Rare Birds, True Style: Extraordinary Interiors and Signature Looks

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How long do you stand staring at one late autumn sycamore tree? Do you scan painstakingly across every ploughed field hoping, perhaps, to come across a Short-toed Lark? These are questions you might ask yourself when you're out in the field. Personal observation coming up here...I don't think I can ever remember seeing a bird appear in a tree more than two minutes (a minute in some cases) after I've first looked at it; I can rarely remember times when I've scanned empty-looking fields, or distant hedgerows, and come up with anything more than a Blue Tit, some House Sparrows, and a couple of hunkered-down Grey Partridges. Most birds I've found have been right there in front of me, out in the open, as easy as you like—or flying, flushed up (accidentally) as I've been walking along. It seems an obvious statement to say 'if you see it, you see it' and 'if you don't, you don't' and in a way, I'm kind of working with my own impatience at half-seeing something flit in to cover (or seeing something distantly that requires me to bother setting up my scope) but my own preference, most of the time—certainly when looking for passerines—is to COVER THE GROUND. Pairing gorgeous photos of interiors with engaging interviews with each subject, Naylor-Leyland shares how her subjects private spaces cultivate unique ways of living, working, and socialising. I've been a rare bird hunter for the last twenty years—ever since I bunked off school one spring afternoon and had four Cranes flying low over my head on my old patch in Whitburn in the northeast of England. As well as twitching, and enjoying local familiar birds, I've put a lot of time and effort, and engaged in numerous conversations with other 'finders' about how to get the most return out of 'The Search'. Recently, I've moved to Ireland—Cork City, to be precise, with its access roads to many of Ireland's most famous birdwatching destinations: Ballycotton, the Old Head of Kinsale, Cape Clear and so on—and what has surprised me, personally, is that although I get out a lot less than I used to in England, my ratio of scarce birds per hour in the field has increased quite dramatically. We are experiencing delays with deliveries to many countries, but in most cases local services have now resumed. For more details, please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin.

Cot Valley: Cornwall Geography dictates that the life of the rare-bird finder is easier for some than others ( photo: Len).Art ART [jsb_filter_by_tags count="15" show_more="10" sort_by="tag_list" tag_list="individual-artists-art-monographs,exhibition-catalogues-and-specific-collections,biography-general,renaissance-style,modernism,impressionism,post-impressionism,20th-century-c-1900-to-c-1999,later-20th-century-c-1950-to-c-1999,early-20th-century-c-1900-to-c-1950,19th-century-c-1800-to-c-1899,18th-century-c-1700-to-c-1799,italy,united-kingdom-great-britain,women-in-art,paintings-and-painting,sculpture,prints-and-printmaking,drawing-and-drawings,portraits-and-self-portraiture-in-art,architecture,nature-in-art,theory-of-art,social-and-cultural-history,literary-essays,illustration,baroque,romanticism,france,east-asia-far-east,russia,pop-art,art-financial-aspects,individual-designers-or-design-groups,individual-photographers,17th-century-c-1600-to-c-1699,16th-century-c-1500-to-c-1599,c-1000-ce-to-c-1500,paintings-and-painting-in-watercolours-or-pastels,united-states-of-america-usa,diaries-letters-and-journals,biography-arts-and-entertainment,asian-history,expressionism,ceramics-mosaic-and-glass-artworks"] Author Violet Naylor-Leyland has profiled her friends and family from society figures, titled aristocracy, and fashion and creative folk to a few wonderful unknowns gathering together a mixed demographic with an emphasis on unique and inimitable style, represented not only by fashion but by interiors, possessions, and in some cases examples of the work of those featured.

