A dilemma for today’s #BirdOfTheDay, a few to choose from, but let’s go with this #blackandwhite Osprey, seen - surprisingly (to me, at least) - at a small wetland near Las Vegas in #Nevada a couple of years back.

OK, I understand diplomacy has to be used and that public criticism can be less effective than discussion behind the scenes. But it’s clear, diplomatic norms are off the table with the Trump regime. There has to be a “step too far” at some point. I would suggest abduction & murder might be that step

So if I’ve got this right, the international community is just letting this happen?

A very long and important THREAD - The real reason the US is invading Venezuela goes back to a deal Henry Kissinger made with Saudi Arabia in 1974. And I'm going to explain why this is actually about the SURVIVAL of the US dollar itself. Not drugs. Not terrorism. Not "democracy." 1/

So the plan seems to be to replace chaotic Venezuelan corruption with more efficient US corruption.

If Xi Jinping invaded Taiwan right now, and toppled the president there, on what grounds would the United States object? Or have any credibility to say anything?

Starmer must condemn Trump’s illegal actions in Venezuela

Some more amazing photos on today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme, Caught in Motion. I’m astounded at the skill of some photographers to capture crisply & clearly birds in flight. Anyway, here’s my contribution. Not a great bird photo, but a fortuitous shot of a Mediterranean Gull flying across a full moon

Here we go. Another year, another #LadybirdYearList. First stop, Saint Mary’s churchyard in Morpeth, my “home patch”. Quite low totals, but 5 species: 1. 7-spot Ladybird (x6) 2. Harlequin Ladybird (x9) 3. Cream-spot Ladybird (x2) 4. Orange Ladybird (x62) 5. 10-spot Ladybird (x1) #NELadybirdSpot

A summary of my 2025 #LadybirdYearList: UK, 14 species: Orange 7-spot Cream-spot 10-spot Cream-streaked Harlequin 2-spot Eyed 18-spot Pine 14-spot Kidney-spot Rhyzobius litura *new 11-spot *new Spain, 3 species: Adonis 7-spot Bryony

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This “Biotech” has raised more than half a billion USD. Imagine what real conservation work that could fund.

Bit of a cheat on today’s #BirdoftheDay theme, reflections, as it’s hardly wild. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the composition on this photo of a peacock, taken a couple years ago in Cartagena, Spain.

This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.

Is “Biodiversity Net Gain” another greenwashing gimmick? If you’re not familiar with it, this article is well worth reading to understand the concept. It will likely be a central pillar in Labour‘s new push to ease regulations for development. @eastangliabylines.co.uk

But early for #wildflowerhour, but probably won’t remember to post from the pub later… Here’s my local patch of Winter Heliotrope blooming well on this #WinterSolstice. It is steadily growing year after year, now stretching down from the footpath to the river bank.

It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines. It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States. And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).

Maria Shriver, niece of JFK: He was a man interested in the arts, culture, education, language, history... It is beyond comprehension that the president has sought to rename this great memorial. C’mon my fellow Americans! Wake up! This is not dignified. This is not funny... It’s downright weird.

Another great theme for #BirdOfTheDay, gives me another opportunity to post a lovely Flamingo from #ElHondo in Spain. An evening visit this Easter gave me a chance for some nice silhouetted shots.

For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme, Groups, here’s just a few of around 200 Little Egret seen this summer on the beach by the Fish Market in Negombo, Sri Lanka. (Had saved this one for the Herons theme but forgot to post!!)

He was an old friend of Farage, Zia. Why would the Russians target a deputy when the big cheese was sat there, clearly open for business? Just changing the subject won't wash here, feller #Newsnight

😜 TRUE! THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS SKEET!

The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party. Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar

My favourite of the finches for today’s #BirdOfTheDay, a pair of Bullfinches. When I was a kid, it was bullfinches visiting our garden feeder that probably got me interested in birds, more than anything.

We saw TIME Magazine just named their "person" of the year...

Loving some of the Rail shots for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme, Coots and Moorhens. Here’s a phone/binoculars shot of a Red-knobbed Coot at #ElHondo in Spain. Reintroduced about a decade ago, there’s now a reasonable breeding wild population.

This should be a wake up call to Keir Starmer. Trump is not a reliable ally. Trump wants to weaken Europe and carve up Ukraine while cosying up to Putin. Britain and our allies in Europe must stand together against his threats and bullying.

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is “Movement”, and despite the temptation to post one of my many blurred photos of birds, here’s a Puffin walking on water, instead. Farne Islands, #Northumberland

Okay, bumper World Cup draw thread. Here we go, buckle in, this'll be a long one.

“In 2017 there was not a single asylum seeker who arrived on a boat. Today we have 46,000 a year and do you know why? It was because of the botched Brexit deal pushed through by Boris Johnson and championed by Nigel Farage. Nigel Farage should be here apologising” Daisy Cooper

"You're a government of cowards" Zack Polanski calls out the Labour government's inhumane approach to asylum- highlighting continued austerity as the root cause of structural issues in our society join.greenparty.org.uk

Knocked this from vegetation in my garden at lunchtime today, South East #Northumberland. Epermenia chaerophyllella, perhaps? #TeamMoth

Nice variety of ladybirds at St Mary’s church in Morpeth, #Northumberland this afternoon. Not huge numbers, but 6 species and my first Eyed Ladybird here for a couple of years. All in all, 1x 2-spot, 6x 7-spot, 2x Cream Spot, 5x Harlequin, 39x Orange, 1x Eyed. #NELadybirdSpot

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme, Reflections, a Flamingo at #ElHondo Nature Reserve, Alicante 🇪🇸. When my in-laws retired and bought a house on the Costa Blanca, I never imagined it would be just up the road from one of Southern Europe’s major wetlands where huge flocks of flamingos gather to breed.

Excited by today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme. I’ve been waiting for a chance to post this magnificent photo of a Gannet passing Snab Point in Cresswell, #Northumberland this Spring!!

It’s hard to imagine the vast fortune that is Elon’s net worth currently estimated at $476.4billion or £360billion. If it helps, someone on an average salary who wanted to save up this much would have to had started saving in the Miocene epoch 12 million years ago. (assuming they saved every penny)

Why do so many feel like they've fallen behind? It's not because of immigrants, trans people, DEI, the “deep state,” or any other bogeyman trotted out by the GOP. It's because big corporations and billionaires have rigged markets and siphoned off most of the economy's gains.

‘The clip, which appeared on live television, shows the President of the United States snapping at a female reporter “Quiet, Piggy!”’ From the new Private Eye, out now.

RW bigot mission accomplished 😔

Fascinating article. As an avid user of @inaturalist.bsky.social, I record a lot of “Flora urbanum” on my travels, so it’s interesting to see how widespread some of those ever-present weeds are.

“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way” Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school @itvnewspolitics.bsky.social

Well, this is pretty terrifying. The Daily Mail is buying the Telegraph. One massive consolidated right-wing media empire controlled by off-shore interests at a critical moment in global politics. What could go wrong? www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...

Who would’ve thought a pompous, lazy buffoon would be the worst possible leader a country could have in a crisis? 🤷‍♂️

The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford

“We welcome migrants, we don’t scapegoat them". How Keir Starmer promised Labour MPs and members he would lead his party on immigration

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp chose to side with Trump over the BBC today. True patriots should be united in standing up for Britain against Trump's bullying.

I hate to say it, and don’t like to appear a Luddite, but it’s seemed obvious from the start that AI is - in the very vast majority of cases - a prime example of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.

Seem to be getting a few new followers with no bio, no posts, no replies but thousands of Followers… 🤷‍♂️ Sorry, if it’s you, I won’t follow back until you show yourself.

“You have to integrate and contribute to British society and our economy” [2years later] “Bye then, hope your home’s still standing”

Thinking about my own father, who arrived in 1946 with the Free Polish Army - when would Labour have sent him back to communist Poland? How could he have done anything to build a life and have children in the UK if he had had to beg to stay every two years? Disgusting. www.bbc.com/news/article...