Mark Eaton
@markaeaton.bsky.social
Scientist, conservationist, naturalist, birder. Secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel & ornithologist for hire. Loves all of that plus dogs, music, leftwing politics, football, Northumberland, family. He/him.
Fenham-le-moor - 5 Slavonian Grebes (inc 2 displaying to each other), LT Duck, RT Diver, c30 RB Mergansers, Peregrine.
Harpers Heugh - c3,000 Barnacle Geese inc leucistic bird. 1 DB Brent
Stag Rocks - 4 LT Duck, GN Diver, c60 RT Divers
#NEbirding
Harpers Heugh - c3,000 Barnacle Geese inc leucistic bird. 1 DB Brent
Stag Rocks - 4 LT Duck, GN Diver, c60 RT Divers
#NEbirding
December 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Fenham-le-moor - 5 Slavonian Grebes (inc 2 displaying to each other), LT Duck, RT Diver, c30 RB Mergansers, Peregrine.
Harpers Heugh - c3,000 Barnacle Geese inc leucistic bird. 1 DB Brent
Stag Rocks - 4 LT Duck, GN Diver, c60 RT Divers
#NEbirding
Harpers Heugh - c3,000 Barnacle Geese inc leucistic bird. 1 DB Brent
Stag Rocks - 4 LT Duck, GN Diver, c60 RT Divers
#NEbirding
Happy Christmas from Sam and Rosie 🐕 (who think it’s about time for us to get up and give them their presents)
December 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Happy Christmas from Sam and Rosie 🐕 (who think it’s about time for us to get up and give them their presents)
I hope all your Christmases have started better than mine, in that none of you have just knocked your monitor off its shelf onto the laptop below, smashing the screens on both 🤦♂️. And, before you ask, I hadn’t even had a drink…
December 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I hope all your Christmases have started better than mine, in that none of you have just knocked your monitor off its shelf onto the laptop below, smashing the screens on both 🤦♂️. And, before you ask, I hadn’t even had a drink…
An early Christmas 🎁 and an unexpected reward for ‘volunteering’ to take the family shopping in Newcastle today… 11 Waxwings along the B6341 near Edlingham #NEbirding #birds
December 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
An early Christmas 🎁 and an unexpected reward for ‘volunteering’ to take the family shopping in Newcastle today… 11 Waxwings along the B6341 near Edlingham #NEbirding #birds
A great flock of 3,000+ Barnacle Geese and 1,500 Pinkfeet by the level crossing north of Elwick this morning, including this leucistic Barnie #NEbirding #birds
December 21, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A great flock of 3,000+ Barnacle Geese and 1,500 Pinkfeet by the level crossing north of Elwick this morning, including this leucistic Barnie #NEbirding #birds
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Guinevere's seasonal guide to pronouncing Northumbrian place names like a local. Goswick. Gozick. Silent W. Goz like gosling... which is apt given it means "goose farm". Recorded as Gossewic 1202.
Granma kept geese (& ducks).She'd walk them down to the River Lyne for a swim!!
Plenty ⬇️⬇️ too.
Granma kept geese (& ducks).She'd walk them down to the River Lyne for a swim!!
Plenty ⬇️⬇️ too.
Todd’s Canada Goose with c3200 Barnacles west of Beachcomber House, Goswick #birds #NEbirding #WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear
December 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Guinevere's seasonal guide to pronouncing Northumbrian place names like a local. Goswick. Gozick. Silent W. Goz like gosling... which is apt given it means "goose farm". Recorded as Gossewic 1202.
Granma kept geese (& ducks).She'd walk them down to the River Lyne for a swim!!
Plenty ⬇️⬇️ too.
Granma kept geese (& ducks).She'd walk them down to the River Lyne for a swim!!
Plenty ⬇️⬇️ too.
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Keynote nominations are now open for the BOU 2027 Spring Conference on Avian Disease Ecology!
Submit via the conference webpage: bou.org.uk/event/avian-...
Also thrilled to announce that Prof. Dana Hawley (@danahawley.bsky.social) will deliver the Alfred Newton Lecture.
Please share!
Submit via the conference webpage: bou.org.uk/event/avian-...
Also thrilled to announce that Prof. Dana Hawley (@danahawley.bsky.social) will deliver the Alfred Newton Lecture.
