MatthewParis
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matthewparis.bsky.social
MatthewParis
@matthewparis.bsky.social
I'm a fan of the 13th century chronicler known as Matthew of Paris. I also post images/videos of birds and animals that visit my birdbath and sometimes, my amateur photos of the night sky. You might know me as "Michael".
Reposted by MatthewParis
For our next seminar we're thrilled to have @saracharles.bsky.social speaking on 'The challenges and constraints of making medieval manuscripts in the twenty-first century'. 17.30 GMT Wed 25/02/26 at @ihr.bsky.social or online. Further details/registration at: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
February 11, 2026 at 9:59 AM
#birds A grackle captured on takeoff in brilliant light just before the wings pop out. (another photo from 2021)
February 10, 2026 at 4:03 PM
#birds #BirdOfTheDay theme: #OddCouples A tufted titmouse and a robin "sharing" the birdbath. From a while ago (2021).
February 10, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Spectacular recording if you click through... #medieval #music
If you found Gaelic hard to understand, try some mediaeval English instead:

Mirie it iſ while ſumer ilaſt ƿið fugheleſ ſong, oc nu neheð ƿindeſ blaſt and ƿeder ſtrong! Ei, ei! Ƿhat ðiſ nicht iſ long, and ich ƿið ƿel michel wrong, ſoregh and murn and faſt!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HXT...
Vocantus - Mirie it is while sumer ilast
YouTube video by Veratus
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by MatthewParis
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Venerat ad funus Thetidis de piscibus unus,
Quem, rex Neptunus misit quasi nobile munus.
[To Thetis' funeral came a monster fish,
By Neptune sent to make a glorious dish.]

Matthew of Paris records that in 1240, a very large "fish" swam 55 miles up the Thames River to Mortlake.

v1, pp 316
February 5, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Reposted by MatthewParis
zooming in was more of a treat than I anticipated
February 3, 2026 at 12:10 PM
#birds If you count drinking as part of today's #BirdOfTheDay theme: #FeedingTime, this is a large batch of starlings. (repost from Oct 2025)
January 20, 2026 at 3:54 PM
#birds from two days ago - a Cardinal in the morning sun.
January 18, 2026 at 10:47 PM
#birds A late afternoon cardinal comes to get a drink at a frozen birdbath. Camera reports temperature as -4C, 25F.By pecking at the edges - the cardinal can get ice-chips - it's worth the visit.
January 15, 2026 at 9:38 PM
A #fox wanders by the bird-bath in the very early morning light. The rain has spattered the lens of the camera - which has distorted the image. Can't tell if it got a drink or just wandered by to say "hi!".
January 15, 2026 at 9:26 PM
#birds A junco comes to get a drink in the middle of the day. (That orange thing in the background is a leftover, partially eaten small pumpkin.)
January 15, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Saturday just after midnight, it came to get a drink. Toes and tongue are so cute. #opossum #possum
January 15, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Live from this morning - #volcano #lava #hawaii -- I am sitting here with my tea, and this looked so awesome when it came across my feed... www.usgs.gov/observatorie...
January 12, 2026 at 3:19 PM
#birds #BirdOfTheDay theme: #Feathers&Form
A robin interrupts a mourning dove at the bath.
January 9, 2026 at 6:27 PM
#birds #BirdOfTheDay theme: #ShortBeaks
A close-up of a Junco with a "short beak". (Dec 18, 2025)
January 8, 2026 at 9:38 PM
#birds #BirdOfTheDay #speckles&spots Two (probably young) starlings. (From Oct 2025)
January 5, 2026 at 6:10 PM
January 5, 2026 at 3:24 PM
#squirrel From Christmas Day - a squirrel enjoying the autumn decorations set out for the wildlife.
January 4, 2026 at 7:16 PM
#birds Many Starlings. (from October)
January 1, 2026 at 9:06 PM
#birds - another October post that got lost. Noisy Starlings at the bird bath.
January 1, 2026 at 8:51 PM
#birds - never managed to post this in October... They don't look like they agree!
January 1, 2026 at 8:48 PM
#history This 4000 year old coffin (and contents) is amazing. The care and importance of this particular person is so moving.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bronze age "Tetney Coffin" arrives at Lincoln Museum
The 4,000-year-old coffin will go on display at Lincoln Museum next year.
www.bbc.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
#birds A junco is checking out the leftovers from the small pumpkins in the background (which have been gnawed by possums and squirrels).
December 10, 2025 at 10:24 PM