"21 kicked out. 28 defected. 39 resigned. 5 suspended. 1 disqualified. 5 lost seats. That’s ~ 99 Reform UK councillors and representatives who have left the party. 22 of them since the local elections just two weeks ago. The party claims “some of the strongest vetting in the country”' via Instagram

A medium sized Buddleia in our village this morning hosted many Large and Small Whites, a couple of Commas, 3 Red Admirals,, several Silver Ys & single Peacock, Meadow Brown and Painted Lady. This after a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden.

Friends! I will be talking about my book at the Global Birdfair at 11am on 12 July. It would be great to see you there.

Admittedly our lawn has had some help, with orchids rescued from the crumbling cliff, but the rest is nature’s work. Don’t mow.

Bluesky friends! I’m talking about and reading from my book at the Filey Literature Festival this coming Sunday, 11 May, at 3pm at the Evron Centre. It would be lovely to see you there!

One teaspoon of the neonicotinoids pesticide could kill 1.25 billion bees. And yet the Government could be about to let it back on English fields. Sign the petition: tell Ministers to keep this ban on bee-killing pesticides in place.

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There are some species which make an otherwise largely birdless walk along a cold cliff entirely worthwhile. This is one of them.

Excellent winter scene on the cliff this afternoon. No Little Auks, but a Long-tailed Duck & a couple of Woodcock.

Bitterly cold wind on the clifftop this morning but a dozen Snow Buntings brightened the day.

The fields hold hundreds of Pink-footed Geese and a small flock of Brents went south. Warblers have been thinner on the ground, but there are a few Chiffchaffs around, and at least one YBW. Yup: Autumn.

The village has been full of thrushes all day: Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Redwings and a solitary Mistle Thrush. Robins are falling out all over the place and Starling flocks have built throughout the day.

Anywhere else and today would go down simply as a rather miserable, overcast sort of day… But here on the east coast, with a touch of easterly in the winds, it’s quite exciting.

‘Mornin’, all.