Phil Cunliffe
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pacunliffe.bsky.social
Phil Cunliffe
@pacunliffe.bsky.social
200 followers 200 following 330 posts
Rubbish birder, much better electrical engineer and BWFC follower. I'm lucky to live on Anglesey and I am Sophie the poodle's human.
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Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
annelouiseavery.bsky.social
#OldFoxAdventCalendar
The Tenth Window. The Elderly Squirrel let himself into his cottage, lit a very necessary fire, made a pot of coffee, and then collapsed into an armchair. He had been at St Thomas's Church Hall all morning and it had been very exciting and not a little tiring. Miss Stevenson and the Vicar had organised a few mornings of talks and activities for the older members of the parish. In the first week in December, there had been a slightly confusing lecture on the "Pagan Symbols of Christmas" by a green-silk swathed theosophist friend of Miss Stevenson's, followed by mince pies and an introduction on folding napkins for the festive table. Today, everyone had enjoyed a dramatic recitation of sections of "A Christmas Carol" by the Vicar's cousin, who was an enthusiastic amateur player in Dorchester. Afterwards, there was plum crumble with custard and a class in making simple brass decorations for one's tree. The Elderly Squirrel managed to sit next to Madame Mouse, his port in every storm, and together they made a respectable number of embossed birds, hearts, stars, angels and cockle shells. At the end, their instructor, a friendly otter from Langton Herring suggested that their final cut-out be a likeness of their neighbour in their group, and he was delighted with his effort, which conveyed a little of Madame Mouse's elegance, but even more so with Madame Mouse's portrait, which made him look very bushy-tailed and dashing. Back home, he gathered together his little pile of creations, and hung them one by one on the tree Old Fox had cut for him the previous day, reserving Madame Mouse's portrait for the front. When he lit the dozen candles nestling in the branches, the shadowy sitting room was suddenly filled with blazes of light, which in turn were reflected by the brass. My word, said the Elderly Squirrel, sudden tears coming into his eyes, my word, what a display! And after some final adjustments, he turned on the wireless, poured some cream into his coffee, and sat… A brass bird. The Elderly Squirrel
December 10, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
fubsyshabaroon.bsky.social
How did they know it weighed 40 tons?

They took it to a whale-weigh station.
December 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
thebeeguy.bsky.social
Here’s a
#MondayMorningMinute
with #nature here on #WorldBeeSanctuary.
Take a moment.

#pause

Go do some #good.
Have the best week you can.
If you’re not having a good week - tell someone.
And if someone tells you -
Listen.
Really #listen.

#mentalhealth
#wellbeing
#winter
#gorse
#Monday
December 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
junlper.beer
this has become a very important video to me
December 7, 2025 at 4:29 AM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
The boy stood on a burning deck,
Eating some cream crackers.
A flame shot up his trouser leg,
And burnt off both his...

But I wasn't taught the last line in full.
achillesthe2nd.bsky.social Achilles Micawber @achillesthe2nd.bsky.social · 7d
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
c0nc0rdance.bsky.social
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.

Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.

A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
The moon over Cemaes Bay earlier tonight
A near full moon shrouded by clouds A near full moon A near full moon shrouded by clouds
December 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
We run out of Sophie's usual kibble last night so she's on her standby kibble. It's insect protein based and she's buzzin'
The head of a sleepy apricot poodle rests on a jean clad leg. The dark nose of the dog points towards the camera.
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Wylfa power station this afternoon. What will it look like in the next few years when the new small modular reactors a being built. As an engineer, I'm very curious. As someone that loves the local birdlife, I'm a bit apprehensive.
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Watch this.
As @thebeeguy.bsky.social says:
Pure.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Nature.
thebeeguy.bsky.social The Bee Guy @thebeeguy.bsky.social · 14d
Mornin’.

Spend a minute or so with this little dude.
You’ll be better for it.

No bullshit.
No pretence.
No ego.
No lies.
No violence.
No AI.
No scams.
No sides.

