I don't think science can explain consciousness but it's crucial for helping us to understand it.

Feliz lunes a tod@s.

Our friend the Apennine Yellow-bellied Toad lives in southern Italy! They only lay a few eggs at a time but are believed to breed several times a year! They also have heart-shaped pupils! A great toad for Valentine's Day! (photo by Giacomo Gola)

Grateful thanks to Mark for allowing me a spot on his excellent blog.

I’ve seen so much during this war that I’m rarely moved to tears anymore, but this video was different. Seeing support from people all around the world is incredibly touching; it actually made me well up 🥹

You can shop his inventory on ABE books also. Here's the link. I know Greg would appreciate any business he can get as ICE has really tamped down on people shopping. www.abebooks.com/DreamHaven-B...

The Madrid Review: where new voices meet lit legends. Subscribe, submit your work, explore back issues, browse our author promo packages and join a dynamic community of writers shaping the next wave of literature. Check it all out by clicking the link. #litmag #books #writer themadridreview.com

Don't forget that if you need books, audiobooks or magazines to read while the library is closed, (or if you're stuck home in the snow) you can access FREE eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines using your Orkney Library card and the FREE BorrowBox App. orkney.borrowbox.com

Very good news for #rewilding🪶 The bearded #vulture is nesting again in the Pyrenees and elsewhere. Thanks to #reintroduction (18 this year) and the work carried out with mountain communities, this “bone-breaker” is clearly making a comeback. 📷 © G&T Nicaise

Scenes from our winter stream today, where the mountain cold has taken hold of the flow. Wishing everyone a very happy new year, full of love, joy, kinship and solidarity!

Winter light in Glen Coe #Scotland #GlenCoe #Lochaber www.damianshields.com

Winterreisen - three new stories about winter journeys, inspired by #Schubert, by @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social @jolloyds.bsky.social and Mark Haddon. Read by Siân Thomas, Morfydd Clark & Lydia Wilson. Produced by Fay Lomas and me. 21.45 22-24 Dec @BBCRadio3 @BBCSounds www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

I’m posting extracts and pictures from the French translation of my #rewilding book over the next few days…

My book is selling out in bookshops! This happened with my last book just before Christmas too. If you want a copy in time, do try other shops if you're local hasn't got it. There are definitely copies still available if it's sold out near you: geni.us/ThePlaceImin 📚🎁🙌

That deep feeling of walker's relief, the roaring of the bothy fire, the drying of the boots, the warming of the hands, the prospects of the single malt, the dreams of one golden eagle.

Leaving Loch Morar behind, heading for the bothy, fire, some grub and hot tea, at Glen Pean.

The sun went down with a whimper in lines of showers and riddles of light. View from the top of the coast path, South Erradale, over the sea to north Trotternish, Isle of Skye.

very cool! THE BEST! the absolute best,

North West Highlands heading towards Loch Morar and Oban Bothy.

Today, December 12 is International Iberian Lynx Day. A good day to celebrate the recovery of the species. In 'Critical danger of Extinction' 25 years ago, there are now over 2400 Iberian #Lynx. #rewilding

I know I said I wouldn't repost this yet AGAIN but I just have to brag on this for a minute. Took half the loaf of banana bread to a neighbor and last minute also took one of these, and she was SO EXCITED to know about the book and says she is going to order a copy! Whoa.

Looking forward tomorrow to doing a presentation of my book "Travels through the Spanish Civil War" at the English bookshop Backstory (C/ Mallorca, Barcelona). Starts at 6pm. Presented by fellow iberianphile @lwalkernolan.bsky.social Many thanks! www.backstorybookshop.com/event-detail...

Not exactly Taylor Swift levels, but I'm glad a song about fighting fascism is getting an audience. Streaming everywhere now, have a listen to Alma de la Brigada by Emma Gee Flowers

MONDAY BLUES - STELLAR'S JAY Most blue coloration in animals results from structural color, a phenomenon where nanoscale structures (little sponge-like holes & keratin walls inside the feather that are only 200–300 billionths of a meter in size) interact with light. 🦋LJC #wildlife #photography

Thank you to the wonderful team at @ettereview.bsky.social for this nomination!

They're great poems! We're so lucky!

Good news- a 4th print of'Map', Worple Press,the anthology celebrating William Smith, pioneering geologist. Editor @michaelmckimm.bsky.social showed poets Smith's map at the Geological Society. Here's the start of my poem 'Strata', reprinted in my own book 'Skies',still with Smith's mysterious wife!

The steep climb from Glencoul bothy at lochside then round the headland and down to Glendhu bothy. Northern Highlands.

One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. This Spanish Moon Moth (Graellsia isabellae) caught in the lamplight outside a hostel where we were staying in a dark pine forest in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees. Moons before, as a caterpillar it would have somehow found substance in miserly pine needles

Loch Morar from Oban bothy. 1000 feet deep out in the middle.

Another pencil crayon study. This was quite tricky and it’s not really finished, but I’m really enjoying using real pencils.

Leaving Glenpean bothy heading for Oban bothy by Loch Morar.

Four October moth highlights: The marvellous MERVEILLE DU JOUR, the SATELLITE, a YELLOW-LINE QUAKER & a FEATHERED THORN #teammoth

Ok, I put this on streaming sites. Some new songs, as well as being a compendium. All is say is, if you like it, please consider buying- there's zero money for people like me in streaming. Thanks, and enjoy! Songs of Love & Defiance is out now—give it a listen! 🎧 artists.landr.com/057829702028

Slug 4 Some leaves shrivel cooked fishskins summer needle bone state of mush under curdled cloud veil the dormant fires surrounding junkyard farm a concentration of hedgerow doubt and bindweed's worked-out wires hanging on a chinese character fence Limax stretches for home

Slug 3 This meditative journey I compose is a life part left behind on a hornbeam I sail along a glutinous vessel carrying vulnerable time into oblivion smell of sunrise some nights the fungal rot the ubiquitous turd refuge enough I will secrete into kitchens leave my shine

It’s that time again. More info on the website. Entry is open.

Slug 2 Single-minded mucus is a tissue jewel a road of ooze currently climbing like a little melting sherpa towards crescent moon it’s their love-making held together by fantastic glue their erectile antennae by touch enthral beyond latin their eggs in soft loam perfect accidents of bubble

Slug 1 Breathing is how far my body stains silver glistening patterns thick stone slabs constellate audacious motion following light rain the relief like waking up the nightmare someone else’s slime the trails leaving proof of a nomad’s life finally taken by licks of wind and spirit of sun

Look! 👀

Proofs are in! A huge thank you to @sceptrebooks.bsky.social for sending these my way. LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK will be out in April, and these proofs will be going out into the world imminently. Terrifying! Exciting! Mostly terrifying!

We can't wait to read your work! variantlit.com/submit/

I love showing you these snippets of life in Kyiv. May they remind you that life goes on here. Pumpkin season.

My poem Vis Aeternitatis👇published in @takahemagazine.bsky.social is getting featured on BBC Upload! Thu 16 & Sat 18 October 6-8pm Here's a link to Upload's SE site www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p... I'll publish the programme link after the broadcast #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky #HildegardofBingen

Delighted to share the North American cover for LIFELINES. With huge thanks to Nicole Caputo for the beautiful design and for placing Edward Lear's 1837 lithograph of a Dalmatian pelican at its heart. Published by Godine on April 14th, it's available to pre-order now! bookshop.org/p/books/life...

Excited to see this vision spread!