1. Nuthatch. And already the 'Seven Birds' thing is ruined, because the nuthatch makes enough sounds for about ten different species. Here's one of the common ones. xeno-canto.org/235146
2. Great spotted woodpecker. There is the famous drumming sound, of course, but that is mostly a spring thing. Year-round, you're more likely to hear this sharp 'kick' call. Look up! xeno-canto.org/514801
3. Green woodpecker. A visit to our local woods isn't complete without the sound of a green woodpecker's mocking laughter from the other side of the woods. xeno-canto.org/76373
4. Jay. This peachy corvid quite often utters this raw shriek just to let you know that it's pissed off about something or other. xeno-canto.org/438384
5. Blackcap. Scrabbling, scratchy, fluting, jumpy. Like a pile of rubble with hidden Wedgwood. xeno-canto.org/399633
6. Treecreeper. Very high, piping, shivery. Look for something bark-coloured climbing spiral-wise up a tree. xeno-canto.org/408121
7. Goldcrest. The best. Even higher and very fast. Tsee-bada tsee-bada tsee-bada tsee-bada scabba diddle-oo.
When I first learned that Taking Flight was to be published today, I had a decision to make. Sit in the corner grumping about 'that so-called "Star Wars Day"' or embrace it.
So here’s a thread of flying creatures in Star Wars. #StarWarsDay
First the disclaimers:
– I am not a Star Wars person. I’m not *not* a Star Wars person – I have seen some of them – but also I am not a 'Star Wars person'
– All creatures are taken from Wookieepedia
– They only qualify if they appear in the main film series
Aiwha
Massive winged cetaceans, native to the planet Kamino. Strong swimmers & flyers, they were also known as "air whales". They’re peaceful, majestic, and (sob) give out bleating cries when dying.
Given the space, I would happily adopt an aiwha. #StarWarsDay#TakingFlightBook
Morning everyone. Taking Flight is officially published today. If clicking on links is your thing, and if buying books is also your thing, then today is your lucky day. The cover is by Jo Walker. bit.ly/3kthp7C
Taking Flight started with a realisation: flight is amazing and ridiculous and I didn’t really know anything about it.
So I started asking myself questions, writing down all the things I didn’t know.
There were a lot of them.
Then I started looking for answers.
Each answer spawned a new question, and soon I was:
– very confused
– very enthusiastic
tfw, not content with trashing your book, a book group member decides to trash your other career too
Trashing a book in a book group is fine, btw. Part of the deal is bad reviews. But extrapolating a whole thing about the other part of my working life? wtf?
Why not have a go at my parenting while you're at it? Or my cooking perhaps?