Kevin Thornton
@lowcarbonkev.bsky.social
Posts on:
#LowCarbon / #climate.
A lapsed purposeful birder, just #BareNakedBirding (no longer carry binoculars/telescope) just camera for a few pics.
Exploring n/ne #Kent by #train/ #bike.
Centred on #Medway towns/ estuary .
#Allotment holder.
#LowCarbon / #climate.
A lapsed purposeful birder, just #BareNakedBirding (no longer carry binoculars/telescope) just camera for a few pics.
Exploring n/ne #Kent by #train/ #bike.
Centred on #Medway towns/ estuary .
#Allotment holder.
🤔Not just nationally, tho' sadly, it doesn't do Roxborough😉, but here's (1) Borders next to Lothian, one county above, one below the Scottish national historic average..
and (2) Borders historic average w. 2024 and 2025 plotted, both years well above the old Nov avg..
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and (2) Borders historic average w. 2024 and 2025 plotted, both years well above the old Nov avg..
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November 28, 2025 at 10:51 PM
🤔Not just nationally, tho' sadly, it doesn't do Roxborough😉, but here's (1) Borders next to Lothian, one county above, one below the Scottish national historic average..
and (2) Borders historic average w. 2024 and 2025 plotted, both years well above the old Nov avg..
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and (2) Borders historic average w. 2024 and 2025 plotted, both years well above the old Nov avg..
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👍🤔 Devil's advocate - an above avg or an avg 'plenty' though? Birdtrack hints p'haps below avg - not as many found on day lists as in past? So tough to get a grip on!🤔
Fun w, us soft sarfeners is drops in so many spp. nos. are flippin' obvious 'cos flippin' large - if we bother to look😉.
Fun w, us soft sarfeners is drops in so many spp. nos. are flippin' obvious 'cos flippin' large - if we bother to look😉.
November 28, 2025 at 9:10 PM
👍🤔 Devil's advocate - an above avg or an avg 'plenty' though? Birdtrack hints p'haps below avg - not as many found on day lists as in past? So tough to get a grip on!🤔
Fun w, us soft sarfeners is drops in so many spp. nos. are flippin' obvious 'cos flippin' large - if we bother to look😉.
Fun w, us soft sarfeners is drops in so many spp. nos. are flippin' obvious 'cos flippin' large - if we bother to look😉.
As well as 'winter thrushes' being Redwing & Fieldfare, there's also Blackbird of course. A small arrival only, plenty of gaps in nos this yr after local breeding nos hit by climate/virus..
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November 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
As well as 'winter thrushes' being Redwing & Fieldfare, there's also Blackbird of course. A small arrival only, plenty of gaps in nos this yr after local breeding nos hit by climate/virus..
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There's a prominent 'dip' on Birdtrack this year - my biases say that's the two pulses on show, c/o such low nos. involved.
The migratory urge in the first pulse kept 'em moving on, good feeding allowed easy refuelling all along route.
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The migratory urge in the first pulse kept 'em moving on, good feeding allowed easy refuelling all along route.
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November 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
There's a prominent 'dip' on Birdtrack this year - my biases say that's the two pulses on show, c/o such low nos. involved.
The migratory urge in the first pulse kept 'em moving on, good feeding allowed easy refuelling all along route.
2/
The migratory urge in the first pulse kept 'em moving on, good feeding allowed easy refuelling all along route.
2/
🤔 I was thinking on Redwings mainly - Kentish early arrivals usually still moving, on to w UK, or (mainly) sw France, Iberia. Hoping they just went thru. Usually 'replaced' by nos arriving from cont. in Nov. IMHO 2nd arrival has been happening, also in really low nos..
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November 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
🤔 I was thinking on Redwings mainly - Kentish early arrivals usually still moving, on to w UK, or (mainly) sw France, Iberia. Hoping they just went thru. Usually 'replaced' by nos arriving from cont. in Nov. IMHO 2nd arrival has been happening, also in really low nos..
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A quiet day pottering at the allotment - chided by noisy chalkpit Blackcaps. That'll do.
But have another view from y/day, from the train: East Court/ Shorne marshes, e. of Gravesend. Bushes red with berries. Stripped by now in recent autumns, by passing migrant winter thrushes. Not this year.
But have another view from y/day, from the train: East Court/ Shorne marshes, e. of Gravesend. Bushes red with berries. Stripped by now in recent autumns, by passing migrant winter thrushes. Not this year.
November 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A quiet day pottering at the allotment - chided by noisy chalkpit Blackcaps. That'll do.
But have another view from y/day, from the train: East Court/ Shorne marshes, e. of Gravesend. Bushes red with berries. Stripped by now in recent autumns, by passing migrant winter thrushes. Not this year.
