Hugh Venables
@deepseahugh.bsky.social
Birds/dragonflies (Cambridgeshire, Norfolk), Oceanography/cetaceans (Southern Ocean, Antarctica)
A bit of a "last dragonfly of the year" feel to the weather (and forecast). Good to see a few Common Darters still out at lunchtime in Cambridge
November 13, 2025 at 2:28 PM
A bit of a "last dragonfly of the year" feel to the weather (and forecast). Good to see a few Common Darters still out at lunchtime in Cambridge
Pectoral Sandpiper on Arnold's Marsh briefly just before lunch
October 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Pectoral Sandpiper on Arnold's Marsh briefly just before lunch
They'll likely go for squirrels first in UK. So could have an impact, but unlikely to be the planned one initially. They'll probably learn to move into more urban areas as populations grow anyway. South Wales first I'd guess. London Peregrines go for parakeets, so that's another food option
October 3, 2025 at 3:09 PM
They'll likely go for squirrels first in UK. So could have an impact, but unlikely to be the planned one initially. They'll probably learn to move into more urban areas as populations grow anyway. South Wales first I'd guess. London Peregrines go for parakeets, so that's another food option
The dunes now extend a long way seaward of the sea wall north of Winterton
August 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The dunes now extend a long way seaward of the sea wall north of Winterton
The current GP provision is limited by neither physical space, nor location. The Longstanton branch is closer to most current houses than the Northstowe GP will be, and closed in the afternoons.
July 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The current GP provision is limited by neither physical space, nor location. The Longstanton branch is closer to most current houses than the Northstowe GP will be, and closed in the afternoons.
The one that is within walking range of Northstowe is closed in the afternoons (appears they've reverted the Monday afternoon opening)
July 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The one that is within walking range of Northstowe is closed in the afternoons (appears they've reverted the Monday afternoon opening)
If the health centre was built now it would be hard to staff it because it would be hard to get residents to switch from the Longstanton surgery*, which is closer for most than the Northstowe GP will be. Northstowe will be big, Longstanton is very close
*closed 4 afternoons a week
*closed 4 afternoons a week
July 19, 2025 at 10:54 AM
If the health centre was built now it would be hard to staff it because it would be hard to get residents to switch from the Longstanton surgery*, which is closer for most than the Northstowe GP will be. Northstowe will be big, Longstanton is very close
*closed 4 afternoons a week
*closed 4 afternoons a week
Sampling in Antarctic waters, not the normal time to be here!
June 21, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Sampling in Antarctic waters, not the normal time to be here!
From the ship, hope they have a great winter!
June 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
From the ship, hope they have a great winter!
Rothera winterers seeing us off with flares. Planes will be back in October, until then they'll be on their own for science and keeping the station running. @bas.ac.uk
June 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Rothera winterers seeing us off with flares. Planes will be back in October, until then they'll be on their own for science and keeping the station running. @bas.ac.uk
Heading back into Rothera for the final call before heading north
June 15, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Heading back into Rothera for the final call before heading north
Into the polar night down here on our very late visit to Rothera, but still good light for about three hours as dawn merges straight into dusk.
June 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Into the polar night down here on our very late visit to Rothera, but still good light for about three hours as dawn merges straight into dusk.
