James Bonthron
LightNews LightNews
banner
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
James Bonthron
@jamesbonthron.bsky.social
280 followers 1.5K following 35 posts
🌿 Freelance Environmental Journalist | SE England 🌍
✍️ Stories on sustainability, conservation, & eco-innovation.
🗞️ Published in Live Science, The Mirror. Always chasing the next big green story.
📩 Let’s connect: jamesbonthron[@]gmail.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Jan 13
What happens when two apex predators collide? 🐍
Earlier this year, I reported a fateful clash between a Burmese python and a reticulated python in India 🥊.
So, which species won?
📖 Full story here:
tinyurl.com/rbu95dtf
#ReptileResearch #ScienceNews #FreelanceScience #JournalistsOfScience
Burmese python eats even bigger reticulated python alive, in 1st-of-its-kind encounter
Photos show 10-foot Burmese python swallowing a reticulated python whole, eating the snake from the tail up in just 2 hours.
www.livescience.com
Reposted by James Bonthron
ipbes.net
📢 @ipcc.bsky.social is calling for the nominations of authors for the Seventh Assessment Report! 🌍🧪

Find out how to become an author or review editor here 👉 bit.ly/4krWMTu

More information on the process 👉 bit.ly/AR7Nm

Submissions close 17 April
An image of a group of people sitting in a lecture hall facing large screens and presenters. Overlay text reads: “IPCC calls for the nomination of authors for the Seventh Assessment Report. #IPCC #ClimateReport.” The IPCC logo is displayed in the bottom right corner.
April 16, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by James Bonthron
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
New shark new shark NEW SHARK

Description of a new species of hound shark of the genus Iago (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) from the northern Indian Ocean. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 72(1), 18–28

shark-references.com/species/view... 🧪🦑🦈🐟
Image of the specimen of the new shark from the top, bottom, and side
April 11, 2025 at 8:11 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
What a great photo!
menestune.bsky.social Menestune @menestune.bsky.social · Apr 3
#Honu floating down slowly for nap time on the #ocean floor. Sun rays lighting the way. 🦑🐍

#seaturtle #turtle #wildlife #underwaterphotography #photography #maui #zen #peace #snorkeling #diving
Green Sea Turtle swimming near some large coral towers. All tinted green from being several feet underwater. Sun rays streaking across the water, lighting the turtle up.
April 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
calacademy.bsky.social
Good news, Internet: You can hang out with your favorite alligator ANY TIME you want! Claude’s 24/7 livestream camera launches tomorrow, and we’re kicking off this momentous occasion with a live watch party. 🐊
A close up shot of Claude shows off the alligator’s toothy grin, with his white snout sticking up above the water. A close up shot of Claude shows his tail and right back arm, floating in the dark murky waters of the swamp. His claws and stubby toe are all visible.
April 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
Here’s today’s #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism - a species of conservation concern has been successfully bred in captivity for the first time, which can contribute to their continued survival and eventual repopulation. 🧪🌎🐠🦑

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Rare fish species successfully hatched at Bristol Zoo
Eggs from a rare Mexican fish species believed to be extinct in the wild have successfully hatched.
www.bbc.com
February 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
saltwaterlifeuk.bsky.social
Judged.

#seal #greyseal #marinelife #ukwildlife #wildlife #nature
February 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... 🌎🧪🦑🐠
The Former Pelagic Longline Fishery of a Large‐Scale Marine Protected Area
The establishment of large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) has emerged as one of the defining trends in ocean conservation over recent decades. To assess the potential benefits of such designat....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 15, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
michelesharik.bsky.social
🐍 #Reptiles
samanthamaich.bsky.social Samantha Maich @samanthamaich.bsky.social · Feb 8
In a sentence never before uttered by humans, I am delighted to share that an alligator stole my conservation instructor’s hat by jauntily walking into the water while wearing it 🐊
A middle aged man helplessly holds an alligator’s tail as it steals his hat
February 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
I love this!
#Gulls #Seabirds #BirdsOfBlueSky #CoastalLife #WildlifePhotography
quietlynow.bsky.social Pat Lillich @quietlynow.bsky.social · Feb 11
Flight. Alaska. Nik Silver Effex conversion. I think i like the white border but it cut some birds off. expanded canvas to save as many as i could. #birds #bird #birdphotography #blackandwhitephotography #nature
a large flock of gulls filled the air in Alaska - black and white treatment, but the photo was pretty monochrome to begin with.
February 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
atmylifeoutside.bsky.social
I’ve only seen a couple of Common Gull so far in 2025 with this individual at Kenfig NNR last week the first to make it to “film”. #birdingWales #birds #UKWildlife #nature #wildlife #robin #photography #birdphotography #wildlifephotography
Common Gull standing on a post.
February 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
Nice photo! I've seen a few of these over the years, but yet to take a decent photo of one!
#Turnstone #Shorebirds #BirdsOfBlueSky #CoastalBirds #NatureLovers #Ornithology #BirdWatching #WildlifeLovers #MigratoryBirds #BirdNerd
davidparkin.bsky.social David Parkin @davidparkin.bsky.social · Feb 11
Turnstone on Amble harbour staying still for the photo. (Of course the ball and chain helps). #BirdingNE #Birds
Small wader, mottled brown back and bib with a clean white underside standing close to an anchor chain.
February 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
davygee.bsky.social
Two Iceland gulls in two different locations in 2025 #birds#twosday
February 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
One of my favourite species (and the inspiration for some of my online usernames).
#Ducks #Waterfowl #DuckWatching #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #BirdNerd #Ornithology
February 10, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
iangrebe.bsky.social
Lesser black-backed gull and mute swan at Hyde Park in London. He may be “lesser” but he is a large and strong bird 🪶
February 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
Great photo! There's a good spot for ducks near me, but this is one I'm yet to find.
#Ducks #Waterfowl #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #BirdNerd #Ornithology
February 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
genealogydawne.bsky.social
Juvenile ring-billed gull