It's this last modus operandi of my birdwatching being I am concerned with here. I am well aware, as I write, that some of you are not at all concerned about how many 'rare' or 'unusual' species you might find in a year. If you are a 'scientist' or a 'conservationist' or a 'garden-bird spotter' you may well be piqued at the attention given to all this rare-bird nonsense that goes on up and down the country as increasing numbers of birders turn what ought to be a passive hobby in to something of a sport. I am not altogether inclined to disagree with you.Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe. However, I do contend, that any interest in birds whatsoever, is agreeable; and hunting down birds for the satisfaction of being able to find and identify them is surely far more acceptable than the old-style hunting to kill? Catch me on a loquacious evening with a couple of pints inside me and I might go on to tell you how I think the very act of observation of birds is a testament to the evolution of man's consciousness (bringing meaning to creation, or something equally far-fetched!). But for now, I'll just say that those of us who do go out looking for rarities are usually involved, or go on to become involved, in actual concrete ways of helping to preserve places for birds and other wildlife. Fiction FICTION [jsb_filter_by_tags count="15" show_more="10" sort_by="tag_list" tag_list="fiction-in-translation,historical-fiction,classic-fiction,modern-and-contemporary-fiction,20th-century-c-1900-to-c-1999,19th-century-c-1800-to-c-1899,short-stories,family-life-fiction,crime-and-mystery-fiction,science-fiction,london-greater-london,new-york-city,united-states-of-america-usa,england,romance,anthologies-general,humorous-fiction,france,italy,germany,india,folklore-myths-and-legends,travel-writing,ireland,first-world-war-fiction,second-world-war-fiction,magical-realism,horror-and-supernatural-fiction,japan,18th-century-c-1700-to-c-1799,paris-city,napoleonic-war-fiction,war-combat-and-military-adventure-fiction,dystopian-and-utopian-fiction,generational-sagas,social-and-cultural-history,espionage-and-spy-thriller,spain,greece,religious-and-spiritual-fiction,fantasy,european-history,migration-immigration-and-emigration,relating-to-jewish-people,scotland"] Bobolink: Prawle Point, Devon During migration periods anything is possible, anywhere, and you'll always see more in the field rather than sat at home! ( Photo: Paul Nunn). Semipalmated Sandpiper: Ballycotton, Co. Cork The regular finding of rare and scarce birds is an art form, and that's why some birders can do it again and again ( photo: Michael O'Keeffe).

Pallas's Warbler: Crossley, Cheshire Easterlies on the east coast in late-October—more than a fair chance of connecting with this super sprite ( photo: Steve Round). The private realms of well-known creatives reveal how unique personal style can color the home with a sense of history, autobiography, and, above all else, magic.

