Wheatear9
I go birding and been all over but not away much these days except Europe and UK. Suffolk is always a focus but will be out and about more 2025. Love sea-watching, when conditions are right. I have local Mid Suffolk inland patch.
- 5 Stage of Reform UK Policy
- By the time Starmer is replaced this summer, we'll have had two wasted years, in which a country crying out for transformation instead got more of the same, or even worse where environmental legislation is concerned, and a high possibility of Farage running the next government. Thanks Keir.
- [Not loaded yet]
- Bewick's Swans at rspbminsmere.bsky.social this morning.
- More pics of the Kumlien’s/Thayer’s gull on Unst yesterday. Hopefully get some better ones when the snow blizzard’s stop. #birdingshetland
- Norway's farmland birds have undergone a sustained decline over the past two decades, according to long-term monitoring data that mirrors broader trends seen across Europe:
- Putting up owl boxes is brilliant – and we’re doing lots of that – but boxes alone aren’t enough. An owl box without good habitat is a bit like a house without a fridge… there’s nothing to eat! Rough grass, field margins and fewer poisons make all the difference 🦉🌾 @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social
- In this week's column I seek to explain Keir Starmer's flat refusal to change our electoral system, even though its gross unfairness could put Reform UK in power on <30% of the vote. The reasons, I believe, are deeply cynical and disturbing. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- [Not loaded yet]
- Yesterday evening, Peter Mandelson told me "I've never owned property in Brazil and never will". Then we discovered the Brazilian company he incorporated, "for the purpose of purchasing and selling real estate". Thread:
- A gloomy start to the day here in our Colchester garden. 1 Lesser Redpoll still around and a sign that spring is not too far away, here’s our male Blackcap singing which it’s been doing since Jan 26th. ( my earliest singing bird ) #essexbirding
- Anyone feeling a little mischievous? 🤫😆
- New Epstein emails show Peter Mandelson secretly advising JPMorgan’s CEO on how to fight Labour’s 2009 bankers’ bonus tax - even suggesting he “mildly threaten” the Chancellor. Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time. A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
- The RSPB has reported that seven satellite-tagged Hen Harriers are suspected or confirmed to have been illegally killed in England during 2025, all on or close to land managed for grouse shooting:
- A good local patch walk along the River Stour at Long Melford (Suffolk) and Liston (Essex) this morning produced a male PINTAIL (very good for here), a pair of WIGEON, male GADWALL, 210 LAPWINGS, a pair of STONECHATS, 3 CHIFFCHAFFS, MARSH TIT, 2 WOODCOCK and 44 LINNETS. #suffolkbirding #essexbirding
- "Britain is suffering, she is not well," said Suella Braverman, announcing her defection to Reform UK. Emily Maitlis says that after "slagging off Britain's broken-ness," the former Tory is in for one hell of a shock when she finds out who's responsible... www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/tory...
- Update after thousands call for by-elections for MPs who switch parties
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
- Good luck to all of the brave saboteurs and monitors going out to protect wildlife from the hunts today.
- In other news, I was inadvertently racist at school, I inadvertently lied about my house purchase to avoid tax and inadvertently led a party that was infiltrated by Russia.
- 457 UK armed forces personnel died in Afghanistan during the 20-year deployment. This is a fucking hideous thing to say. Even by his non-existent standards.
- If MPs switch parties, there should be a by-election
- Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Compare & contrast. This is Trump’s demand for Greenland. And this is Hitler’s for the Sudetenland. There is no difference. The language. The unstoppable need to dominate. The megalomania. It’s the same. And Keir Starmer’s response is appeasement. We are in that moment. 1/
- Sign here to voice your disgust at the annual Guga slaughter. Gannets are magnificent and this old ‘tradition’ needs to end. petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
- If Labour won’t nationalise water, their “big overhaul” is a con. Sewage in our rivers. Bills going up. Profits protected. Public services should be in public hands.
- [Not loaded yet]
- Reminder of the spectacularly poor judgement of these people
- A grotty day, but pleased to find half a rarity at Longhoughton Steel - the male American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrid, present last winter, has returned. It’s proof that at least some Transatlantic cooperation is possible… #NEbirding #birds
- One of the three Snow Buntings on the beach at Landguard Common this morning.
- Nadim Zahawi has said that one of the things that attracted him to Reform UK was a belief in freedom of speech… but he has shown very little enthusiasm for free expression when journalists scrutinised his own conduct. ➡️ Watch Page 94 on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=V59b...
- [Not loaded yet]
- Oh dear www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
- This Temminck's Stint should be enjoying tropical Africa at the moment. Instead it's at #RSPB Minsmere, which was coated in a silver layer of snow today! #birds #photography #snow
- Bittern, 80+ Snow Buntings and the Temminck's Stint were among the highlights on a recent trip to the Suffolk Coast with @david-walsh.bsky.social @noahbai-123.bsky.social @tsbirding.bsky.social @lucasnature.bsky.social and others!
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
- In JT’s right hand is his 800th Swift box he has made for Save Our Suffolk Swifts, a mightly effort. In his left hand is a Spotted Flycatcher box, his 1000th nest box for Suffolk. He’s also made Tawny/Little Owls, Nuthatch & Grey Wagtail too @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social
- [Not loaded yet]
- RIP Chris Rea
- I saw Chris Rea at the Ipswich Gaumont on 12th December 1986!
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
- [Not loaded yet]
