Hugh Venables
@deepseahugh.bsky.social
Birds/dragonflies (Cambridgeshire, Norfolk), Oceanography/cetaceans (Southern Ocean, Antarctica)
Need to find someone who has pictures of a Sarnie on that buoy!
December 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Need to find someone who has pictures of a Sarnie on that buoy!
Looks quite dark backed. What is it like in the field?
December 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Looks quite dark backed. What is it like in the field?
Possibly a genuine set of Crestie photos with "add another bird the other side to balance the photo" prompt to add the "Willow" Tit (doesn't explain the Crestie's foot though)
December 2, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Possibly a genuine set of Crestie photos with "add another bird the other side to balance the photo" prompt to add the "Willow" Tit (doesn't explain the Crestie's foot though)
Collecting penguin eyes is hard, as they get scavenged quickly. Team at Bird Island had to watch them die, then get in there first with a teaspoon. Didn't dare ask if they had a dedicated spoon for the job.
November 20, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Collecting penguin eyes is hard, as they get scavenged quickly. Team at Bird Island had to watch them die, then get in there first with a teaspoon. Didn't dare ask if they had a dedicated spoon for the job.
Northern Wheatear an interesting one for migration. Breeds Greenland, Europe, Russia to Alaska, but all winter in Africa. Surely there must be habitat in America they haven't found yet. In contrast, Iceland and Scotland RN Phalaropes winter in the Pacific while Norwegian birds winter in Indian Ocean
November 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Northern Wheatear an interesting one for migration. Breeds Greenland, Europe, Russia to Alaska, but all winter in Africa. Surely there must be habitat in America they haven't found yet. In contrast, Iceland and Scotland RN Phalaropes winter in the Pacific while Norwegian birds winter in Indian Ocean
Arizona: group of quail and doves at a feeding station. Hummingbird came out of a bush, hovered above them, gave an alarm call and they scattered. Prairie Falcon then went over. Falcon wasn't a risk to the hummingbird, but it went out of its way to give an alarm, which was very clearly understood.
November 20, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Arizona: group of quail and doves at a feeding station. Hummingbird came out of a bush, hovered above them, gave an alarm call and they scattered. Prairie Falcon then went over. Falcon wasn't a risk to the hummingbird, but it went out of its way to give an alarm, which was very clearly understood.
How about building the first primary school a year early, move the neighbouring school in so that can be redeveloped, have the school there as first residents move in and use the spare space as a community centre from the start as well. Sound good? (because that's what Northstowe did).
November 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
How about building the first primary school a year early, move the neighbouring school in so that can be redeveloped, have the school there as first residents move in and use the spare space as a community centre from the start as well. Sound good? (because that's what Northstowe did).
For most current residents the Longstanton GP surgery (shut every afternoon) is closer than the Northstowe surgery will be once built. Closest building-to-building gap between the two settlements is 75m. Also Nursery, 2x Primary, SEND, 2ndary school, 6th Form, Sports pavilion, community centre + pub
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
For most current residents the Longstanton GP surgery (shut every afternoon) is closer than the Northstowe surgery will be once built. Closest building-to-building gap between the two settlements is 75m. Also Nursery, 2x Primary, SEND, 2ndary school, 6th Form, Sports pavilion, community centre + pub
maps.app.goo.gl/iv8HV1x9bkbg... in Liverpool
maps.app.goo.gl
November 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
maps.app.goo.gl/iv8HV1x9bkbg... in Liverpool
Still there today, can't be many November records
November 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Still there today, can't be many November records
A south coast influx in October 1963 involved several hundred birds, with "about 100" as the largest individual flock, so anything in 3 figures should count I guess
October 26, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A south coast influx in October 1963 involved several hundred birds, with "about 100" as the largest individual flock, so anything in 3 figures should count I guess
Saw one do that on Blakeney Point many years ago. Did look like play/practice
October 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Saw one do that on Blakeney Point many years ago. Did look like play/practice
Pectoral Sandpiper on Arnold's Marsh briefly just before lunch
October 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Pectoral Sandpiper on Arnold's Marsh briefly just before lunch
Can you make sure you separate "Nature activists" with "activists using nature". The former really do know what nature is, the latter I agree often have a fairly laughable grasp of it (to the distinct annoyance of the former, as it makes genuine concerns harder to get across, as per your conflation)
October 8, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Can you make sure you separate "Nature activists" with "activists using nature". The former really do know what nature is, the latter I agree often have a fairly laughable grasp of it (to the distinct annoyance of the former, as it makes genuine concerns harder to get across, as per your conflation)
Not necessarily. Problem at Northstowe is that buses have been arriving full from St Ives (recent T1 addition aside). If usage from St Ives drops, bus to the Science Park could become much more viable option, and only a few minutes longer. Houses in Northstowe selling way better than Waterbeach...
October 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Not necessarily. Problem at Northstowe is that buses have been arriving full from St Ives (recent T1 addition aside). If usage from St Ives drops, bus to the Science Park could become much more viable option, and only a few minutes longer. Houses in Northstowe selling way better than Waterbeach...
They'll likely go for squirrels first in UK. So could have an impact, but unlikely to be the planned one initially. They'll probably learn to move into more urban areas as populations grow anyway. South Wales first I'd guess. London Peregrines go for parakeets, so that's another food option
October 3, 2025 at 3:09 PM
They'll likely go for squirrels first in UK. So could have an impact, but unlikely to be the planned one initially. They'll probably learn to move into more urban areas as populations grow anyway. South Wales first I'd guess. London Peregrines go for parakeets, so that's another food option
Looking forward to it. Will be intereresting to see how things go, GPS positioning is now ubiquitous, but I suspect OS map reading skills have declined. Are there going to be changes to account for seasons shifting - mid March to mid July?
October 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Looking forward to it. Will be intereresting to see how things go, GPS positioning is now ubiquitous, but I suspect OS map reading skills have declined. Are there going to be changes to account for seasons shifting - mid March to mid July?
Northstowe got a 6th form same time as Cambourne despite starting >15 years later. 2x primary, SEN and secondary school. GP is within a mile (Longstanton is extremely closeby) and closed every afternoon. We can also get places safely by bike, including in the dark. Cambourne is mostly a car island
September 14, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Northstowe got a 6th form same time as Cambourne despite starting >15 years later. 2x primary, SEN and secondary school. GP is within a mile (Longstanton is extremely closeby) and closed every afternoon. We can also get places safely by bike, including in the dark. Cambourne is mostly a car island
The dunes now extend a long way seaward of the sea wall north of Winterton
August 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The dunes now extend a long way seaward of the sea wall north of Winterton
Sand dunes doing sand dune things. They all wax and wane, few have so many buildings in them.
August 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Sand dunes doing sand dune things. They all wax and wane, few have so many buildings in them.