Pen Insole
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birdsblooms.bsky.social
Pen Insole
@birdsblooms.bsky.social
370 followers 680 following 400 posts
Nature lover who dabbles in blogging about my discoveries. Always looking to learn more about the natural world and share my wonder at it.
My blog is at: birdsbloomsandbumbles.com
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birdsblooms.bsky.social
The best of Christmas presents: cracking views of both a male and female kingfisher yesterday in Bristol. The female, shown here, was particularly well lit. 1/4
#birds
#kingfishers
Turquoise and orange female kingfisher with a small fish Turquoise and orange female kingfisher Turquoise and orange female kingfisher
December 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
zackpolanski.bsky.social
This gives me real hope. In the last 24 hours you've donated over £20k to @calaisappeal.bsky.social

Please do watch my Christmas message here:

youtu.be/lopMMkz0law?...

and donate here:

www.justgiving.com/campaign/tog...
Zack Polanski's Christmas Message
YouTube video by Bold Politics with Zack Polanski
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
breeze420.bsky.social
"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'" — Lewis Carroll

I hope all of you have a peaceful holiday🤍
snowy trees all around with a fence in the front.
December 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
I've seen a few posts recently recording some early female hazel flowers from.various spots around the UK. I've not seen any yet in the Highlands, but there are plenty out in Bristol where I'm visiting family for Christmas.
#flowers
Tiny pink flower above a yellow-green hazel catkin Tiny pink flowers above yellow-green hazel catkins Tiny pink hazel flower Tiny pink flowers above yellow-green hazel catkins
December 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
prufrockluvsong.bsky.social
Jamiroquai when Jamiro vewwy sad
December 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
m1dn1t31d10.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
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greenparty.org.uk
The language being used for people seeking refuge abroad is unacceptable.

Asylum seekers must be allowed to work, not demonised.

Starmer’s decision to move people in need to military sites in the new year is unacceptable.
REAL HOPE. REAL CHANGE LET THEM WORK Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ
December 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Their demands are reasonable, their treatment is disgraceful. The government's intransigence is killing the #PalestineAction hunger strikers. Just as its complicity has assisted the genocide in Gaza. It needs to wake up right now to the moral consequences.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Two Palestine Action-linked hunger strikers taken to hospital
MPs and next of kin of prisoners Amu Gib, 30, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, call for immediate government intervention
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Reposted by Pen Insole
chloelewis.bsky.social
If you're furious about some imaginary 'they' you believe won't let you say the word 'Christmas' but you also think 'Peace on Earth, goodwill to all mankind' is for snowflakes then, maybe it's actually you spoiling Christmas?
Painting of the Flight into Egypt, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
December 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
protectthewild.bsky.social
We'd love to see some of you there!

protectthewild.substack.com/p/join-the-p...
Join the protest to end the Guga Hunt!
Join us 31.12.25 1pm-3pm to help gannet chicks.
protectthewild.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
milesking.bsky.social
Humans were present in the Americas by at least 23000 years ago. Civilisations rose & fell throughout the Americas multiple times before Europeans arrived.

If one year equals the time since humans arrived in the Americas, The Mayflower arrived at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Christmas Day.
December 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
sarahpiper33.bsky.social
Truth.
#writing #writingcommunity
December 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Finally, some good news...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Shooting hares in England to be banned for most of the year
Exclusive: Ministers also expected to announce trail-hunting ban in sweeping changes to animal welfare law
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
We missed out on the most dramatic action from Ullapool's recent humpback whale visitors, but did still manage to catch a brief view of this individual yesterday. Amazing to see these animals from land in the UK
#whales
The dorsal fin of a humpback whale showing above the surface of the sea
December 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
gardeningwell.ie
Star plants #4, another unsung hero:
Ivy (Hedera helix)
Offers cover for birds and insects and food just when they need it.
#wildlifegardening #naturewriting #biodiversity

gardeningwell.ie/ivy
December 19, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
christownsend.bsky.social
Fourth White-tailed Eagle ‘disappears’ & RSPB offers £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction – Raptor Persecution UK raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/19/f...
Fourth White-tailed Eagle ‘disappears’ & RSPB offers £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction
Following the appalling news over the last couple of days about the highly suspicious, and almost certainly criminal, disappearance of three satellite-tagged White-tailed Eagles here, here and here…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
December 19, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
graceldn.bsky.social
Bought this book for my two mates’ babies for Christmas and I’m dying.
December 18, 2025 at 11:03 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
The gorgeous fluffiness of a winter group of long-tailed tits; perfection in bird form, surely?
#birds
A long-tailed tit, a small pink, white and black bird, on a twig A long-tailed tit, a small pink, white and black bird, hanging on a twig A long-tailed tit, a small pink, white and black bird, on a twig
December 18, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
A THREAD, which I am calling 'Some Of The Many Reasons Lichen And Moss Are Fucking Brilliant'.

1. They make public seating super comfy.

bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · Nov 19
There are over 18,000 types of lichen in existence. My personal favourite is ‘village bench lichen’, which devotes its entire existence selflessly to gradually making communal public seating more furry and comfortable.
A lovely furry bench in Manaton, Dartmoor
December 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
sianushka.bsky.social
It's hard to find the words for how disgusting this is. It completely silences girls' experiences of male violence. It fails to recognise the importance of education for prevention. It ignores the drivers of men's violence. And it's racist.

Oh and for good measure, which party cut police numbers?
December 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
protectthewild.bsky.social
This is an absolute disgrace, please take action now and contact your MP to stop this.

protectthewild.substack.com/p/the-govern...
The Government Is About to Class Animal Testing as “National Infrastructure”
URGENT PLEASE ACT NOW
protectthewild.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
protectthewild.bsky.social
Let’s make this the most signed in history!
December 16, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
robinince.bsky.social
My friend Subhadra Das is very worried about her friend Dr Ayo Khalil who has been arrested outside HMP Bronzefield
After the ambulance left with Qesser to take her to hospital the protest group outside of HMP ronzefield packed up their stuff and started leaving together as agreed with the police. The police then jumped on Dr Ayo Khalil and arrested him for no reason. They haven't arrested the white doctors who were also there, only him. The only black male doctor at the scene. He may have helped save Qessers life today, calmly, with knowledge and expertise and great planning and communication. And now they've arrested him. Call the met. Put a complaint in. And watch @kelechnekoff 's live now for on the ground updates. They must de-arrest him and face the consequences of their actions.
December 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
It's always a huge treat to catch up with tree sparrows, the country cousin of the commoner house sparrow. Told apart by their all brown caps and black cheek spots, like many other farmland species, it has undergone huge declines since 1970. I bumped into this small flock in Aberdeenshire yesterday
Two tree sparrows, small brown and cream birds, perched on a bramble stem A tree sparrow, a small brown and cream bird, perched on a bramble stem A tree sparrow, a small brown and cream bird, perched on a stem A tree sparrow, a small brown and cream bird, perched on a bramble stem
December 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Pen Insole
bookshop.org
While Amazon is investing billions of dollars to expand AI, independent bookstores are hosting community events, personally recommending books to readers, and providing a space that is safe and welcoming during a time when we need them most.

Never underestimate the power of a local bookstore.
December 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM