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benjyhere.bsky.social
Ben
@benjyhere.bsky.social
First and foremost, biodiversity: Frogs; Snakes; Bees but the wild kinds; Birds but not a birder. Occasional politics, of the woke, pro-Rejoin kind. Si j'avais le choix, je serais à Toulouse. SW London. Crepuscular.
Pinned
If I were allowed to write a @theguardian.com Country Diary, it might go something like this. @nicwilson.bsky.social @katebradbury.bsky.social @levparikian.bsky.social @brigit.strawbridge.bsky.social

Balham, SW London: little beats the thrill of nesting swifts and you can have it too.

A 🧵
Saw out the old year in the company of 1,000s of starlings in murmuration. On the other side of the hedge, naturally, but no less impressive. Happy New Year. @rspb.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Ben
Huge news from Blakeney Point...
December 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The only way is Light. #HappyChristmas
December 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Hazel flowers join the catkins in SW London, blink and you'll miss them. #Spring
December 19, 2025 at 11:16 PM
London is full of so much life, just remember to look up. And down. Left. And right.
Sir David Attenborough is right: London is full of natural wonder.

We’re giving nature a helping hand. For the first time in hundreds of years, beavers and white storks are being reintroduced to the capital with support from City Hall.
Why Sir David Attenborough wouldn't live anywhere else but London
In a new one-off documentary, the broadcaster and conservationist comes home - to London.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Ben
Absolutely shocking.

We're offering an overall award of £10k for information that leads to a conviction in these cases.

We need to make raptor persecution a thing of the past.
December 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
If you're doing charity donations instead of presents, here's a candidate for your appraisal. Which now sounds like a euphemism.
Fast-forward to 2025 and Sir Stephen Fry is supporting our appeal to safeguard the Giant’s lair.

Your donation today will help us raise the funds we need to rise to the occasion: buff.ly/j1w0Mbn
December 17, 2025 at 11:55 AM
So, so good.
Today, we make further steps in our renewed EU-UK strategic partnership.

We have concluded the negotiations for the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027.

Bringing back Erasmus+ for our young people, opening the door to new shared experiences and lasting friendships.
December 17, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Reposted by Ben
this field biologist does a great job highlighting the insidiousness of AI editing

these one-click AI edit buttons are incredibly appealing to many photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, and are framed as innocuous

this is worth sharing and educating people about
December 15, 2025 at 2:21 AM
So utterly satisfying at the end.
I hate how much I enjoyed this

BIG NERD DESIGN ENERGY 🫦
December 13, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Reposted by Ben
Unfortunately, this article in the Guardian, is stuffed full of disinformation about Otters, which seriously misleads the public. I created this thread below, to correct these false claims, which are in wide circulation.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
1/2
Hightailing along high streets and raiding ponds: otters’ revival in Britain
Still rare only 20 years ago, the charismatic animals are in almost every UK river and a conservation success story
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Reposted by Ben
Yesterday, wind produced 59.6% of Britain’s electricity - almost five times more than gas.

Despite what you hear from fossil fuel-funded politicians, every unit of clean renewable energy we produce is delivering U.K jobs, energy security, and a brighter future of our children.
December 11, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Christmas comes early in West Cornwall. @froglife.bsky.social @arc-trust.bsky.social
Happy frogspawn in Cornwall Day! (Yes it’s this early every year). @benjyhere.bsky.social
December 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
A shot of glamour in the gloom, isn't he handsome. @rspb.bsky.social #GreatSpottedWoodpecker
December 10, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Reposted by Ben
Once more for the haters...
December 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Werewolf! Look out!
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
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 7:22 PM
Reposted by Ben
Day 1 of my #AdventCalendar
[sound up]
December 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Please think about giving (and putting up) a #swift box or 3 to friends, family or yourself this Christmas. You'll be helping an endangered species and warming the cockles of your heart at the same time. Read about the thrills in the 🧵 👇 . @rspb.bsky.social
If I were allowed to write a @theguardian.com Country Diary, it might go something like this. @nicwilson.bsky.social @katebradbury.bsky.social @levparikian.bsky.social @brigit.strawbridge.bsky.social

Balham, SW London: little beats the thrill of nesting swifts and you can have it too.

A 🧵
December 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
@drrosena.bsky.social Tooting expects!
Fortunately David Lammy you have the chance to vote for a customs union by backing our bill next week.

See you in the Aye lobby?
December 5, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Wake up #losers, the cricket's on.
December 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Glorious, such a seasonal delight.
About 80,000 Starlings leaving their Reed-bed roost early this morning
December 3, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Reposted by Ben
The Field in Kinlochard - a place worth protecting - read the whole story over here.

tinyurl.com/TDTheField

Haar covers the lochs and land between Aberfoyle and Ben Lomond
November 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Magnifique. Ça donne des frissons, de la chair de poule...
France hosted a large musical flash mob featuring 100 musicians who came together to perform a new orchestral version of Carol of the Bells to mark the ceremonial switching-on of the Christmas lights in the streets of Paris.
November 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM