know, but I wanted you to have recognition. At least on my site), Keep up the good work!

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, zannyro. I am very pleased that you like my blog enough to nominate it for an award.

      Reply

  12. Pingback: Great Wildlife Photography Site | Richard and Pamela Myers Blog

  13. Kudos to your obsessive nature… Who knows if you’d garner such amazing images without it. As a devoted hiker with a camera, I know how patient…and obsessive one must be to capture these images, and yours are technically gorgeous. I can’t wait to learn more of your surrounding natural spaces! And, while my family now has labs…we always had cockers in the past. 🙂

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, Stephanie. This is very kind of you. It’s enough for me to know that you like the blog. 🙂

      Reply

  15. I’ve been exploring your blog and I think it will be wonderful to be able to “visit” your marsh via your posts without actually being there. I have never heard of muntjac deer! They are curious looking creatures. I think I’ll learn a lot here, too.

    Reply

  17. Hi Mike! I hope that you don’t mind and I don’t know if you participate in this type of thing, but I’ve nominated, or given, you the Heart On Fire Award. Your blog posts, and your photos are inspiring, and your love for all things nature inspires us all..You don’t have to do a thing with this award.
    If you do want to use it…you can check out my blog of today, 5/10/12 and just do what I did.
    As always I look forward to your next wonderful post!

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, Zannyro. I really appreciate you nominating me for the award. 🙂

      Reply

  18. Hi Mike,
    thank you for stopping by on my “Photos On The Go”! Your naturephotgraphy is amazing – your pictures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers,
    Sunelly Sims

    Reply

  20. Thank so much for stopping by my blog! Your photographs are beautiful! Looking forward to visiting again!

    Reply

  21. Hey, Mike! You have interests like I have, only mine are in NETexas. And like you, I like sharing my little corner of the world. I’ve never been to Wales, so you’ll be part of my virtual adventure. Looking forward to exploring your blog.

    Reply

  24. Jeez, all your own teeth. All of them? And fit as fiddle by the sounds of it. With a job to ease the heart and mind.

    Sounds like a lot of good there mate. M

    Reply

  26. Hi Mike,
    I live in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada and your blog came to my attention through WordPress (I too have a nature blog). Wilden Marsh looks to be a treasure trove of beautiful natural features. Your photography (and the patience it must take at times) is amazing. You are doing a tremendous service to the reserve by documenting it this way, and it’s a wonderful educational tool, too. Where I live, coyotes howl up a storm at night, but hide in the daytime. We have fewer foxes now, as much of the rural landscape is gradually sold off for development. I hope that knowing your information inspired me on the other side of the world is encouragement for you to keep up the good work.

    Reply

    • Thank you, Mary. I think it’s a great pity that we do not have coyotes on Wilden Marsh. However, we do have barking munjac deer; so these will have to do!

      Reply

  27. Hi Mike – I’ve got a dog and a nature blog – can’t say I’ve got all my own teeth or that I could do a twenty mile hike – loved what I’ve seen of your blog (and loved the pictures, of course)
    David

    Reply

    • Thanks, David. Ah, but you have more hair than me! You might also be older than me. Maybe the trick to maintaining mobility is to keep moving. If I sit down for too long I have trouble getting up; my recliner doesn’t help either.

      Reply

  32. So nice to have an actual Welshman electronically visit our Welsh Harlequin ducks! Thanks for stopping by the blog. Love the photos of the fox. She’s gorgeous.

    Reply

  36. I’m so glad you dropped by my blog today so that I could find yours. You have beautiful photos here.

    Reply

    • I don’t do awards, Suzanne, but I do appreciate you nominating my blog for the award. Thank you very much. 🙂

      Reply

  38. Hi Mike, I just had to take a moment to say how beautiful your photos are and what a terrific blog you have! I can truly see your passion for photography and nature through this blog and I love your sense of humor in the about section. 🙂 I will be checking back often to see what is happening on the marsh. Thanks so much for sharing it!

    Reply

    • Thank you for your kind words, Diane. I hope you drop by often and comment on what you see here. 🙂

      Reply

  46. You have some really great photos! I’m looking forward to seeing some more! 🙂
    And thanks for visiting my blog!

    Reply

  47. Hi Mike! You do have a great blog here; the photos are beautiful and I look forward to visiting again.
    Thanks for stopping by my site and liking my posts. ~ Marsha

    Reply

  50. Hi Mike
    You’ve got a great blog here, with some excellent pics, so I’ve nominated you for the Blog of the Year 2012 Award. (You can find details of the award on my latest posting).
    Best wishes
    Tim

    Reply

  59. ‘Not as young as you used to be’? Well, who is? It’s a technical impossibility! 🙂
    Wish you welcome back to my blog!

    Reply

    • Ah! An educated man who knows what is technically impossible. Well, I say phooey to impossibilities. 😉 Thank you for your comment, and I hope you enjoyed your short visit. Please call in again.

