A Nature Diary

The birds, animals, and wildflowers or the Isle of Man are vividly described and brought before the reader's eye. The author is out in all weathers, missing nothing of the pageant of the months, the seasons, and even of the stars. For him, the most ordinary day discloses something exciting. Written at an adult level with some lovely illustrations.

This pleasant nature diary contains observations by John Adams of birds, plants, weather and insects on the Isle of Man. As he rambles about with his dog, Tetter, and varied visitors, he records his day-to-day viewings. A few times in the year, he journeys to the Lake District, London, Denmark, and Australia, and continues his nature journal in those places. The sketches of the plants and scenes (by John Lawrence) add some color and helped me visualize the many unfamiliar plants. Eventually the book becomes a bit tedious, but that may be from my recent reading of May Sarton's journals which combine nature and her personal insights. Adams sticks strictly to the nature and does not inject his personality which may disappoint readers of his bestsellers, Watership Down, etc.