Michael J. Warren
Writer, naturalist, medievalist, teacher. Trustee of Curlew Action. The Cuckoo’s Lea, Bloomsbury, out now. At work on a new book about winter: Hibernal. Marshes. Winter. Whisky.
linktr.ee/cuckooslea
www.birdsandplace.co.uk
- Reposted by Michael J. WarrenMy latest blog post, as Writer in Residence for the very exciting Kintbury Chase and Eco Centre, is up. Here are Bullfinches, Colour Charts, Cages & Song, the Bullfinch-breast pinking of oak cotyledons & taxonomic guides to pre-photography identification kintburyecocentre.org/webpage.php?...
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Not a bird, but passing through Lewisham today so … place-name of the day 125: CATFORD (London). OE catt + ford. ‘Ford where wild cats are seen crossing or nearby’. Hard to believe wildcats were once roaming here in what is now a busy London borough; love the incongruity. #naturewriting #PlaceNames
- Where are Britain’s most northerly breeding nightingales? Why are there no old nightingale place-names? To find out, come and hear my talk about my book, #thecuckooslea, @lincswildlife.bsky.social’s Whisby reserve on Saturday 7th Feb. Tickets here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-talk-... #naturewriting
- What a beautiful, tender and poignant @theguardian.com Country Diary from @amyjanebeer.bsky.social. A very touching tale of birds and deep personal loss. #naturewriting www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Not long now till I’m @lincswildlife.bsky.social’s Whisby reserve talking about #thecuckooslea, particularly about my search for the most northerly breeding nightingales in north-west Europe (which took me to Whisby). Come and join me! #naturewriting #authortalk @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Well @lemoustier.bsky.social, what beautiful serendipity … guess what I’m reading right now! For my new book, on winter in Britain and Ireland (from the Ice Age to present). So, couldn’t be more delighted you’re enjoying #thecuckooslea ☺️ @jimspim.bsky.social @chiffchat.bsky.social #naturewriting
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- My first @theguardian.com Country Diary today, in the footsteps of many incredible writers, incl. @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @nicolawriting.bsky.social @themarshtit.bsky.social @nicwilson.bsky.social @richardsmyth.bsky.social @derekniemann.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- A lovely blog. When a reader of #thecuckooslea is inspired to explore their own local place-names … well, there’s nothing better to me. ☺️😄. #naturewriting
- This is a 30-40,000-year-old Neanderthal hand axe (centre). Just one of the items in absolute legend Will Lord (of the Stone Age)’s Paleolithic wunderkammer. An unforgettable research visit for my next book (on winter). See Will here: m.youtube.com/@WillLordPre... #IceAgeBritain #NeanderthalBritain
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- If you’re in the Lincoln area, command join me at LWT Whisby nature reserve on 7th Feb to hear about #thecuckooslea and nightingales. Why are there no nightingales in our old place-names? Where is the most northern site for breeding nightingales in the UK today? Come and find out! #naturewriting
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- Winter Solstice night 2025 in a church on the marsh. A little belated, but just now had chance to edit my video. In aid of my current book project, titled Hibernal. Hope you enjoy! Happy New Year all. #WinterSolstice #WinterLover #naturewriting
- Well it ain’t much, but I’ll take it. At least it’s cold! Bring it on! #Winter #WinterLover #NextBook #naturewriting
- First of 2026–happy New Year! Saw this tawny owl yesterday so bird place-name of the day 124 is ULLENHALL (Warks). OE ule + halh. ‘Owls’ wooded nook’. #PlaceNames #birdsandplace #naturewriting
- Bird place-name of the day 123: DUFTON (Cambs). OE dufe + tun. ‘Dove estate/farm’. #PlaceNames #birdsandplace #naturewriting
- Reposted by Michael J. Warren[Not loaded yet]
- A last one before Xmas. Bird place-name of the day 122: FINCHDEAN (Hants). OE finc + denu. ‘Finch valley’. No way of knowing which finches, but since it’s Xmas I’ll go with bramblings! Happy Xmas all. #PlaceNames #birdsandplace #naturewriting
- Most pleased to be in the this non-AI ‘top of’ list. 😁
- A lovely endorsement of my book. Thanks @penrhynbirder.bsky.social! 😁
- This is the barn owl stained glass window in St Thomas’s Church at Harty on the Isle of Sheppey. Sure did hear those last night in the moments when I drifted in and out of sleep! #NightInAChurch #Sheppey #WinterSolstice
- Sunrise on the Harty Marshes, south Sheppey, after my night in a church out here. No better place to be on a winter’s morning. #WinterMarshes #Sheppey #WinterSolstice
- Morning everyone, made it through the night in the church on the Isle of Sheppey! Just been down to see the sun rise on the marsh. #Sheppey #marshes #solstice #nightinachurch
- More to come, but here’s a ghostly excerpt from my solstice night in a church on the marsh, just to broadcast something live, as it were. Here I explain the first inspiration for my adventure—Charles Dickens #NightInAChurch #WinterSolstice #IsleOfSheppey #DickensGhosts
- Would you spend the night all alone in a tiny ancient church with no water or electricity, out on the marshes on the longest night of the year? Well, in the interests of my next book, that’s what I’m doing tonight. Updates to follow! #WinterSolstice #ChristmasGhosts #naturewriting #IsleofSheppey
- Makes the essential point at the root of how we address the lack of connection to place in modern society: make homes and nature one and the same, FFS! As our old place-names tell us. Profit, of course, stands in the way, and governments who pander to the profit-makers, which is to say all of them.
- Because I saw yellowhammers today close to home, bird place-name of the day 121 is AMBERDEN (Essex). OE amer + denu. ‘Bunting/yellowhammer valley’. #birdsandplace #PlaceNames #naturewriting
