It's launch day! 🎉🌿 Absolutely chuffed to share that Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside is now available on Amazon. If you're interested, you can grab a copy here 👉 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1036970124 Mega thanks to @nenature.bsky.social and @bsbibotany.bsky.social for making it happen.

In today's @theguardian.com country diary, Susie White checks out Newcastle's urban plants with James Common, whose new book - Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside - is out today! commonbynature.com/urban-flora-... @bsbibotany.bsky.social #countrydiary #naturewriting

Lovely book ... ...

I've just asked my MP to attend The Children's Society's Parliamentary event and show their support for missing children. Can you write to your MP too? act.childrenssociety.org.uk/page/186975/...

It’s official! The 'Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside' will be published on Monday 9 March 🌿 📖 I’m hugely proud of this, and ever so grateful to @nenature.bsky.social and @bsbibotany.bsky.social for their support in making it happen. #botany #urbanflora

Great that Newcastle City Council and Tyne Bridge engineers are listening to various ecologists and the @tkp-kittiwake.bsky.social in planning the four-year Tyne Bridge Major Maintenance Works. During this work I have been performing voluntary weekly surveys and my results and involvement is helping

PFAS are linked to cancer and contaminate our water and food - yet chemical giants are lobbying to weaken protections to our health. Europe can still act. I just signed. Will you? action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-01...

Please sign the petition ... ... 38d.gs/hwer

Perhaps you can sign the petition please? c.org/VTMCxDst2S

Take a sneak peak at your members' magazine! This winter, enjoy discovering wintering birds, stories on local projects, art inspired by nature and much more!🦆 There is something for everyone to enjoy this season.❄️

A big thank you to volunteers who came to NHSN's annual volunteer Christmas party!🎄 We would like to say a huge thank you to every volunteer who has given their time across NHSN. There wouldn't be as many people inspired, wildlife recorded, stories shared or magazines delivered without you!🌿

I've just called on the UK Government to stop Berwick Bank! The world's deadliest wind farm for birds shouldn't be funded by public money. action.rspb.org.uk/page/183454/... Please click on this to stop destruction of seabirds. Thanks.

I like the cover very much! Should be an interesting read. One to look out for.

Top camper van makers: Clean up your tropical wood supply chain -- no more deforestation on wheels! action.eko.org/a/no-more-de...

Hospice care needs more government support. My mother spent her final two weeks at St Oswald's Hospice, Gosforth with wonderful care. She had cancer. I became one of their volunteer drivers. Consider how a hospice may help you. Please sign & share petition. Thank you. www.change.org/p/lobby-the-...

Please sign to Save the Sanctuary - we only have a couple more days only.one/act/save-the...

Perhaps you can sign please? Thank you ... ... Saving the World's Natural Heritage one small step at a time. act.our-antarctica.com/act/antarcti...

Is attracting wild birds with sound ethical? If you're a birdwatcher of any sort, I'd love to hear your views by 10 Oct in response to this v short survey for a feature... &, as always, very grateful for reposts. forms.gle/3jZyeJw8qngC... #birds #pishing #birdsounds #birdwatching #birding

We need as many people as possible to agree with putting in place more ways to increase funding rather than making cuts and essentially punishing those who are already suffering. Tax the Rich – Wealth Tax Now www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved...

Great to have the support of Newcastle City Council, @gatesheadcouncil.bsky.social, Esh Construction, etc in progression of Works on the Tyne Bridge which connects Newcastle and Gateshead above the River Tyne. All parties are working to support the Tyne Bridge nesting kittiwakes as much as possible.

Friday, 29 August 2025 The river and Tyne quayside properties & structures between Newcastle and Gateshead (e.g. Tyne Bridge, photo) were checked for kittiwakes as their nesting season concludes. There were 6-7 juvenile kittiwakes and one adult remaining. Almost quiet.

Ocado handed out 221 million plastic bags last year! 😱 Sign the petition and tell them to ditch single-use bags for good. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/oc...

Plastic is flooding our oceans, bodies, and babies – and recent treaty talks failed to stop it. While leaders plan their next move, we have a critical window to push for an end to the Plastic Era. Add your voice now! Let's save the oceans and our environment! action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-08...

Have been invited to attend an event at Hauxley Nature Reserve, Northumberland, and give a presentation – Please share the poster. Presentation will major on beached bird projects, and may include a few other things! Free Event, 22 Aug, 1-3 p.m. Please come if you can.

It was lovely to meet Amanda and tour the Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides in search of Geordie Kittiwakes.

Tue, 5 Aug 2025 Meeting between Tyne Bridge engineers and various ecologists & academics - @dant-ne.bsky.social presented his latest monthly report on bridge and its kittiwakes. Breeding season still underway and several 100's of nestlings are in process of fledging from our special Tyneside bridge.

Bass Rock, East Lothian. What a great place! I have been there a few times. Once, I was on the Rock all day, alone - taking cine film and still photographs. So marvellous to be surrounded by the gannets, hear their calling and watching their flight. Seabird odour and freedom. Sea voyage. Mist below.

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 Great to be out on the wild Northumberland coast! My photograph (taken today) shows two successful kittiwake nests, side-by-side, each with two nicely developing nestlings. It is always very special to observe and record our wonderful seabirds.

Amazon & Etsy: Stop selling shark products! Please sign the petition below. Thanks. action.eko.org/a/amazon-and...

Tell Brazil's President Lula: Stop the bill that would be the end of the Amazon! action.eko.org/a/lula-rejec...

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 Surveys at Akzo Nobel, R Tyne. Good results with breeding productivity of 0.97 chicks per Apparently Occupied Nest compared to 1.00 in 2024. Nice indicator for 2025 season. Surveys continue over coming days. (Photo: Akzo, 9 June 2025) Note, photo and surveys by @dant-ne.bsky.social

'Seagull' is a generic term. More appropriately they are gulls, of which there are many species in the world. Some gull species quite often prefer to live inland - at times attracted by human litter and mess. I like gulls very much!

Thurs, 19 June 2025 A super p.m. visit to Northumberland shore for nesting fulmar survey in good weather. There was a light easterly breeze to cool the air. Noted first-summer Mediterranean gull, several sandwich terns, gannet and the usual large gulls. Café after for tea and cheese scone recovery.

Make private jets and luxury flights pay for climate justice action.eko.org/a/make-priva...

Big polluters caused the climate crisis - why should we pay for the impacts while they continue to profit? Join me and add your name to this @friends-earth.bsky.social petition, demand big polluters pay their fair share for a greener future🌍👇 foe.uk/lipp6

Thurs, 12 June 2025. While checking subset of >300 Tyne Kittiwake nests, one was noted with small nestling. It has again been a privilege to assess full Tyne Kittiwake population to see how it is progressing. Looking forward to further observations well into July. (Photo: Guildhall, 18 May 2025).

While checking part of the Tyne Bridge yesterday (10 June) I recorded another 5 small nestlings – one in each of 5 nests. Lovely to see! It was a busy session. Also spoke with a gentleman from Australia who was keen on birds; and a group of 3 local men. I showed them Kittiwakes through telescope.

Temporary mitigation ledges have been placed by the Tyne Bridge engineers due to the scaffolding at Newcastle side of bridge and under road deck this year. Displaced kittiwakes have shown an interest and some nest-building there is underway. (Photo: some of the 2025 mitigation ledges, 22 May 2025).

On Thursday, 22 May 2025, … 2,222 kittiwakes were recorded in the close proximity of Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides. Of these gulls, 257 were noted at the @balticgateshead.bsky.social. (Photograph: Kittiwake at nest, Baltic Art Centre, 24 May 2025 by D M Turner).

Saturday, 7 June 2025. There was distinct improvement in numbers of kittiwake Apparently Occupied Nests in past 2 weeks at @balticgateshead.bsky.social on the River Tyne. Today saw the first 2 small live chicks here. So lovely to see! In different nests and being fed by parent birds. @kittiwakegirl

Fri, 30 May 2025. We held our second workshop @balticgateshead.bsky.social for ‘Navigating Urban Ecologies’ project led by @northumbriauni.bsky.social . Research into the nesting Kittiwakes of the River Tyne and Newcastle-Gateshead Urban Zone. Much imaginative work resulted. I gave a Kittiwake talk.

Do you drink tea? Perhaps you can help and sign the petition please? Thanks. I do like a cup of tea. Several a day, in fact! action.fairtrade.org.uk/page/171071/...

Perhaps you may be interested ... ... @northwildlife.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social @nenature.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @kittiwakegirl.bsky.social @tynekittiwakes.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social Please like and share. Thank you. Kittiwakes are very special!!

I am involved in a research project with Northumbria University … ‘Navigating Urban Ecologies’. If you would like to register for free to attend Workshop 2: ‘Designing for Coexistence’ (30 May, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art) – please follow this link … … www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workshop-d...

Sat, 15 March 2025. I surveyed the kittiwakes of the Tyne quaysides at Newcastle and Gateshead, down as far as Baltic Art Centre. In total my notebook showed a little over 400 of these lovely gulls. So good to see (and hear) them with increasing numbers after journeying at sea. (Photo: Tyne Bridge).

Sun, 16 Mar 2025. Attended at Linskill Centre, N Shields, ‘No Time for Waste’ event by 'Buy the Kilo'. My photo is at table I shared with four PhD research students from Dove Marine Laboratory. Attended on behalf of our Northeast England Beached Bird Surveys group; also gave a talk in Priory Room.