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Ian Denton

@iand777.bsky.social

2.7K followers 270 following 3.3K posts

I have Grandkids - so no longer use Airport Departure Lounges. Natural History has been the unbroken story of my life. Watching wildlife, mostly under Dorset skies. Wrens; Greenfinches; Little Owls; Raptors & Adders are a preoccupation.

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · May 30

"Sometimes a wild god comes to the table.
He is awkward and does not know the ways
Of porcelain, of fork and mustard and silver"
Tom Hirons

soundcloud.com/tomhirons/so...

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Reposted by Ian Denton

Dave Goulson @davegoulson.bsky.social · 7h

Let's hear it for ivy! The last flower of the year is one of the best for pollinators, vital for a last feed for butterflies such as the red admiral. Learn a little more...
youtu.be/-W6aa6nUVPA

Best Plants for Bees: Ivy!

YouTube video by Dave Goulson

youtu.be

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 8h

Thanks - could I ask, did you vote for Brexit? - please feel free to tell me to mind my own business....

Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 9h

Swan Song - last flight of the day, in the fading light.
#nature #EastCoastKin 🦉

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Reposted by Ian Denton

Ian Parsons @ianparsons.bsky.social · 18h

A very interesting read for all with an interest in #rewilding
Read it in conjunction with Steve's chapter in Great Misconceptions - Rewilding Myths and Misconceptions: "Too small and crowded an island?"

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 12h

It's a constant issue. It's very accurate at catching prey, in the points of the tweezer beak but it's then how to manoeuvre the catch into a position where it can be swallowed.
With larger prey it will bash it about a bit to stun it & then move to a place where it can be dropped & repositioned.

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 12h

This was at Wimborne St Giles, Dorset, on the floodplain of the River Allen, Simon.
The Watercress beds in that area attract all the usual shallow water stalking suspects & Great Egrets are very common there.
As for Cattle Egrets, I now see them fairly regularly now from the kitchen window!

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 13h

The Wren & the Fly
The wren spots an insect flying past & expertly judges the height & distance of the prey. It's safely in the beak - but there's many a slip twixt beak & lip.
As the bird manipulates the insect into a swallowing position, the fly breaks free & lives to tell the tale.
#wrens 🌿🦉

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Reposted by Ian Denton

Richard Smyth @rsmythfreelance.bsky.social · 15h

Today I am mostly thinking about the popular inter-war literary genre 'animal stories written by fascists'. Join me.

Title page of a collection of animal stories by Henry Williamson: TARKA THE OTTER, SALAR THE SALMON, THE EPIC OF BROCK THE BADGER, CHAKCHEK THE PEREGRINE.

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Reposted by Ian Denton

Mark Avery @markavery.bsky.social · 13h

Hard-hitting quote from RSPB nails it! markavery.info/2025/10/14/r...

Planning Bill amendments #poorprocess #legislativechaos #noclarity #cynical #planningshambles

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 14h

I'm rather average & middle-of-the-road and yet very successful indeed, thinks this Buteo buteo.
#raptors 🦉

Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 15h

Brexit
Nearly 9.5 years later & I still can't get this image out of my mind.
These 3 Sunderland folks were used ad nauseum by the BBC to represent the jubilation of the referendum result on 24 June, 2016.
What do they think now? How has life turned out for them?
Are they canvassing for Farage???

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 16h

Rob's theme of today is 'Long Necks' in #BirdOfTheDay
A Great Egret having a careful look-see.
#longnecks 🦉

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 16h

Ongoing problems with grouse moor licensing, trap licensing & hunt licensing is 'enabling' rather than deterring wildlife crime in Scotland raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/14/o...

Ongoing problems with grouse moor licensing, trap licensing & hunt licensing is ‘enabling’ rather than deterring wildlife crime in Scotland

The Herald has given more front page coverage in its series about Scottish land reform, this time focusing on recent legislation that was supposed to protect wildlife but instead is effectively &#8…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 17h

Livestock topiary in Dorset parkland.
Decades of meticulous teamwork has shaped the look of the landscape.
#tres #dorset #landscape

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 17h

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Dorset dairy farm fined after cattle slurry pollutes river

David Womack, from the EA, says farmers should report slurry

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Ian Denton

Mr and Mrs Trellis @thenorfolkcoast.bsky.social · 1d

The Wildlife Trusts have published a new assessment of the effects of climate change on UK nature reserves....

www.birdguides.com/news/new-rep...

New report highlights effect of climate change on UK nature reserves

The Wildlife Trusts have published a new assessment of the effects of climate change on UK natue reserves. The report, Resilient Nature, shows how much-loved species and habitats are faring across 2,6...

www.birdguides.com

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Reposted by Ian Denton

Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 17h

Another busy day of #Vizmig in Longdendale on my walk to the station via nursery; lots of thrushes & finches moving including 60 Redwings and 3 Crossbills, 2 grounded Chiffchaffs @ Lambgates, expected a YBW at any minute. @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social also noticed a reminder that I'm speaking tonight

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Reposted by Ian Denton

Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 18h

Other work by the Ladybird artists
Autumn Scene
(Magazine cover, 1953)
Artist: Ronald Lampitt

This was the cover illustration for the weekly magazine John Bull. It looks down on a wooded incline where two working horses help clear a glade after felling.

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Reposted by Ian Denton

SAOCousins @saocousins.bsky.social · 2d

64 Grey herons. Doing... not a lot
#sandemar nature reserve
@everyheron.bsky.social
#heron

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 1d

I'm sure he noticed the thrushes in his school garden...

bsky.app/profile/iand...

Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · Sep 13

I stayed at the Old Schoolhouse in Lower Bockhampton a few yrs ago. Hardy attended as a boy.
Right by the door, there was a Song Thrush nest with these 3 fledglings staring into the kitchen, when you opened the door.
I've often wondered whether the genetic line of these birds inspired the great TH.

Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 1d

Nice, but I don't think the muzac works at all....

Reposted by Ian Denton

Geoff & Steph @geoffsteph.bsky.social · 1d

Cracking shots, Phil 👏
🪶 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#DorsetBirds

Phil [email protected] @philcheeseman.bsky.social · 1d

Red-backed Shrike at Portland today thanks to the finder and John Wall for putting out the news

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 1d

Hardy's tales & entrails - you can imagine the, "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" team having some fun with that story...

Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 1d

Grouse moors: Scotland's land crisis in plain sight (by Max Wiszniewski, featured in The Herald) raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/13/g...

Grouse moors: Scotland’s land crisis in plain sight (by Max Wiszniewski, featured in The Herald)

The Herald continues its feature on land reform today, with an article written by Max Wiszniewski, Campaign Manager for REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform: Scotland’s grouse moors are und…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

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Ian Denton @iand777.bsky.social · 1d

Male Blackcap - Oct 13th.
I have seen 3 separate males here today, which means there's probably more about, as they're not exactly showy.
I like how this bird watched the fly.
Just great that they're drawn to stay around the blackthorn thicket, the grapevine & the #weedypond
#ukbirds #rewild 🦉

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