#birds
#wildlifephotography
#naturephotography
Bird in flight has brown and white pattern with a dark tail and wing tips. It has a dark tip to its beak. It flies over a churning surf
February 10, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
whaletalesorg.bsky.social
Valentine's Day is just around the corner so another reminder that #BalloonsBlow.
Countless animals are killed by consuming the fallen remains of helium balloons and birds and other animals can also be entangled in any attached string.
February 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
What an incredible photo!
#Cormorant #WildlifePhotography #BirdWatching #Waterbirds #NatureLovers #Ornithology #Seabirds #BirdNerd #NaturePhotography
February 10, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Reposted by James Bonthron
hydaticus.bsky.social
Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee), Caldwell County, North Carolina

#wildlife #herps
A salamander with a dark gray head, black eyes, light gray legs and sides, and a reddish orange back.
February 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
solomonrdavid.bsky.social
Cup-a-soup?

Cup-a-newt.

*Eastern Newt, safely released after brief observation.
Photo of a newt (Eastern Newt) in a cup with water. The animal was briefly observed and then safely released.
February 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
kupac1.bsky.social
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), the common large gull of the southern ocean coastlines from South America to Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. As you can see behind the adult, the juveniles are very dark throughout. #BirdingNewZealand #gulls #seegulls #birds #birding
February 4, 2025 at 5:22 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
Wow! Not heard of this species being in the UK before.
#Gull #Seabird #CoastalWildlife #BirdWatching #GullsOfTheWorld #SeagullLife
saloplarus.bsky.social Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · Jan 4
Another (or returning?!) excellent candidate Azorean Gull in the roost at The Mere, Ellesmere this evening 😱 #shropshirebirding #gullswp
Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis) with Lesser Black-backs Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis), front on showing dark hood, with Lesser Black-backs Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis), back left, with Lesser Black-backs and a Black-headed Gull Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis), left, with Lesser Black-backs and Black-headed Gulls
February 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
botany.one
What can 5,000-year-old trees teach us about resilience? Scientists in jxbotany.bsky.social reveal how ancient giants like Methuselah use DNA methylation to pass down survival strategies through generations.

https://botany.one/2025/02/can-you-teach-an-old-log-new-tricks/

#Botany #PlantScience 🧪
Night photograph of a twisted bristlecone pine tree, its distinctive wind-sculpted form highlighted against the Milky Way. The tree's exposed wood shows complex patterns formed over centuries of slow growth in extreme alpine conditions.
February 3, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Reposted by James Bonthron
bcpix.bsky.social
Lunch line, Merritt Island,Florida. A trio of Roseate Spoonbills look for food in a Florida pond Bcpix.com #birds #roseatespoonbills #colors
February 2, 2025 at 10:58 PM
jamesbonthron.bsky.social
I'm a huge fan of grebes, though I've only seen Great Crested and Little Grebe so far.

#Grebe #Waterbird #DivingBird #FeatheredSwimmer #BirdWatching #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #AquaticBirds #GrebeLife #Ornithology #BirdsOfTheWorld
thepacketrat.net Sean Gallagher @thepacketrat.net · Feb 3
On Friday, Clark’s Grebe made a last minute appearance at the exit from the Riparian Preserve to wish us a safe trip home. #birds
February 3, 2025 at 12:39 AM