But have another view from y/day, from the train: East Court/ Shorne marshes, e. of Gravesend. Bushes red with berries. Stripped by now in recent autumns, by passing migrant winter thrushes. Not this year.
Broke journey home w. a quick stop in Rochester, taking just minutes to find the Common creek wintering Common Sandpiper.
Too easy. In his usual spot, w. his usual chums.
Nice to see his creek up on the big screen right outside the railway station. (I added the arrow, he's not that popular yet.)
Too easy. In his usual spot, w. his usual chums.
Nice to see his creek up on the big screen right outside the railway station. (I added the arrow, he's not that popular yet.)
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Broke journey home w. a quick stop in Rochester, taking just minutes to find the Common creek wintering Common Sandpiper.
Too easy. In his usual spot, w. his usual chums.
Nice to see his creek up on the big screen right outside the railway station. (I added the arrow, he's not that popular yet.)
Too easy. In his usual spot, w. his usual chums.
Nice to see his creek up on the big screen right outside the railway station. (I added the arrow, he's not that popular yet.)
If you ever have to make a shopping trip to Gravesend's Heritage Quarter, this is how to do it. All within ten minute's walk from the train station. That'll do. ☺️
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November 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
If you ever have to make a shopping trip to Gravesend's Heritage Quarter, this is how to do it. All within ten minute's walk from the train station. That'll do. ☺️
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Today I spent time discovering Sewa www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/gui... during a wonderful visit to the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.
A visit I'd promised myself during the Pandemic, on hearing how the Gurdwara was providing free meals to NHS staff.
(They provided some 60,000 free meals in total🙏)
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A visit I'd promised myself during the Pandemic, on hearing how the Gurdwara was providing free meals to NHS staff.
(They provided some 60,000 free meals in total🙏)
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November 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Today I spent time discovering Sewa www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/gui... during a wonderful visit to the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.
A visit I'd promised myself during the Pandemic, on hearing how the Gurdwara was providing free meals to NHS staff.
(They provided some 60,000 free meals in total🙏)
3/4
A visit I'd promised myself during the Pandemic, on hearing how the Gurdwara was providing free meals to NHS staff.
(They provided some 60,000 free meals in total🙏)
3/4
Post-lunch, fun to watch a Rock Pipit hiding up under the overhang from public and pooches whilst feeding on seawall critters.
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November 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Post-lunch, fun to watch a Rock Pipit hiding up under the overhang from public and pooches whilst feeding on seawall critters.
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The view from today's lunch-bench. I really shouldn't have had chips.
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November 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The view from today's lunch-bench. I really shouldn't have had chips.
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Immediately recognised bike from Bluesky pics😉, great to finally meet @kentridergaz.bsky.social this morning.
Nice to find out more on work of Kent Community Rail Partnership, plus a nice supply of freebie handouts for my RSPB talk next month (cheers Garry!).
kentcrp.org
group.rspb.org.uk/medway/
Nice to find out more on work of Kent Community Rail Partnership, plus a nice supply of freebie handouts for my RSPB talk next month (cheers Garry!).
kentcrp.org
group.rspb.org.uk/medway/
November 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Immediately recognised bike from Bluesky pics😉, great to finally meet @kentridergaz.bsky.social this morning.
Nice to find out more on work of Kent Community Rail Partnership, plus a nice supply of freebie handouts for my RSPB talk next month (cheers Garry!).
kentcrp.org
group.rspb.org.uk/medway/
Nice to find out more on work of Kent Community Rail Partnership, plus a nice supply of freebie handouts for my RSPB talk next month (cheers Garry!).
kentcrp.org
group.rspb.org.uk/medway/
Now you've got me worried Bsky misses out links🤔 I can see it as I read yr post😉
(Repeating again here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_mi... )
(Repeating again here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_mi... )
November 23, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Now you've got me worried Bsky misses out links🤔 I can see it as I read yr post😉
(Repeating again here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_mi... )
(Repeating again here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_mi... )
Here, rough line (to north of it) areas of s. Medway managed to keep shut from route, (including those islands!).
My input/ pics helped keep sev large pri stretches of seawall closed to public. Thankfully most of 'inland detours' I helped cause here are, unlike me, quite pretty😇😂
HOI
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My input/ pics helped keep sev large pri stretches of seawall closed to public. Thankfully most of 'inland detours' I helped cause here are, unlike me, quite pretty😇😂
HOI
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November 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Here, rough line (to north of it) areas of s. Medway managed to keep shut from route, (including those islands!).
