Mark Cocker
- Indexed articles, last 90 days
- 10
- Latest publication
- Sep 15, 2026
- Outlet visibility, for Guardian UK News
- Top 1K sites
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- Jul 7, 2026
Latest articles
Country diary: Goldfinches and grasses, together in an explosion of movement | Mark Cocker (opens the original)
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Priestcliffe Lees, Derbyshire: What a sight – and sound – it was, this huge flock of juveniles, feeding as the wind thrashed the vegetation Stands of tufted hair-grass, some over a metre tall, burned beige by the summer heat, were churned by strong autumn westerlies. Over and through the vegetation’s swaying lather roved a flock of about 200 goldfinches, most of them this year’s young. They were intent on the hanks of thistle and knapweed seed which lay below the hair-grass “canopy”. These immat
Country diary: Goldfinches and grasses, together in an explosion of movement - AOL (opens the original)
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Stands of tufted hair-grass, some over a metre tall, burned beige by the summer heat, were churned by strong autumn westerlies. Over and through the vegetation’s swaying lather roved a flock of about 200 goldfinches, most of them this year’s young. They were intent on the hanks of thistle and knapweed seed which lay below the hair-grass “canopy”. These immature finches lack any of the red and black bands of the adult’s head. Instead of the smooth mocha buff on their parents’ underparts, the youn
Country diary: Waiting for a nightjar is elusive and maddening – then thrilling - AOL (opens the original)
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The setting sun spread a last Iberian glow over the hills opposite before they were drained of colour and sound, and by 9pm, the world was in monochrome. In line with national increases in their numbers and range, nightjars have prospered here recently. It seems especially so with the clearance of conifers, which has left a mix of old Scots pine and open space perfectly suited to this crepuscular ground-nesting migrant. You hear nightjars much more than see them. Churring is the name given to th
Country diary: Waiting for a nightjar is elusive and maddening â then thrilling | Mark Cocker (opens the original)
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Goyt Valley, Derbyshire: My patience into dusk is rewarded with a full display of unlikely calls and aerial prowess The setting sun spread a last Iberian glow over the hills opposite before they were drained of colour and sound, and by 9pm, the world was in monochrome. In line with national increases in their numbers and range, nightjars have prospered here recently. It seems especially so with the clearance of conifers, which has left a mix of old Scots pine and open space perfectly suited to t
Country diary: Martha, a tribute to Buxtonâs miners, has been knocked off her plinth. Why? | Mark Cocker (opens the original)
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Buxton, Derbyshire: Acts of vandalism are not unusual. Have we normalised the destruction of âcommon groundâ? Our town is blessed to have the Buxton Civic Association, a charity devoted to the built and natural environment. It owns and manages, for wildlife and people, almost all our important woods, including Grin Low, which was a historically important area for limeâburning. To celebrate that industry, the civic society commissioned wooden sculptures â Charlie, then Martha â to highl
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