Please share!
December 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Keynote nominations are now open for the BOU 2027 Spring Conference on Avian Disease Ecology!
Submit via the conference webpage: bou.org.uk/event/avian-...
Also thrilled to announce that Prof. Dana Hawley (@danahawley.bsky.social) will deliver the Alfred Newton Lecture.
Please share!
Submit via the conference webpage: bou.org.uk/event/avian-...
Also thrilled to announce that Prof. Dana Hawley (@danahawley.bsky.social) will deliver the Alfred Newton Lecture.
Please share!
Mostly housebound with a bad back this week, so little to post. So here’s a handsome dog posing with his friend at home this evening
December 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Mostly housebound with a bad back this week, so little to post. So here’s a handsome dog posing with his friend at home this evening
Reposted by Mark Eaton
The International Swan Census is nearly here! UK coverage looks strong, but key Whooper/Bewick's sites still need volunteers for 17–18 Jan 26. If you can help, please reach out to @btobirds.bsky.social. Check map for vacant sites lnkd.in/eWqWm7GW Thanks to all who are taking part! Photo: Ben Andrew
December 10, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The International Swan Census is nearly here! UK coverage looks strong, but key Whooper/Bewick's sites still need volunteers for 17–18 Jan 26. If you can help, please reach out to @btobirds.bsky.social. Check map for vacant sites lnkd.in/eWqWm7GW Thanks to all who are taking part! Photo: Ben Andrew
A first for me today - in 100’s of gigs, I’ve never been to a matinee. Watching the Marconi Union was a blissful way to spend a wet Sunday afternoon in Newcastle
December 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
A first for me today - in 100’s of gigs, I’ve never been to a matinee. Watching the Marconi Union was a blissful way to spend a wet Sunday afternoon in Newcastle
Sam’s turn to be the golden retriever at the end of the rainbow (sorry, old joke)
December 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Sam’s turn to be the golden retriever at the end of the rainbow (sorry, old joke)
Northumberland was looking very moody after the rain finished this afternoon, mist rising off the fields and woods backlit by some weak winter sun
December 6, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Northumberland was looking very moody after the rain finished this afternoon, mist rising off the fields and woods backlit by some weak winter sun
As usual, good numbers of farmland birds at Holburn Grange today - c200 Yellowhammers, 70 Reed Buntings, 80 Tree Sparrows #NEbirding
December 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
As usual, good numbers of farmland birds at Holburn Grange today - c200 Yellowhammers, 70 Reed Buntings, 80 Tree Sparrows #NEbirding
Also at Buston Links, Northumberland, this stunning leucistic Hare 😍. At dusk - when I saw the white moving across a distant field I thought it was a Barn Owl at first! I’ll return to look for it in better light #UKwildlife #UKmammals
December 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Also at Buston Links, Northumberland, this stunning leucistic Hare 😍. At dusk - when I saw the white moving across a distant field I thought it was a Barn Owl at first! I’ll return to look for it in better light #UKwildlife #UKmammals
Two of my favourite species at Buston Links near dusk - Short-eared Owl & Jack Snipe. Also Barn Owl, 2 Little Egrets, 2+ Water Rails #NEbirding #birds
December 5, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Two of my favourite species at Buston Links near dusk - Short-eared Owl & Jack Snipe. Also Barn Owl, 2 Little Egrets, 2+ Water Rails #NEbirding #birds
A Purple Sandpiper channeling its inner phalarope at Seaton Pt this afternoon #WaderWednesday #NEbirding
December 3, 2025 at 10:29 PM
A Purple Sandpiper channeling its inner phalarope at Seaton Pt this afternoon #WaderWednesday #NEbirding
Fontburn this afternoon - pleasant but seems to have very few wintering finches this year ☹️. Couldn’t quite read this Marsh Tit’s ring 🤷♂️. Called into Netherwitton on the way home to admire 20+ Bramblings #NEbirding
December 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Fontburn this afternoon - pleasant but seems to have very few wintering finches this year ☹️. Couldn’t quite read this Marsh Tit’s ring 🤷♂️. Called into Netherwitton on the way home to admire 20+ Bramblings #NEbirding
Visited Northumberland’s newest tourist attraction, in Warkworth Dunes. 5/5, would visit again - especially recommended for driftwood fans. Better than Alnwick Gardens and about 50 quid cheaper
November 29, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Visited Northumberland’s newest tourist attraction, in Warkworth Dunes. 5/5, would visit again - especially recommended for driftwood fans. Better than Alnwick Gardens and about 50 quid cheaper
Warkworth. After a week housebound with flu, a relief to get outside with our poor neglected dogs! Could’ve done without that rain on the horizon, mind.