My input/ pics helped keep sev large pri stretches of seawall closed to public. Thankfully most of 'inland detours' I helped cause here are, unlike me, quite pretty😇😂
HOI
3/3
My input/ pics helped keep sev large pri stretches of seawall closed to public. Thankfully most of 'inland detours' I helped cause here are, unlike me, quite pretty😇😂
HOI
3/3
Something of a different night out for me; on last 'Ghost tour' of autumn 2025 #HistoricDockyardChatham
Great fun😊 Wasn't really there for ghosts, but for historic tales of mayhem and murder and for visits to old buildings not usually open to public.
And for Redshank calling from the river 😉
Great fun😊 Wasn't really there for ghosts, but for historic tales of mayhem and murder and for visits to old buildings not usually open to public.
And for Redshank calling from the river 😉
November 22, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Something of a different night out for me; on last 'Ghost tour' of autumn 2025 #HistoricDockyardChatham
Great fun😊 Wasn't really there for ghosts, but for historic tales of mayhem and murder and for visits to old buildings not usually open to public.
And for Redshank calling from the river 😉
Great fun😊 Wasn't really there for ghosts, but for historic tales of mayhem and murder and for visits to old buildings not usually open to public.
And for Redshank calling from the river 😉
"Horrid hill, high tide. You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." (Obi-wan Kevoldie)
Tad unfair on the Rock Pipits, even if they did spend a lot of time fighting for best tideline feeding spots y/day.
(Coastal foam:
environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/21/w... )
#KentNature
Tad unfair on the Rock Pipits, even if they did spend a lot of time fighting for best tideline feeding spots y/day.
(Coastal foam:
environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/21/w... )
#KentNature
November 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
"Horrid hill, high tide. You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." (Obi-wan Kevoldie)
Tad unfair on the Rock Pipits, even if they did spend a lot of time fighting for best tideline feeding spots y/day.
(Coastal foam:
environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/21/w... )
#KentNature
Tad unfair on the Rock Pipits, even if they did spend a lot of time fighting for best tideline feeding spots y/day.
(Coastal foam:
environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/21/w... )
#KentNature
Chatting y/day, gave Trev an example of why I sing praises of SANGs*.
Seems to work at Halling. Times I've been this yr, low nos. of dogwalkers marsh/reserve (p1), riverfront park (pp 2,3) way busier.
*Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace: thelandtrust.org.uk/services-we-...
#KentNature
Seems to work at Halling. Times I've been this yr, low nos. of dogwalkers marsh/reserve (p1), riverfront park (pp 2,3) way busier.
*Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace: thelandtrust.org.uk/services-we-...
#KentNature
November 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Chatting y/day, gave Trev an example of why I sing praises of SANGs*.
Seems to work at Halling. Times I've been this yr, low nos. of dogwalkers marsh/reserve (p1), riverfront park (pp 2,3) way busier.
*Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace: thelandtrust.org.uk/services-we-...
#KentNature
Seems to work at Halling. Times I've been this yr, low nos. of dogwalkers marsh/reserve (p1), riverfront park (pp 2,3) way busier.
*Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace: thelandtrust.org.uk/services-we-...
#KentNature
"Oh, and no taking pics of me today Kev. I'm onto you. sneaking 'em when I'm not looking."
(Me, looking at the ducks) "What, not even a sneaky one that makes you look slim?" 😊
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(Me, looking at the ducks) "What, not even a sneaky one that makes you look slim?" 😊
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November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
"Oh, and no taking pics of me today Kev. I'm onto you. sneaking 'em when I'm not looking."
(Me, looking at the ducks) "What, not even a sneaky one that makes you look slim?" 😊
3/3
(Me, looking at the ducks) "What, not even a sneaky one that makes you look slim?" 😊
3/3
"As we came back, we only had about 3 inches clearance. I was just a kid, I was shakin'. I knew if I'd fallen in they'd have left me and saved the sinks." 😄
(Old pic, 2019, high tide: that washed-up boat was stuck on a submerged seawall of Nor marsh.)
(Old pic, 2019, high tide: that washed-up boat was stuck on a submerged seawall of Nor marsh.)
November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
"As we came back, we only had about 3 inches clearance. I was just a kid, I was shakin'. I knew if I'd fallen in they'd have left me and saved the sinks." 😄
(Old pic, 2019, high tide: that washed-up boat was stuck on a submerged seawall of Nor marsh.)
(Old pic, 2019, high tide: that washed-up boat was stuck on a submerged seawall of Nor marsh.)
Today's (late) lunch-bench. Delayed by bumping into old chum Trev.
Hearing Darnet Fort up for sale, he told tale of, as an 8 yrs old tag-along, getting rowed out by locals after MoD abandoned. Who went to borrow the old lead sinks.