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I always loved forming little businesses,’ he says. It was during this endeavour that he met British architect, Ben Pentreath, who took him on to work at his design firm in the interiors department. I asked why, after four years of studying fashion, he gravitated towards interiors. ‘I loved drawing, styling, and creating stories, but I hated making clothes. I was really bad at it, as I got older, I realised the fashion world, at least in the full-time sense, was not for me.’ Poetry POETRY [jsb_filter_by_tags count="15" show_more="10" sort_by="tag_list" tag_list="modern-and-contemporary-poetry-c-1900-onwards,20th-century-c-1900-to-c-1999,19th-century-c-1800-to-c-1899,classic-and-pre-20th-century-poetry,literary-essays,ancient-classical-and-medieval-texts,poetry-by-individual-poets,ireland,united-kingdom-great-britain,united-states-of-america-usa,diaries-letters-and-journals,italian,mysticism,musical-scores-lyrics-and-libretti,literature-history-and-criticism,coping-with-death-and-bereavement,narrative-theme-social-issues,german,gender-studies-women-and-girls,nature-and-the-natural-world-general-interest,individual-artists-art-monographs,social-discrimination-and-equal-treatment,popular-music,islamic-groups-sufis,japan,scotland,c-1000-ce-to-c-1500,first-world-war,russian,history-of-art,us-northeast-new-england,books-about-writers,christianity,social-and-cultural-history,traditional-stories-myths-and-fairy-tales,european-history-medieval-period-middle-ages,plays-playscripts,ancient-classical-greek,ancient-sagas-and-epics,celtic-religion-and-mythology,south-and-south-east-england,london-greater-london,books-about-books,prints-and-printmaking,middle-east"] Biography, Letters & Diaries BIOGRAPHY, LETTERS & DIARIES [jsb_filter_by_tags count="15" show_more="10" sort_by="tag_list" tag_list="memoirs,diaries-letters-and-journals,biography-writers,autobiography-writers,literary-studies-fiction-novelists-and-prose-writers,biography-arts-and-entertainment,autobiography-arts-and-entertainment,social-and-cultural-history,european-history,family-history-tracing-ancestors,political-leaders-and-leadership,literary-studies-poetry-and-poets,20th-century-c-1900-to-c-1999,19th-century-c-1800-to-c-1899,18th-century-c-1700-to-c-1799,feminism-and-feminist-theory,reportage-journalism-or-collected-columns,biography-royalty,england,united-states-of-america-usa,france,russia,italy,asian-history,london-greater-london,germany,middle-east,relating-to-jewish-people-and-groups,the-holocaust,european-history-medieval-period-middle-ages,second-world-war,c-1919-to-c-1939-inter-war-period,c-1910-to-c-1919,espionage-and-secret-services,far-left-political-ideologies-and-movements,biography-business-and-industry,history-of-art,individual-artists-art-monographs,travel-writing,ireland,nature-and-the-natural-world-general-interest,literary-essays,true-crime,biography-religious-and-spiritual,biography-science-technology-and-medicine"] Perennials PERENNIALS constant friends A selection of novels, memoirs and more by some of our favourite authors. [jsb_filter_by_tags count="15" show_more="10" sort_by="total_products"/] Now forgive me here if it begins to sound like I'm blowing a trumpet of any sorts, because it's not what I intend to. Remember, finding rare birds, in the long run, is not really that much of any grand importance at all and it's just a bit of fun, really. Serious fun, maybe...but definitely just Fun.

These days, it seems, we are supposed to know everything about every bird that has ever turned up in the British Isles. We're concerned about our reputation as 'good birders'. 'Have you read the latest paper?' 'Do you get Dutch Birding?' 'What colour were its lesser coverts?' Pied Wheatear: Newbiggin, Northumberland The more late-autumn fields you can cover, the greater the odds of chancing upon a rare wheatear ( photo: Tom Tams). Window Box OUR WINDOW BOX Spilling with new favourites, old friends, and pleasures to come Temptations from the shop window, a show case for the new and outstanding, and a handful of surprises. [jsb_filter_by_tags count="15" show_more="10" sort_by="total_products"/]Now I have a friend—Paul Cook. Some of you may remember him from Kaikoura Seabird Spectacular. He's found Red-flanked Bluetail, two Pallid Swifts, Isabelline Shrike, Red-eyed Vireo, Booted Warbler, and so on. I've learned a lot from Paul's approach to rare bird finding. Paul doesn't suffer. Some of us who used to take ourselves too seriously in Cape May where Paul and I lived for a couple of years thought he wasn't really a proper birder because he wasn't out every day, but he is...when he wants to be! Author Violet Naylor-Leyland has profiled her friends and family—from society figures, titled aristocracy, and fashion and creative folk to a few wonderful unknowns—gathering together a mixed demographic with an emphasis on unique and inimitable style, represented not only by fashion but by interiors, possessions, and in some cases examples of the work of those featured. Marrying gorgeous design with Naylor-Leyland’s engaging and witty texts, this book provides rare access to the personalities featured, giving readers up-close insight into their personal tastes. Pairing gorgeous photos of interiors with engaging interviews with each subject, Naylor-Leyland shares how her subjects’ private spaces cultivate unique ways of living, working, and socializing. This book is perfect for lovers of interior design, fashion, and the distinctly English way of life. About The Author Rufous-tailed Robin: Fair Isle, Shetland Sometimes picturing the bird can turn into reality ( photo: Deryk Shaw).