Martin Elcoate
@melcoate.bsky.social
Volunteer for The Green Runners; low carbon running & birding in Devon, mostly in squares.
Running in Squares - my blog for the OS
https://linktr.ee/MartinElcoate?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=0a99957a-af9c-4481-81d1-6ba562fb06ff
Running in Squares - my blog for the OS
https://linktr.ee/MartinElcoate?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=0a99957a-af9c-4481-81d1-6ba562fb06ff
Pinned
Martin Elcoate
@melcoate.bsky.social
· Nov 9
Running in Squares (OS Map Squares!)
Martin set himself a challenge to run through the 400 1 km squares in a 1:25.000 OS map centered on his home in Topsham, Devon...
getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Running in squares - I mostly keep my exploration local, whether running, walking or birding (many activities involve all three). Low carbon adventures from the front door.
#Running #Birding #LowCarbonAdventures #Local #ASingleMap #OrdnanceSurvey
getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/runni...
#Running #Birding #LowCarbonAdventures #Local #ASingleMap #OrdnanceSurvey
getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guides/runni...
Blue sky running - out for a 10k run from home before breakfast.
November 30, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Blue sky running - out for a 10k run from home before breakfast.
Dawlish Warren birding
Scanned bay from Langstone Rock: 7 Great Northern Divers; 5 Velvet Scoters; c.30 Common Scoter; 11 Great-crested Grebes.
Watched passerines feeding in the sun: est. 14 Chiffchaffs and the distinctive call of a Yellow-browed Warbler (but couldn’t see it).
#DevonBirding
Scanned bay from Langstone Rock: 7 Great Northern Divers; 5 Velvet Scoters; c.30 Common Scoter; 11 Great-crested Grebes.
Watched passerines feeding in the sun: est. 14 Chiffchaffs and the distinctive call of a Yellow-browed Warbler (but couldn’t see it).
#DevonBirding
November 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Dawlish Warren birding
Scanned bay from Langstone Rock: 7 Great Northern Divers; 5 Velvet Scoters; c.30 Common Scoter; 11 Great-crested Grebes.
Watched passerines feeding in the sun: est. 14 Chiffchaffs and the distinctive call of a Yellow-browed Warbler (but couldn’t see it).
#DevonBirding
Scanned bay from Langstone Rock: 7 Great Northern Divers; 5 Velvet Scoters; c.30 Common Scoter; 11 Great-crested Grebes.
Watched passerines feeding in the sun: est. 14 Chiffchaffs and the distinctive call of a Yellow-browed Warbler (but couldn’t see it).
#DevonBirding
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
2/2 Green Friday
Rather than get sucked into Black Friday, let’s activate our #HowWeKitUp pillar by prioritising thoughtful purchases, repair, and sharing.
Hit pause.
Be mindful.
Run green.
#GreenFriday
Rather than get sucked into Black Friday, let’s activate our #HowWeKitUp pillar by prioritising thoughtful purchases, repair, and sharing.
Hit pause.
Be mindful.
Run green.
#GreenFriday
November 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
2/2 Green Friday
Rather than get sucked into Black Friday, let’s activate our #HowWeKitUp pillar by prioritising thoughtful purchases, repair, and sharing.
Hit pause.
Be mindful.
Run green.
#GreenFriday
Rather than get sucked into Black Friday, let’s activate our #HowWeKitUp pillar by prioritising thoughtful purchases, repair, and sharing.
Hit pause.
Be mindful.
Run green.
#GreenFriday
Up & down the canal this morning being serenaded by singing Song Thrushes.
Today’s 12km needed to be a slow run so I deliberately used nasal breathing to keep the effort easy. If the breathing felt laboured then it was a sign to ease off the pace. Worked a treat.
#Running #SlowRunning
Today’s 12km needed to be a slow run so I deliberately used nasal breathing to keep the effort easy. If the breathing felt laboured then it was a sign to ease off the pace. Worked a treat.
#Running #SlowRunning
November 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Up & down the canal this morning being serenaded by singing Song Thrushes.
Today’s 12km needed to be a slow run so I deliberately used nasal breathing to keep the effort easy. If the breathing felt laboured then it was a sign to ease off the pace. Worked a treat.