110 Humpbacks and a male Orca in a three hour survey through Lemaire Channel today. Amazing place and incredible amounts of wildlife still down here. @bas.ac.uk
June 2, 2025 at 1:14 AM
110 Humpbacks and a male Orca in a three hour survey through Lemaire Channel today. Amazing place and incredible amounts of wildlife still down here. @bas.ac.uk
Heading south for a winter trip to Rothera for a month. Taking the chance of a very late ship call to base to get some extra samples from the area. Stunning route out of Punta Arenas to start the trip, with several Andean Condors
May 28, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Heading south for a winter trip to Rothera for a month. Taking the chance of a very late ship call to base to get some extra samples from the area. Stunning route out of Punta Arenas to start the trip, with several Andean Condors
Another Northstowe swan family started. An odd one, with three adults to go with the three cygnets. Same as last year, I assume the third adult is an offspring from an earlier brood. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
May 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Another Northstowe swan family started. An odd one, with three adults to go with the three cygnets. Same as last year, I assume the third adult is an offspring from an earlier brood. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Bearded Reedling in Northstowe, 154th species for the new town. Have been hoping for them a while now. Ouse Fen being 5 miles away helps, and seems to be a lot around this winter. In a ditch I can see part of from the house, before sensibly moving to the lake @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
January 24, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Bearded Reedling in Northstowe, 154th species for the new town. Have been hoping for them a while now. Ouse Fen being 5 miles away helps, and seems to be a lot around this winter. In a ditch I can see part of from the house, before sensibly moving to the lake @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Fancy a year diving and doing oceanogrpahy in Antarctica, or know someone who might? Job advert out for wintering Ocean Scientist post (job previously known as Marine Assistant) and many others. Please apply, or share. bas.ciphr-irecruit.com/applicants/v...
January 20, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Fancy a year diving and doing oceanogrpahy in Antarctica, or know someone who might? Job advert out for wintering Ocean Scientist post (job previously known as Marine Assistant) and many others. Please apply, or share. bas.ciphr-irecruit.com/applicants/v...
Some favourite penguins for #penguinawarenessday though I think some are more aware than others. Looking forward to getting back south to the penguins soon.
January 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Some favourite penguins for #penguinawarenessday though I think some are more aware than others. Looking forward to getting back south to the penguins soon.
There are some, there is also a bus-only route, which will also keep things more separate, and give a fairly direct cycling route as well (goes close to the secondary school). Won't open for a while, but we're pushing to get the last bit opened for easier bike access
January 20, 2025 at 9:17 AM
There are some, there is also a bus-only route, which will also keep things more separate, and give a fairly direct cycling route as well (goes close to the secondary school). Won't open for a while, but we're pushing to get the last bit opened for easier bike access
Some dragonflies and damselflies for the mix
January 13, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Some dragonflies and damselflies for the mix
We go again with the rechargeable glider at Rothera, for another month looking at the phytoplankton bloom, glacier melt and the warm water melting the glacier. Many thanks to those on base for the launch (and photos, I was in my home office) @biopole.bsky.social @bas.ac.uk
January 13, 2025 at 11:26 PM
We go again with the rechargeable glider at Rothera, for another month looking at the phytoplankton bloom, glacier melt and the warm water melting the glacier. Many thanks to those on base for the launch (and photos, I was in my home office) @biopole.bsky.social @bas.ac.uk
There are a lot of King Penguin photos out there labelled as Emperor, so unsurprising AI then struggles. GIGO.
January 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
There are a lot of King Penguin photos out there labelled as Emperor, so unsurprising AI then struggles. GIGO.
It's also in cuttings in other places. Quick plot of the Lidar data shows the area is a small confined catchment, with some slightly higher ground
December 12, 2024 at 5:38 PM
It's also in cuttings in other places. Quick plot of the Lidar data shows the area is a small confined catchment, with some slightly higher ground
But on the bright side, the greenways and lakeside paths mean most areas can be pleasantly bypassed anyway. Big issue is that the cars block sightlines at the junctions. Enforced with physical barriers in Phase 2 near secondary school.
December 10, 2024 at 2:27 PM
But on the bright side, the greenways and lakeside paths mean most areas can be pleasantly bypassed anyway. Big issue is that the cars block sightlines at the junctions. Enforced with physical barriers in Phase 2 near secondary school.
We had a resident Swamphen at Fen Drayton for years. In the old days of a single parakeet roost in SW London, it would draw in all sorts of escapes, including a Yellow-headed Amazon. The Cliffe Flamingos were also great fun. Is Spur-winged Plover (Kent 1997) less likely as wild than Grey-headed?
December 9, 2024 at 5:10 PM
We had a resident Swamphen at Fen Drayton for years. In the old days of a single parakeet roost in SW London, it would draw in all sorts of escapes, including a Yellow-headed Amazon. The Cliffe Flamingos were also great fun. Is Spur-winged Plover (Kent 1997) less likely as wild than Grey-headed?