November 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Warkworth. After a week housebound with flu, a relief to get outside with our poor neglected dogs! Could’ve done without that rain on the horizon, mind.
Reposted by Mark Eaton
NEW BLOG - the RBBP reviews what species we should collect data on regularly. Here’s an explanation of what we consider when species are removed, and why Avocet and Mediterranean Gull are staying on our list, for now rbbp.org.uk/2025/11/25/r...
Reviewing the RBBP species list
Reviewing the RBBP species list
Mediterranean Gull, Mark Eaton
The RBBP collects data and reports upon all native species with UK breeding populations of fewer than 2,000 pairs. In addition, s...
rbbp.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
NEW BLOG - the RBBP reviews what species we should collect data on regularly. Here’s an explanation of what we consider when species are removed, and why Avocet and Mediterranean Gull are staying on our list, for now rbbp.org.uk/2025/11/25/r...
Reposted by Mark Eaton
There was actually a time quite recently when the Young People still used Tinder
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
![[Scene is a WOODLAND just before dawn. In a tree, a TEENAGE ROBIN with big headphones on is slouching on a branch, swiping on her phone. Her DAD ROBIN approaches her on the branch looking cheerful with her MUM ROBIN also in tow].
DAD ROBIN:
Wakey wakey darling, it's National Dawn Chorus Day!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
Ugh, Dad...
DAD ROBIN:
Come on, dear...
DAD ROBIN:
It's time for us all to shout into the darkness for sex!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
What
DAD ROBIN:
You're a big bird now.
Time to put down that blessed phone and find a mate...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
I am.
On Tinder.
[She swipes on her phone]
DAD ROBIN:
Oh for heaven's sake.
Your generation has no sense of tradition!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
Right... so you'd rather I found love by bellowing into the woods for a pre-dawn hookup with a total stranger?
DAD ROBIN:
It's natural!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
It's dogging.
DAD ROBIN:
Well that's how your Mum and I had you...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
OH MY GOD GROSS
MUM ROBIN [Singing sweetly into the air]:
Sex pleeease...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
Stop it Mum.
MUM ROBIN:
SEEEEEX PLEEEEAAAASE...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
MUUUM!
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreierbhobnorq5sxzbz3n5wpp2y3b4d6gpudj7qf6qycqqlvwja7eoi@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
There was actually a time quite recently when the Young People still used Tinder
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
Reposted by Mark Eaton
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one?
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Postgraduate opportunities
The RSPB is offering a variety of exciting research projects for postgraduate students in 2026.
www.rspb.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one?
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Reposted by Mark Eaton
This, from the Guardian, is Ryanair at its very worst.
It's not good enough for them to insist that they're a low-cost airline and everyone knows the rules, in circumstances like this...
I wonder if legislation is needed?
It's not good enough for them to insist that they're a low-cost airline and everyone knows the rules, in circumstances like this...
I wonder if legislation is needed?
November 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This, from the Guardian, is Ryanair at its very worst.
It's not good enough for them to insist that they're a low-cost airline and everyone knows the rules, in circumstances like this...
I wonder if legislation is needed?
It's not good enough for them to insist that they're a low-cost airline and everyone knows the rules, in circumstances like this...
I wonder if legislation is needed?
Curlews dropping into the fields to roost at Boulmer this evening. A Jack Snipe coming in-off low over the haven was a pleasant surprise #NEbirding
November 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Curlews dropping into the fields to roost at Boulmer this evening. A Jack Snipe coming in-off low over the haven was a pleasant surprise #NEbirding
Three gigs in a week, all very different - tonight was soaring psychedelia from Gong in Newcastle. Fantastic, but I am looking forward to a quiet night in tomorrow
November 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Three gigs in a week, all very different - tonight was soaring psychedelia from Gong in Newcastle. Fantastic, but I am looking forward to a quiet night in tomorrow