#Running #SlowRunning
Today’s 12km needed to be a slow run so I deliberately used nasal breathing to keep the effort easy. If the breathing felt laboured then it was a sign to ease off the pace. Worked a treat.
#Running #SlowRunning
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
At today’s National Emergency Briefing, Chris Packham delivered a clear message: act now. Decision-makers must step up and tackle the climate crisis before it’s too late. Add your signature to the open letter to Keir Starmer.
#climatecrisis #neb2025 #netzero
www.nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir
#climatecrisis #neb2025 #netzero
www.nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir
November 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
At today’s National Emergency Briefing, Chris Packham delivered a clear message: act now. Decision-makers must step up and tackle the climate crisis before it’s too late. Add your signature to the open letter to Keir Starmer.
#climatecrisis #neb2025 #netzero
www.nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir
#climatecrisis #neb2025 #netzero
www.nebriefing.org/open-letter-keir
Last minute decision to only work half the day. Left the desk, popped on my running shoes and ran 15km down to the sea.
Passed this man trying to outrun an Octopus 🐙. Didn’t hang around to witness the outcome. Stranger things.
#Running #StrangerThings #SeenOnMyRun
Passed this man trying to outrun an Octopus 🐙. Didn’t hang around to witness the outcome. Stranger things.
#Running #StrangerThings #SeenOnMyRun
November 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Last minute decision to only work half the day. Left the desk, popped on my running shoes and ran 15km down to the sea.
Passed this man trying to outrun an Octopus 🐙. Didn’t hang around to witness the outcome. Stranger things.
#Running #StrangerThings #SeenOnMyRun
Passed this man trying to outrun an Octopus 🐙. Didn’t hang around to witness the outcome. Stranger things.
#Running #StrangerThings #SeenOnMyRun
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
Climate change is driving 40% of UK food price hikes.
Protecting households from spiralling costs of living means protecting the planet.
It's time to kick the expensive fossil fuel habit and accelerate the shift towards heating & powering Britain with efficient renewables.
@nebriefing.bsky.social
Protecting households from spiralling costs of living means protecting the planet.
It's time to kick the expensive fossil fuel habit and accelerate the shift towards heating & powering Britain with efficient renewables.
@nebriefing.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Climate change is driving 40% of UK food price hikes.
Protecting households from spiralling costs of living means protecting the planet.
It's time to kick the expensive fossil fuel habit and accelerate the shift towards heating & powering Britain with efficient renewables.
@nebriefing.bsky.social
Protecting households from spiralling costs of living means protecting the planet.
It's time to kick the expensive fossil fuel habit and accelerate the shift towards heating & powering Britain with efficient renewables.
@nebriefing.bsky.social
A frosty morning run. Glad of the gloves & a reminder of the poor circulation I have in my hands.
As I approached the end of my run, a Grey Seal swam parallel to the path, a few meters away. We watched each other pass until the seal decided it was time to slide under the water.
#RunningWithSeals
As I approached the end of my run, a Grey Seal swam parallel to the path, a few meters away. We watched each other pass until the seal decided it was time to slide under the water.
#RunningWithSeals
November 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
A frosty morning run. Glad of the gloves & a reminder of the poor circulation I have in my hands.
As I approached the end of my run, a Grey Seal swam parallel to the path, a few meters away. We watched each other pass until the seal decided it was time to slide under the water.
#RunningWithSeals
As I approached the end of my run, a Grey Seal swam parallel to the path, a few meters away. We watched each other pass until the seal decided it was time to slide under the water.
#RunningWithSeals
Sometimes I find energy on a run that wasn’t there at the start. Today was a case in point.
I felt tired as I pulled on my running shoes. And felt tired for the first few km. But slowly energy returned.
I had planned for 10km but pushed on until I hit the half marathon.
#running
I felt tired as I pulled on my running shoes. And felt tired for the first few km. But slowly energy returned.
I had planned for 10km but pushed on until I hit the half marathon.
#running
November 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Sometimes I find energy on a run that wasn’t there at the start. Today was a case in point.
I felt tired as I pulled on my running shoes. And felt tired for the first few km. But slowly energy returned.
I had planned for 10km but pushed on until I hit the half marathon.
#running
I felt tired as I pulled on my running shoes. And felt tired for the first few km. But slowly energy returned.
I had planned for 10km but pushed on until I hit the half marathon.
#running
Drogo - great 10km family walk in a loop along & around the Teign Valley from Castle Drogo.
The river was running fast, the noise filling the valley. A female Goosander battled the rapids.
A single Marsh Tit was the best of the birds but the views top it all.
#Devon @nationaltrust.org.uk
The river was running fast, the noise filling the valley. A female Goosander battled the rapids.
A single Marsh Tit was the best of the birds but the views top it all.
#Devon @nationaltrust.org.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Drogo - great 10km family walk in a loop along & around the Teign Valley from Castle Drogo.
The river was running fast, the noise filling the valley. A female Goosander battled the rapids.
A single Marsh Tit was the best of the birds but the views top it all.
#Devon @nationaltrust.org.uk
The river was running fast, the noise filling the valley. A female Goosander battled the rapids.
A single Marsh Tit was the best of the birds but the views top it all.
#Devon @nationaltrust.org.uk
A dark(er) backed large gull caught my attention today at Topsham Rec among the argenteus Herring Gulls. A third or fourth year argentatus Herring Gull. Scarce in these parts.
#DevonBirds #Gulls
#DevonBirds #Gulls
November 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A dark(er) backed large gull caught my attention today at Topsham Rec among the argenteus Herring Gulls. A third or fourth year argentatus Herring Gull. Scarce in these parts.
#DevonBirds #Gulls
#DevonBirds #Gulls
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
November 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
November 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Damp walk around town trying to keep my hands warm. Little of note on the bird front. Relatively few ducks on Bowling Green Marsh & no sign of the Red-necked Grebe.
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
November 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Damp walk around town trying to keep my hands warm. Little of note on the bird front. Relatively few ducks on Bowling Green Marsh & no sign of the Red-necked Grebe.
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
An afternoon walk around Exmouth followed by a 14km run home. Beautiful day with clear views all along the coast.
A Firecrest called next to the cycle path as I ran by. Time to update my Firecrest map - my 2024/25 records in the 20x20km map centred on home 🏡.
A Firecrest called next to the cycle path as I ran by. Time to update my Firecrest map - my 2024/25 records in the 20x20km map centred on home 🏡.
November 21, 2025 at 5:16 PM
An afternoon walk around Exmouth followed by a 14km run home. Beautiful day with clear views all along the coast.
A Firecrest called next to the cycle path as I ran by. Time to update my Firecrest map - my 2024/25 records in the 20x20km map centred on home 🏡.
A Firecrest called next to the cycle path as I ran by. Time to update my Firecrest map - my 2024/25 records in the 20x20km map centred on home 🏡.
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
Let’s have a look at a crazy Twitter to newspaper pipeline story and debunk as we go! 🔎👍🏼
16th Nov the “Britain is Broken” account shared the following post claiming “Tesco are no longer celebrating Christmas”
With a picture of their “Evergreen” Trees
2.2Million views to date🙄
🧵1/26
16th Nov the “Britain is Broken” account shared the following post claiming “Tesco are no longer celebrating Christmas”
With a picture of their “Evergreen” Trees
2.2Million views to date🙄
🧵1/26
November 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Let’s have a look at a crazy Twitter to newspaper pipeline story and debunk as we go! 🔎👍🏼
16th Nov the “Britain is Broken” account shared the following post claiming “Tesco are no longer celebrating Christmas”
With a picture of their “Evergreen” Trees
2.2Million views to date🙄
🧵1/26
16th Nov the “Britain is Broken” account shared the following post claiming “Tesco are no longer celebrating Christmas”
With a picture of their “Evergreen” Trees
2.2Million views to date🙄
🧵1/26
Reposted by Martin Elcoate
🌍 We took over Southwark station last week, urging city leaders to lead on climate as the C40 World Mayors’ Summit got underway.
We now need to keep up the pressure.
