Shaun Micklewright
@smickl.bsky.social
Amateur Naturalist, Licensed Bird Ringer,Antiquary,Wildlife Sound Recorder. Out on the lawn I lie in bed. Franche, Frenesse, ‘Frea-Ash’ Worcestershire. tiarg.org
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
Puffins in the news today, but no mention of the 90% decline in numbers the BTO predict by 2050, caused by rising sea surface temperatures affecting prey and therefore chick survival… 🤷♂️🙄
Don’t look up!
www.mpa-management.eu/wp-content/u...
Don’t look up!
www.mpa-management.eu/wp-content/u...
www.mpa-management.eu
November 26, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Puffins in the news today, but no mention of the 90% decline in numbers the BTO predict by 2050, caused by rising sea surface temperatures affecting prey and therefore chick survival… 🤷♂️🙄
Don’t look up!
www.mpa-management.eu/wp-content/u...
Don’t look up!
www.mpa-management.eu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
The saddest book is when you know it’s the last one an author ever wrote. The last Merrily Watkins take The Echo of Crows by Phil Rickman
November 8, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The saddest book is when you know it’s the last one an author ever wrote. The last Merrily Watkins take The Echo of Crows by Phil Rickman
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
"Hopefully, Gibb will investigate the standards of his own channel [GB News] as rigorously as he did the BBC, whose board he still, inexplicably, squats on, like a toad made of farts."
Stewart Lee: Traitors on the inside, Trump on the outside ... who’d want to run the BBC now? Actually, I would
I may seem like an unlikely candidate. But at least I understand that the first step to facing down the organisation’s malevolent opponents is to stop appeasing them
www.thenerve.news
November 15, 2025 at 5:06 PM
"Hopefully, Gibb will investigate the standards of his own channel [GB News] as rigorously as he did the BBC, whose board he still, inexplicably, squats on, like a toad made of farts."
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
Records of great spotted woodpecker, extinct in Ireland for centuries, but which reintroduced itself naturally to the east coast and has been moving west ever since.
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Records of great spotted woodpecker, extinct in Ireland for centuries, but which reintroduced itself naturally to the east coast and has been moving west ever since.
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
Still waiting for them to make it down to my place in Beara, but looks like it's only a matter of time!
Nature CAN come back!!
@bsbibotany.bsky.social I’ve found a nice cluster of what I think are Whitebeam near Mamble, Worcestershire. There’s around five trees in hedgerows scattered along the A456. Their distinctive autumn colours really shine.
November 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
@bsbibotany.bsky.social I’ve found a nice cluster of what I think are Whitebeam near Mamble, Worcestershire. There’s around five trees in hedgerows scattered along the A456. Their distinctive autumn colours really shine.
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
“September is the time for hop-picking, when large numbers of people come from the towns to help harvest them” (1960)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL GrantWatson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL GrantWatson
September 14, 2025 at 7:17 AM
“September is the time for hop-picking, when large numbers of people come from the towns to help harvest them” (1960)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL GrantWatson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL GrantWatson
Just knocked up a couple of jars
of Brinjal pickle 🍆. Sweet and spicy. I know what’s going on my cheese sandwich tomorrow.
of Brinjal pickle 🍆. Sweet and spicy. I know what’s going on my cheese sandwich tomorrow.
September 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Just knocked up a couple of jars
of Brinjal pickle 🍆. Sweet and spicy. I know what’s going on my cheese sandwich tomorrow.
of Brinjal pickle 🍆. Sweet and spicy. I know what’s going on my cheese sandwich tomorrow.
Probably seen my last Swifts for this year. Five coursing south down the Stour valley.
August 20, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Probably seen my last Swifts for this year. Five coursing south down the Stour valley.
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
Last nights Storm Petrel ringing session ended with a total catch of 263 Storm Petrels ringed and 18 retraps, including a Portuguese-ringed control. The highlight of the night, however, was a Leach’s Petrel, shown with a European Storm Petrel for comparison!
📸 A Penn
📸 A Penn
August 13, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Last nights Storm Petrel ringing session ended with a total catch of 263 Storm Petrels ringed and 18 retraps, including a Portuguese-ringed control. The highlight of the night, however, was a Leach’s Petrel, shown with a European Storm Petrel for comparison!
📸 A Penn
📸 A Penn
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest in the 1950’s 🌳
1,000 years old, and one of England’s greatest trees. Still going strong
1,000 years old, and one of England’s greatest trees. Still going strong
August 9, 2025 at 7:08 AM
The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest in the 1950’s 🌳
1,000 years old, and one of England’s greatest trees. Still going strong
1,000 years old, and one of England’s greatest trees. Still going strong
Grave of Phoebe Lee, Queen of the Gypsies, churchyard of St. John the Baptist, Feckenham. In 1967 ATV news recorded 90 year old Mrs Martha Shakels recounting a story her father told her about the spectacular funeral. player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wa...
July 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Grave of Phoebe Lee, Queen of the Gypsies, churchyard of St. John the Baptist, Feckenham. In 1967 ATV news recorded 90 year old Mrs Martha Shakels recounting a story her father told her about the spectacular funeral. player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wa...
Recent finds include a nice flex disc and some early 60’s greenwashing.
July 16, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Recent finds include a nice flex disc and some early 60’s greenwashing.
Cherry Plums are ready. Jam is on the way!
July 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Cherry Plums are ready. Jam is on the way!
