A bonus Turnstone

Something special for the holiday season (1 minute read)

Welcome to The Turnstone. Here, I help people understand important issues such as Covid-19, climate change and conservation. I send my articles out every Sunday - if you’d like them emailed to you directly, you can sign up to my mailing list.

I realise that for many of you today is not a day when you want to sit down and read about the science behind climate change or vaccines or any other important issue. So I simply wanted to share a few things to brighten your day.

First, here is a blossom from the pohutukawa tree. For readers outside New Zealand, this tree flowers in December and is known as New Zealand’s Christmas tree (its scientific names is Metrosideros excelsa). One of these trees covered in flowers always brings a smile to my face.

Image credit: Melanie Newfield

Second, here is an image that always lifts my heart. It is a beautiful alpine lake in New Zealand’s South Island, Lake Angelus. If you look closely towards the bottom right of the picture, you can see my small orange tent. It is some years since I was fit enough to carry a full pack into the mountains, but the picture always reminds me that I was then.

Image credit: Melanie Newfield

Finally, here is an amazing image of a ruddy turnstone, the bird after which I named my newsletter. It was taken by fellow Substack writer Brian Pfeiffer, and he has very kindly allowed me to use it here. If you like this image, check out his newsletter, Chasing Nature. He has more wonderful photos and lovely writing about nature.

I will be back to my regular schedule next Sunday.

Image credit: Brian Pfeiffer

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