As well as being the local Dipper hotspot, the banks of the Tees at Broken Scar (Darlington) support an interesting bulb flora. This includes Sand Leek, Field Garlic and, notably, numerous patches of Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem which are most obvious now, in early spring.
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Saltholme AM: 51 Avocet, Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Ruff, Great Egret, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Tree Sparrow, Water Pipit.
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Christians have spent 2,000 years warning us about the Antichrist, then when he finally appears...
Thought this was a new Addams Family movie at first. They're all such weird looking f*ckers.
More Locke Park (Redcar) herons. Also Gadwall, Grey Wagtail & Blackcap today.
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They're also every bit as guilty as Iran of feeding conflict and instability. UAE has poured fuel on the fire in Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Libya. It's ironic that Reform UK hates refugees but UAE-sponsored conflicts drive so many people to flee their homelands.
The British far-right is essentially a foreign influence operation. If they're not backing Trump against UK & Europe or promoting Kremlin talking points they're love-bombing UAE, one of world's most repressive regimes - zero democracy, near bottom of press freedom index, stoking conflict far & wide.
New paper! Bird nests (Wood Warblers) are hubs of invertebrate biodiversity on forest floor, hosting more species/individuals than leaf litter. Probably due to heat & food detritus. Losing Wood Warblers = ecological networks lost. #ornithology
resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Merlin on its regular perch on top of access chamber in middle of Marske coastal field, 14.45
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Summer plumage Red-necked Grebe close in off Bomb Hole, South Gare 13.30 @teesbirds.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
We are laying out The Fenland Flora by Owen Mountford & Jon Graham - this landmark 1600-page 2-volume set is due for publication this Autumn. Pre-publication offer will start late Spring @bsbibotany.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social
Watch this space for updates on progress
Trump hasn't noticed that the largest Kurdish group operating in Iran, PJAK, is listed as a terrorist organisation by the US. Even if the Kurds did precipitate the fall of the Iranian regime, Trump would f*ck them over as surely as he did twice in Syria.
Bran Sands lunchtime: Great Northern Diver in middle of estuary, 2 Red-throated further out, 4 Merganser, a few Eider & Guillemots but couldn't see any grebes. 19 Shags appeared to be fishing together. 40+ Bar-tailed Godwits flew into high-tide roost.
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It would be even better if they used them to kick Trump's new bff Jihadi Jolani back out of NE Syria and retook Afrin from his pal Erdogan's gangsters.
Slender Pond Snail (Omphiscola glabra), highly characteristic of seasonal pool complexes on remnants of common land in Vale of York/Humberhead Levels. Globally Near Threatened. Typically occurs with the more widespread White-lipped Ramshorn (Anisus leucostoma) & Moss Bladder-snail (Aplexa hypnorum).
In a wet summer you might get scattered puddles persisting, in a dry year there might be no surface water by June.
Saltburn Valley Gardens lunchtime: Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, singing Marsh Tit.
Bydales, Marske: Red-throated Diver (5), Razorbill, Guillemot, Eider.
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Drake Velvet Scoter still off Park Hotel, Redcar 11.55, just off rocks. V smart bird of a species in short supply so far this year. Thanks to @macrodactyla.bsky.social for posting.
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How credible is CPFIK, the new coalition of Kurdish left groups in Rojhelat?
Some of the most biodiverse parts of the Vale of York heaths are where clay lies close to the surface, creating fen-like conditions. Before enclosure, these transitional habitats would have been much more extensive; they should not be regarded as peripheral to the ecology of heathland.
Seasonal pools teem with life at this time of year as their invertebrate inhabitants must reproduce before the habitat dries out in summer. This remnant common in Vale of York supports a nationally important assemblage incl Red List long-toed water beetle Dryops griseus at its only northern locale.
Also, any of Nigel's former wives and his current mistress (the one who bought him the house in Clacton, allegedly). He does like the forin ladies.
In England, Dartford Warblers are reliant on stands of gorse to provide overwinter shelter. In southern Europe, they use a wider range of low scrub habitats, even foraging in shrubby saltmarsh vegetation in winter.
Cirl Bunting and Dartford Warbler from Devon this week
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Rattling Cirl Buntings and scratchy Dartford Warblers have been this morning's soundtrack as birds celebrate the spring sunshine in S Devon. 4 singing male Cirls a stone's throw from Dawlish town.
This thick, brambly hedge on S Devon coast produced 2 Firecrests and 3 Cirl Buntings with Navelwort, Stinking Iris and Hartstongue growing on the bank.
It is. I have to drive down to Devon a couple of times a year, bloody awful journey but I make a point of stopping off at Ham Wall on the way.
Grand morning at RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset with Bittern, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Spotted Redshank, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
Yes probably a Dytiscus species at that size, most likely marginalis
Just wait till Sardinian Warblers get here.