Trev helped create first environmental sink-holes on the Medway😆
Hearing Darnet Fort up for sale, he told tale of, as an 8 yrs old tag-along, getting rowed out by locals after MoD abandoned. Who went to borrow the old lead sinks.
Trev helped create first environmental sink-holes on the Medway😆
November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Today's (late) lunch-bench. Delayed by bumping into old chum Trev.
Hearing Darnet Fort up for sale, he told tale of, as an 8 yrs old tag-along, getting rowed out by locals after MoD abandoned. Who went to borrow the old lead sinks.
Trev helped create first environmental sink-holes on the Medway😆
Hearing Darnet Fort up for sale, he told tale of, as an 8 yrs old tag-along, getting rowed out by locals after MoD abandoned. Who went to borrow the old lead sinks.
Trev helped create first environmental sink-holes on the Medway😆
😀
"SWINE BURD(!!)" 😆
(Clouseau really does call this out, as the parrot crawls out the hoover with his fake 2nd moustache, in 'Return of the Pink Panther' back in 1975. Peter Sellars, truly a comic genius virologist 50 years ahead of his time👍)
"SWINE BURD(!!)" 😆
(Clouseau really does call this out, as the parrot crawls out the hoover with his fake 2nd moustache, in 'Return of the Pink Panther' back in 1975. Peter Sellars, truly a comic genius virologist 50 years ahead of his time👍)
November 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
😀
"SWINE BURD(!!)" 😆
(Clouseau really does call this out, as the parrot crawls out the hoover with his fake 2nd moustache, in 'Return of the Pink Panther' back in 1975. Peter Sellars, truly a comic genius virologist 50 years ahead of his time👍)
"SWINE BURD(!!)" 😆
(Clouseau really does call this out, as the parrot crawls out the hoover with his fake 2nd moustache, in 'Return of the Pink Panther' back in 1975. Peter Sellars, truly a comic genius virologist 50 years ahead of his time👍)
Y/day, plant hunting. Ticked gas-fired plant over the water.
Cold enough for well-fed Redshanks to huddle together behind any windbreak.
"If you don't want dogs jumping up at you then you shouldn't be in a Country Park" - opinion of one dog owner🙄
😠Who soon got to hear a considered opinion🙄
Cold enough for well-fed Redshanks to huddle together behind any windbreak.
"If you don't want dogs jumping up at you then you shouldn't be in a Country Park" - opinion of one dog owner🙄
😠Who soon got to hear a considered opinion🙄
November 21, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Y/day, plant hunting. Ticked gas-fired plant over the water.
Cold enough for well-fed Redshanks to huddle together behind any windbreak.
"If you don't want dogs jumping up at you then you shouldn't be in a Country Park" - opinion of one dog owner🙄
😠Who soon got to hear a considered opinion🙄
Cold enough for well-fed Redshanks to huddle together behind any windbreak.
"If you don't want dogs jumping up at you then you shouldn't be in a Country Park" - opinion of one dog owner🙄
😠Who soon got to hear a considered opinion🙄
Ah, be warned, most of 'em there are brown, and move at 90 mph 😉 Just watch over the river side of the wall along by B&M, next to where they feed the Fur-pigs (feral pigeons), you can't miss 'em👍 #UrbanBirding and ratting at its best!
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Ah, be warned, most of 'em there are brown, and move at 90 mph 😉 Just watch over the river side of the wall along by B&M, next to where they feed the Fur-pigs (feral pigeons), you can't miss 'em👍 #UrbanBirding and ratting at its best!
So many Medway stories feature, fact and fiction.
It's round the front of the Pump house, where the Brook stream, now buried beneath ground, feeds up into the Medway, with an assist from a big ol' Archimedean screw.
Chatham chavvie, born and bred, me. Luv it. 😇
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It's round the front of the Pump house, where the Brook stream, now buried beneath ground, feeds up into the Medway, with an assist from a big ol' Archimedean screw.
Chatham chavvie, born and bred, me. Luv it. 😇
3/3
November 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
So many Medway stories feature, fact and fiction.
It's round the front of the Pump house, where the Brook stream, now buried beneath ground, feeds up into the Medway, with an assist from a big ol' Archimedean screw.
Chatham chavvie, born and bred, me. Luv it. 😇
3/3
It's round the front of the Pump house, where the Brook stream, now buried beneath ground, feeds up into the Medway, with an assist from a big ol' Archimedean screw.
Chatham chavvie, born and bred, me. Luv it. 😇
3/3
Finally got to see the new ceramic tile mural. Well worth a look. Kept me quiet for ten minutes, peering into it.
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November 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Finally got to see the new ceramic tile mural. Well worth a look. Kept me quiet for ten minutes, peering into it.
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