      Reply

  60. Mike,
    Thank you for stopping by Clicks & Corks and liking my polar bear image: much appreciated.
    I really like your blog, which I am now following, and your photography (I love foxes, and your collection of images is quite impressive). But I particularly like your about page 🙂 very nicely said, and I like the attitude – plus, persistence (together with patience, I might add) is probably the quintessential virtue of every serious nature photographer 🙂
    Take care

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, Stefano. I appreciate you stopping by, and particularly your generous comments. Good luck to you, and I hope you continue to enjoy my images. 🙂

      Reply

  61. Hi and thanks for liking one of my posts. You have some really interesting stuff here. will be back to keep abreast of the latest happenings

    Reply

  62. Hey Mike, thanks for stopping by to check out my blog, and the follow. It is much appreciated. Looking forward to seeing more from you, 🙂

    Reply

  64. I bumped in to you walking a black poodle in the marsh,now I see what it’s all about. Good stuff,walk the dog elsewhere now… ;o)

    Reply

    • Thanks very much for getting in touch, Bob; I appreciate it. You can walk your dog in Hoo Wood. If you are new to the area, Hoo Wood runs along the east side of Wilden Lane – 200 metres from the green gas sub-station at the north end Wilden Lane.

      Reply

  66. Lots of good stuff on this blog– I’m glad I came across it (doing a search for sulfur tuft mushrooms– I found a bunch of orange ones, and I’m trying to figure out whether they are the eating type or not). I’m doing a somewhat similar nature blog that you might be interested in (although I’m in Virginia, USA) at http://yearinthewoods.wordpress.com/. Either way, I’ll be checking in here now and then, interesting writing and great photos!

    Reply

    • Thanks for your concern, Suzy. I have been on holiday to a small marsh reserve, 200 miles away, along the welsh coast. 🙂

      Reply

  71. Mike…I’ve really enjoyed looking through your blog and connected with idea that you don’t need to travel far to enjoy nature. I’m doing similarly by blogging about a small park where I live and I thank you for checking out my site. Continued success to you and Wilden Marsh. Al

    Reply

  72. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I appreciate it very much. I’ve enjoyed my visit here and I look forward to following your work. 😀

    Reply

  74. Great blog! Nice to see ‘everyday’ life in our wonderful world that we tend to overlook being given such a pedestal …… and wonderful photographs too.

    Reply

  75. Hi Mike, you have amazing photos. I agree with you that we don’t have to travel far to enjoy nature, I believe anywhere you can find beauty of certain place. We’ll with your area especially the beauty is obvious. I enjoyed scrolling thru you photos and look forward for update on your area. Greetings from a Bali, Indonesia. Ika.

    Reply

  76. Hello newest Spikey! I know, a bit corny, eh, but that’s the term that has come to stick for those folk who are part of the clan known to be followers of Uncle Spike 🙂

    Thank you… I really appreciate that as I for one, know how many interesting and entertaining blogs are out there.

    My aim is to deliver an eclectic offering of posts, from my ‘point n shoot’ attempts at basic photography, to the sharing of my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day to day happenings here on the farm. Oh, plus a few observations on life as I see it, thrown in for good measure.

    My promise to you is not to be overbearing, just a couple of posts a day, maybe 3 at weekends if I have something special to share. But if you are at a loose end one day, maybe you’ll enjoy trawling through some of my older stuff too. I have added plenty of categories to help in said digging process.

    Thanks again and hope you have a great day…

    UNCLE SPIKE

    Reply

    • Thank you for your response, Uncle Spikey. I was drawn by your blog title, for it is also the name of my trusted and loyal friend and companion. I reasoned that someone with the same name as my well trained Cocker Spaniel must surely be worth reading about. I expect great things and suffer little. I am glad to make your acquaintance.

      Reply

      • Winner of best response goes to… 🙂
        A CS called Uncle Spike -now that’s cool.

      • He’s a cool dog, that’s for sure. 🙂 At times, he’s a useful amateur photographer’s mate. Uncle Spike is a dog that never barks outside the house, unless he is giving notice of his intention to tear an intruder apart; so far, he has only given warnings….

  77. Hi, Mike! I’ve given you an award for your incredible blog. You may or may not accept awards and that’s okay, but I have really come to enjoy your posts and learning all about the marsh and Hoo Wood. If you’d like to have the award just pop by my blog and pick it up. Thanks so much for sharing so much about your environment! Best – Debi

    Reply

  78. Thank you for following my blog Mike. I really like what you have going here and must say that I am a little envious of your profession as well. Keep up the good work!

    Reply

    • Thank you for your comment and for following my blog, James. You have an interesting blog, which is why I am following you. Let’s hope we can both keep it up.

      Reply

  79. I am so thrilled I can across your blog! I am an ardent lover of nature and spend every free moment I can outside. So much of my writing is inspired by nature. I look forward to following your adventures! 🙂

    Reply

    • Thank you! I have to say, though, the phrase “living with nature” is not to be taken literally; I live in a brick built house on the edge of Hoo Wood and Wilden Marsh. 😉 I wouldn’t like people to think that I live in a bender on the bank of North Pond. Having said this, I do sometimes feel that I live a surreal existence on the marsh and in the woods.

      Reply

  81. Hello Mike, just popped by from naturestimeline as I noticed your name showed up on a past post or two. I will follow the wilden marsh blog forthwith.

    Reply

    • Thank you for your encouragement. I’m glad you are enjoying my blog, Elisa. I have tremendous fun on Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve.

      Reply

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