Dave Foster
@pratorum2112.bsky.social
Whitburn, NE England. Mostly birds and dreadful photographs, but a bit of other stuff too...
The two ad. Bewick's currently here...Near Thurnham, Lancs. Bloody lovely things 😍
November 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
The two ad. Bewick's currently here...Near Thurnham, Lancs. Bloody lovely things 😍
Reposted by Dave Foster
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Otherwise ad.-male looking Hen Harrier but with dark )brownish, exact pattern impossible to determine due to distance) central tail feathers (at least the central pair) - anyone seen this? @macstronach.bsky.social @helsinkibirder.bsky.social @timsbirding.bsky.social @saloplarus.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Otherwise ad.-male looking Hen Harrier but with dark )brownish, exact pattern impossible to determine due to distance) central tail feathers (at least the central pair) - anyone seen this? @macstronach.bsky.social @helsinkibirder.bsky.social @timsbirding.bsky.social @saloplarus.bsky.social
Reposted by Dave Foster
“Heartbreaking scenes from Elit, Iran, where wildfire is damaging parts of the ancient Hyrcanian forests — a @unesco.org World Heritage treasure and one of Earth’s last temperate rainforests" Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Turkey sends aircraft to help battle Iran wildfires
Two Turkish firefighting planes, one helicopter and eight personnel will arrive in Iran on Saturday to help quell fires in the Hyrcanian forest in the country's north, Iranian environment chief Shina ...
www.iranintl.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
“Heartbreaking scenes from Elit, Iran, where wildfire is damaging parts of the ancient Hyrcanian forests — a @unesco.org World Heritage treasure and one of Earth’s last temperate rainforests" Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Reposted by Dave Foster
Hundreds of chicks clubbed to death every year for "tradition" - sign the petition to end it: protectthewild.org.uk/gannet-petit...
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Hundreds of chicks clubbed to death every year for "tradition" - sign the petition to end it: protectthewild.org.uk/gannet-petit...
Reposted by Dave Foster
Just when we thought autumn was done, birding would be quieter and that was that, this vision of larid loveliness landed in the road in front of us! A cracking adult Franklin's Gull, the first record for Vatersay. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
November 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Just when we thought autumn was done, birding would be quieter and that was that, this vision of larid loveliness landed in the road in front of us! A cracking adult Franklin's Gull, the first record for Vatersay. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
Reposted by Dave Foster
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
November 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
Reposted by Dave Foster
A write-up of August’s Bridled Tern at Fife Ness, which I’d totally forgotten to post #birdingFife #rarebirdsUK
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/b...
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/b...
Bridled Tern at Fife Ness, 23/08/25
We’d selected Saturday 23rd August 2025 for the second all day Fife Ness seawatch, building on the success of the previous years’ which had seen about 40 local birders participate, and p…
chatterstanes.wordpress.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A write-up of August’s Bridled Tern at Fife Ness, which I’d totally forgotten to post #birdingFife #rarebirdsUK
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/b...
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/11/23/b...
Reposted by Dave Foster
"A voluntary agreement to begin discussions on a roadmap to an eventual phase-out of fossil fuels."
Have you ever read such an absurd sentence?
Have you ever read such an absurd sentence?
End of fossil fuel era inches closer as Cop30 deal agreed after bitter standoff
Wealthy countries should triple funds for countries to tackle climate impacts, but deforestation and critical minerals blocked from final deal
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"A voluntary agreement to begin discussions on a roadmap to an eventual phase-out of fossil fuels."
Have you ever read such an absurd sentence?
Have you ever read such an absurd sentence?
Reposted by Dave Foster
And this is spot on. No other political figure or party gets so little scrutiny. And it’s not like there isn’t a track record…
Corruption, Russia-links, Trump-christofascist-links, Brexit, racism, total incompetence in Reform-run councils…
A dangerous clowncar revving up to drive us into the wall.
Corruption, Russia-links, Trump-christofascist-links, Brexit, racism, total incompetence in Reform-run councils…
A dangerous clowncar revving up to drive us into the wall.
November 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
And this is spot on. No other political figure or party gets so little scrutiny. And it’s not like there isn’t a track record…
Corruption, Russia-links, Trump-christofascist-links, Brexit, racism, total incompetence in Reform-run councils…
A dangerous clowncar revving up to drive us into the wall.
Corruption, Russia-links, Trump-christofascist-links, Brexit, racism, total incompetence in Reform-run councils…
A dangerous clowncar revving up to drive us into the wall.
Reposted by Dave Foster
Rachael Johnson: "Boris did his best".
Only because his best has always been fucking awful.
Let's consider Boris Johnson, a moral man and a great politician: I'd love to talk about all three of them, but I only have space for Boris.
Only because his best has always been fucking awful.
Let's consider Boris Johnson, a moral man and a great politician: I'd love to talk about all three of them, but I only have space for Boris.
November 22, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Rachael Johnson: "Boris did his best".
Only because his best has always been fucking awful.
Let's consider Boris Johnson, a moral man and a great politician: I'd love to talk about all three of them, but I only have space for Boris.
Only because his best has always been fucking awful.
Let's consider Boris Johnson, a moral man and a great politician: I'd love to talk about all three of them, but I only have space for Boris.