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
We haven't done a full check, but we might have captured the oldest puffin on Machias Seal Island. While the longevity record for Atlantic Puffin is 45 years (from Iceland), the North American record is 33 years. Last night we captured a bird banded as a chick in 1992, making it 33!🧪🪶
July 9, 2025 at 12:32 PM
We haven't done a full check, but we might have captured the oldest puffin on Machias Seal Island. While the longevity record for Atlantic Puffin is 45 years (from Iceland), the North American record is 33 years. Last night we captured a bird banded as a chick in 1992, making it 33!🧪🪶
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
This colour-ringed Shag at Ceann a' Mhara #Tiree yesterday was also carrying a data logger and is part of the @seatrackscience.bsky.social project. It was ringed nearby on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles @smp-seabirds.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social
July 9, 2025 at 11:23 AM
This colour-ringed Shag at Ceann a' Mhara #Tiree yesterday was also carrying a data logger and is part of the @seatrackscience.bsky.social project. It was ringed nearby on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles @smp-seabirds.bsky.social @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
At @fightingdirty.bsky.social, we sued over this issue, and lost on the grounds that the Environment Agency couldn't be in breach because the government had issued no direction. An absurdity, which means that poisons continue to be spread on farmland every day. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Millions of tonnes of toxic sewage sludge spread on UK farmland every year
Exclusive: Experts call for stricter regulation as current rules set in 1989 require testing for only a few heavy metals
www.theguardian.com
July 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM
At @fightingdirty.bsky.social, we sued over this issue, and lost on the grounds that the Environment Agency couldn't be in breach because the government had issued no direction. An absurdity, which means that poisons continue to be spread on farmland every day. 🧵
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
🕊️ Today is #WorldSeabirdDay, marking the 1844 extinction of the Great Auk. Seabirds still face major threats—bycatch, pollution & habitat loss.
Just weeks ago, #WorldAlbatrossDay reminded us: thousands of seabirds die yearly in fisheries. Let’s act. 🌊🐦 #ACAP
Just weeks ago, #WorldAlbatrossDay reminded us: thousands of seabirds die yearly in fisheries. Let’s act. 🌊🐦 #ACAP
July 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
🕊️ Today is #WorldSeabirdDay, marking the 1844 extinction of the Great Auk. Seabirds still face major threats—bycatch, pollution & habitat loss.
Just weeks ago, #WorldAlbatrossDay reminded us: thousands of seabirds die yearly in fisheries. Let’s act. 🌊🐦 #ACAP
Just weeks ago, #WorldAlbatrossDay reminded us: thousands of seabirds die yearly in fisheries. Let’s act. 🌊🐦 #ACAP
Some nice moths last night. Dark/Grey Dagger, Dot Moth, Beautiful hook-tip and The Coronet. #MothsMatter #teammoth
July 2, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Some nice moths last night. Dark/Grey Dagger, Dot Moth, Beautiful hook-tip and The Coronet. #MothsMatter #teammoth
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
There's news on the Nechisar nightjar (Caprimulgus solala), named for a single wing found in Ethiopia in 1990. DNA analysis - as yet unpublished - shows that it's a previously unreported thing among Old World nightjars... a hybrid! www.aba.org/has-the-nech... #ornithology #birds #nightjars
Has the Nechisar Nightjar Mystery Been Solved? - American Birding Association
The authors of a new study believe they have solved one of the world’s great rare bird mysteries: the case of the Nechisar Nightjar, Caprimulgus solala.
www.aba.org
July 1, 2025 at 10:51 AM
There's news on the Nechisar nightjar (Caprimulgus solala), named for a single wing found in Ethiopia in 1990. DNA analysis - as yet unpublished - shows that it's a previously unreported thing among Old World nightjars... a hybrid! www.aba.org/has-the-nech... #ornithology #birds #nightjars
My new fav. True Lovers Knot. #teammoth #MothsMatter
June 30, 2025 at 12:39 PM
My new fav. True Lovers Knot. #teammoth #MothsMatter
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
IMPORTANT. Please sign and repost. This petition is based on our recent research which found that English rivers are universally contaminated with these potent neurotoxic insecticides, the source being treated dogs and cats. Link in comment below.
June 26, 2025 at 8:43 AM
IMPORTANT. Please sign and repost. This petition is based on our recent research which found that English rivers are universally contaminated with these potent neurotoxic insecticides, the source being treated dogs and cats. Link in comment below.
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
Happy birthday to Mick Jones
youtu.be/eNot47WRBFk
youtu.be/eNot47WRBFk
The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand by Me) (Live at the Lewisham Odeon, 1980)
YouTube video by theclashVEVO
youtu.be
June 26, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Happy birthday to Mick Jones
youtu.be/eNot47WRBFk
youtu.be/eNot47WRBFk
Reposted by Shaun Micklewright
Sounds of the plants, the birds and the brook in today's @theguardian.com country diary by Paul Evans.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
Country diary: Listen closely, as the breeze scrolls through June’s playlist | Paul Evans
The Marches, Shropshire: Two wasps hover around a burrow; the chime of a cuckoo brings a rare clarity; a downed beech tree tells tales of a lost garden
www.theguardian.com
June 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Sounds of the plants, the birds and the brook in today's @theguardian.com country diary by Paul Evans.
#countrydiary #naturewriting
#countrydiary #naturewriting
@drmjwarren.bsky.social Wowsa! 🤩 grab yourself a copy of this beauty at indie bookstores linktr.ee/cuckoosleasp... bag, bookmark, signed book and bird silhouettes. What a lovely treat 💚
The Cuckoo's Lea | Linktree
Get the exclusive sprayed edge edition at the independent bookshops below.
linktr.ee
June 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
@drmjwarren.bsky.social Wowsa! 🤩 grab yourself a copy of this beauty at indie bookstores linktr.ee/cuckoosleasp... bag, bookmark, signed book and bird silhouettes. What a lovely treat 💚