✍️ Write to Mayor Sadiq Khan to stop promoting pollution on London public transport: actionnetwork.org/letters/ba2d...
We now need to keep up the pressure.
✍️ Write to Mayor Sadiq Khan to stop promoting pollution on London public transport: actionnetwork.org/letters/ba2d...
November 18, 2025 at 11:49 AM
🌍 We took over Southwark station last week, urging city leaders to lead on climate as the C40 World Mayors’ Summit got underway.
We now need to keep up the pressure.
✍️ Write to Mayor Sadiq Khan to stop promoting pollution on London public transport: actionnetwork.org/letters/ba2d...
We now need to keep up the pressure.
✍️ Write to Mayor Sadiq Khan to stop promoting pollution on London public transport: actionnetwork.org/letters/ba2d...
2 Moors Way recce - I ran an unfamiliar section of the route today in glorious sunshine. I joined the path at Bennett’s Cross & ran down to Chagford, looping back via a route of my own making. 19km, 600m elevation.
I made 3 mistakes, which is exactly why I wanted to recce the path.
#Running #Devon
I made 3 mistakes, which is exactly why I wanted to recce the path.
#Running #Devon
November 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Decent day’s #Birding & walking around the Exe Estuary.
Exmouth: 2 Black Redstarts, Cirl Bunting, Firecrest, Whimbrel, 21 GC Grebes
Local wood: Goshawk shot across a trail through the trees. Really close. Monster of a bird!! 😲
Dawlish Warren: 5 Velvet Scoters, my 1st for 3 years. 👍🏻
#DevonBirds
Exmouth: 2 Black Redstarts, Cirl Bunting, Firecrest, Whimbrel, 21 GC Grebes
Local wood: Goshawk shot across a trail through the trees. Really close. Monster of a bird!! 😲
Dawlish Warren: 5 Velvet Scoters, my 1st for 3 years. 👍🏻
#DevonBirds
November 16, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Decent day’s #Birding & walking around the Exe Estuary.
Exmouth: 2 Black Redstarts, Cirl Bunting, Firecrest, Whimbrel, 21 GC Grebes
Local wood: Goshawk shot across a trail through the trees. Really close. Monster of a bird!! 😲
Dawlish Warren: 5 Velvet Scoters, my 1st for 3 years. 👍🏻
#DevonBirds
Exmouth: 2 Black Redstarts, Cirl Bunting, Firecrest, Whimbrel, 21 GC Grebes
Local wood: Goshawk shot across a trail through the trees. Really close. Monster of a bird!! 😲
Dawlish Warren: 5 Velvet Scoters, my 1st for 3 years. 👍🏻
#DevonBirds
Second walk around town of the day and great to find a Great White Egret on Bowling Green Marsh.
More #LowCarbonBirding
#DevonBirds #Birding
More #LowCarbonBirding
#DevonBirds #Birding
November 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Second walk around town of the day and great to find a Great White Egret on Bowling Green Marsh.
More #LowCarbonBirding
#DevonBirds #Birding
More #LowCarbonBirding
#DevonBirds #Birding
Red-necked Grebe still on Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, sticking to the same stretch of water.
#DevonBirds #Birding
#DevonBirds #Birding
November 15, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Red-necked Grebe still on Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, sticking to the same stretch of water.
#DevonBirds #Birding
#DevonBirds #Birding
Hummingbird Hawkmoth flew through my garden this morning, pausing to feed on Ivy. Feels like a late record for this species.
#UKMoths #Moths #DevonMoths
#UKMoths #Moths #DevonMoths
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Hummingbird Hawkmoth flew through my garden this morning, pausing to feed on Ivy. Feels like a late record for this species.
#UKMoths #Moths #DevonMoths
#UKMoths #Moths #DevonMoths
Red-necked Grebe on Bowling Green Marsh for its third day. Clearly not an early riser. It had a bit of a stretch to show of it’s amazing seaweed like feet.
#DevonBirds #Birding
#DevonBirds #Birding
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Red-necked Grebe on Bowling Green Marsh for its third day. Clearly not an early riser. It had a bit of a stretch to show of it’s amazing seaweed like feet.
#DevonBirds #Birding
#DevonBirds #Birding