A robin taking a bath.

Pure.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Nature.

Something we can all agree on?

#nature
#robin
#WorldBeeSanctuary
#saturday
November 29, 2025 at 12:25 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Good morning and I hope you're having a good start to your day. Here's a post-mounted EIIR box in Benllech, Anglesey from earlier this month. #PostboxSaturday
November 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
glennyrodge.bsky.social
14 years ago today.
Gary Speed 8 Sep 1969 - 27 Nov 2011
November 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Happy #LancashireDay
You can take the lad out of Lancashire but you can't take Lancashire out of the lad 🌹🌹🌹
The red rose of Lancashire on a yellow background.
November 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Last day of our birding trip and we went to WWT Steart Marshes and RSPB Ham Wall. Only 4 new birds for the trip but what great birds to finish on: golden plover, knott, kingfisher and redpoll. The starling roost at Ham Wall was much better tonight - tens of thousands of birds was awesome inspiring.
November 24, 2025 at 11:21 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Day 3 of Someret birding gave us 7 new trip birds. We went to RSPB Greylake and finished the day off at RSPB Ham Wall to watch the starling roost. 1000's of starlings came in straight to roost with no murmuration. It was still amazing. Short eared owl was the top bird of the day.
Winter sun shining over a large reed bed.
November 23, 2025 at 7:22 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Day 2 of our Somerset birding trip. We went to Burnham on Sea (twice) and RSPB Ham Wall. It was hard going in the rain and we only totalled 13 new birds for the trip but we managed to see the Kentish Plover which is a UK lifer for me.
A phone-scope shot of a distant Kentish Plover half hiding behind a mud bank. It looks black and white as the light was failing.
November 22, 2025 at 6:20 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Over a few beers and a very decent spag bol, we totted up our number of birds seen today at WWT Slimbridge and the total was a round 60. The highlights included Bewickes and whooper swans, barnacle and white fronted geese, water rail, sniper and a raucous rookery.
A view of rolling hills behind a frozen wide pool with a meadow in front of the pool snd reeds in front of the meadow. Rooks nests high up in a tree with few leaves. The fronds of a pampas grass with blue sky behind them. The dried heads of a teasel.
November 22, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social
Steve Reed has told Labour MPs to vote down amendment to the new planning bill intended to protect British wildlife and its habitats from destruction.

First Swifts, now hedgehogs and dormice. Nothing is sacred... just betrayals by this govt at every turn

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Housing secretary tells Labour MPs to vote down planning bill amendment
Amendment restricts protection for animals to allow faster house building
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:57 AM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
@angbirdnews.bsky.social We've just had a late afternoon walk around Cemlyn Trwyn and there were upto 5 grey plover and 2 or possibly 3 purple sandpiper on the rocks on the west side.
November 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
glennyrodge.bsky.social
Here is a story I once posted on the other place.
🧵
November 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
hughharrop.bsky.social
A short video of the nursery pod of Bottlenose Dolphins in Vidlin Voe, Shetland yesterday. Check out some of those tiny calves! Only the fourth confirmed record of this species in Shetland waters.

#MarineLife #MarineMammals #CetaceansUK #UKWildlife
November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
pacunliffe.bsky.social
Cemaes Bay this afternoon after the rain
A view of calm sea with land either side and the sky reflected in the water.
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
archivetvmusings.bsky.social
The Shirley Bassey Show (10th November 1979). Les Dawson gives some of his favourite jokes another airing whilst Shirley attempts (and fails) to keep a straight face.
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Phil Cunliffe
thebeeguy.bsky.social
Here’s a
#MondayMorningMinute
with #nature here on #WorldBeeSanctuary.
Take a moment.

#pause

Go do some #good.
Have the best week you can.
If you’re not having a good week - tell someone.
And if someone tells you -
Listen.
Really #listen.
#mentalhealth
#wellbeing
#resilience
#fungi
#Monday
November 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM