I’ve long been interested in natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights, bird migration and tidal bores, and wrote Spectacular Britain to provide non experts with tips on when and where to make a sighting and other practical information. Although set in the UK, many of the general principles apply elsewhere. The topics covered include:
- Space: meteor showers, eclipses and supermoons, Northern Lights
- Weather: hidden currents, mountain clouds, named winds
- Tides: tidal bores, tidal races, low tide walks
- Land: autumn colours, wildflower displays, rutting deer
- Water: salmon runs, sunken villages, waterfall wonders
- Coast: wheeling waterbirds, seabird cities, seal pups
Some only occur at certain times of the year, such as tidal bores and the annual deer rut, while others only happen when conditions are right, including sunken villages that reappear and named winds. Each is graded according to how easy it is to spot, including tips on achieving the best sighting, along with a calendar suggesting what to see in each month.
This page highlights some aspects of the book, and ends with a selection of posts on natural phenomena you may find interesting.
Available from all good bookshops and from …
Selected information from the publisher
Covering more than twenty natural spectacles around the UK, this very practical spotter’s guide showcases the phenomenal range of sights on offer, to those with the know how.
The guide shows you when and where to go, and how to maximise your chances of a sighting, as well as explaining why these amazing spectacles occur in the first place.
REVIEWS OF SPECTACULAR BRITAIN
HIGHLY COMMENDED. Outdoor Book category, Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG) awards 2024
“Lakes and mountains may be the first features people think of when naming Cumbria’s natural phenomena, but author and photographer Kevin Sene can offer many more.” CUMBRIA LIFE
“This fascinating and well-designed book focuses on twenty amazing British natural phenomena … Very Enjoyable.” SCOTTISH FIELD
“With this guide, a little luck and perhaps a pair of binoculars, you too can experience the magic of seeing something truly extraordinary. This is your starting point for some truly phenomenal adventures.” BLOOMSBURY
“There are truly amazing natural spectacles all around us: you just need to know where to look.
◆ Watch out for mysterious clouds shaped like flying saucers
◆ Spot fireballs in the sky on a crisp winter night
◆ Stroll past a carpet of bluebells in the spring
◆ Take a boat ride to a giant whirlpool
◆ Walk through the petrified remains of a prehistoric forest
◆ Be amazed by waterfalls that flow backwards, produce rainbows or freeze solid”
BLOOMSBURY
Selected posts on natural phenomena
The following posts from my free monthly newsletter give more insights on spotting natural phenomena and – in some cases – a behind-the-scenes look at what happens while making a sighting.
If you wish, you can subscribe to the newsletter at the following link:
The elusive Northern Lights
The wildflowers are here
A super harvest moon eclipse
The Quandrantids meteor shower
A grey seal rookery
A whale watching adventure
King tides and tidal bores
Bird song and plant recognition apps
You can find further examples related specifically to weather phenomena on the Weather page (link).