Reposted by Dave Foster
Durham will scrap full council-tax rebates, forcing 26,000 low-income working-age residents to start paying for the first time | Peter Morris
Council tax shock for thousands of Durham’s poorest – thanks to Reform UK
Durham will scrap full council-tax rebates, forcing 26,000 low-income working-age residents to start paying for the first time
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Durham will scrap full council-tax rebates, forcing 26,000 low-income working-age residents to start paying for the first time | Peter Morris
Reposted by Dave Foster
Compare these images with those of L l melanuroides from Japan www.instagram.com/reel/DOuYs0A... - images taken N Lincs August 21sta nd 29th 2010 and suggested at the time as L l m by RM at B World but mag folded before it was moved forward - forgot it until seeing images linked above -
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Compare these images with those of L l melanuroides from Japan www.instagram.com/reel/DOuYs0A... - images taken N Lincs August 21sta nd 29th 2010 and suggested at the time as L l m by RM at B World but mag folded before it was moved forward - forgot it until seeing images linked above -
Reposted by Dave Foster
A video from earlier in the autumn during some particularly heavy Pheasant migration in Highland! #highlandbirds
November 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A video from earlier in the autumn during some particularly heavy Pheasant migration in Highland! #highlandbirds
Reposted by Dave Foster
Take three minutes to look at pretty birds, explore radar data, and see how we connect the structure of skies to MacArthur's ideas of niche partitioning. 📡🐦☁️🎧
November 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Take three minutes to look at pretty birds, explore radar data, and see how we connect the structure of skies to MacArthur's ideas of niche partitioning. 📡🐦☁️🎧
Reposted by Dave Foster
A truly mind blowing 🤯 study into migration in the US using vast amounts of radar data! 👇
Take three minutes to look at pretty birds, explore radar data, and see how we connect the structure of skies to MacArthur's ideas of niche partitioning. 📡🐦☁️🎧
November 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A truly mind blowing 🤯 study into migration in the US using vast amounts of radar data! 👇
Reposted by Dave Foster
NHS private finance diverts money away from healthcare, towards the pockets of private shareholders.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
November 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
NHS private finance diverts money away from healthcare, towards the pockets of private shareholders.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Reposted by Dave Foster
It is indisputable that Brexit has been an economic disaster, and notable that none of its political architects have paid any price.
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM
It is indisputable that Brexit has been an economic disaster, and notable that none of its political architects have paid any price.
Reposted by Dave Foster
Reposted by Dave Foster
Police must end Palestine Action arrests, says former UK counter-terror chief
Richard Barrett condemned the UK government's designation of Palestine Action as a terror group and the amount of police time/resources used to arrest people holding signs.
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
Richard Barrett condemned the UK government's designation of Palestine Action as a terror group and the amount of police time/resources used to arrest people holding signs.
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
Police must end Palestine Action arrests, says former UK counter-terror chief | The National
Richard Barrett tells The National that activists who feel strongly about Gaza are 'not terrorists'
www.thenationalnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Police must end Palestine Action arrests, says former UK counter-terror chief
Richard Barrett condemned the UK government's designation of Palestine Action as a terror group and the amount of police time/resources used to arrest people holding signs.
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
Richard Barrett condemned the UK government's designation of Palestine Action as a terror group and the amount of police time/resources used to arrest people holding signs.
www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
Reposted by Dave Foster
Insect Declines and the role of pesticides with @davegoulson.bsky.social online talk...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wsrt-wet-w...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wsrt-wet-w...
WSRT Wet Wednesday Webinars: Insect Declines with Dave Goulson
Join Dave Goulson for a deep dive into the role of pesticides in driving insect declines in our next WSRT Wet Wednesday Webinar!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Insect Declines and the role of pesticides with @davegoulson.bsky.social online talk...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wsrt-wet-w...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wsrt-wet-w...
Reposted by Dave Foster
OTD 25 yrs ago: A Small Whitethroat (Curruca minula) at South Gare. When did it become Small over Desert?
‘Just’ a subspecies back then. Unfortunately it was never trapped, nor was DNA ever obtained, so it’s all moot. 🤷🏻♂️
A female Pied Wheatear at Gibraltar Point on the way back was very nice too.
‘Just’ a subspecies back then. Unfortunately it was never trapped, nor was DNA ever obtained, so it’s all moot. 🤷🏻♂️
A female Pied Wheatear at Gibraltar Point on the way back was very nice too.
November 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
OTD 25 yrs ago: A Small Whitethroat (Curruca minula) at South Gare. When did it become Small over Desert?
‘Just’ a subspecies back then. Unfortunately it was never trapped, nor was DNA ever obtained, so it’s all moot. 🤷🏻♂️
A female Pied Wheatear at Gibraltar Point on the way back was very nice too.
‘Just’ a subspecies back then. Unfortunately it was never trapped, nor was DNA ever obtained, so it’s all moot. 🤷🏻♂️
A female Pied Wheatear at Gibraltar Point on the way back was very nice too.
Reposted by Dave Foster
There's been a few Taiga Beans in the county since late Sept but nearly all (all?) have moved on. So 19 (min) here on Westray today is a surprise! Hard to get close to tho as they're by a road in amongst some flitty Greylags. iPhone and Leica APO Televid 82 to the rescue 🙂 #WestrayBirding #PWC2025
November 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
There's been a few Taiga Beans in the county since late Sept but nearly all (all?) have moved on. So 19 (min) here on Westray today is a surprise! Hard to get close to tho as they're by a road in amongst some flitty Greylags. iPhone and Leica APO Televid 82 to the rescue 🙂 #WestrayBirding #PWC2025
Reposted by Dave Foster
At the Budget, the Green Party's message is clear: Cut Bills. Tax Billionaires.
November 19, 2025 at 8:20 AM
At the Budget, the Green Party's message is clear: Cut Bills. Tax Billionaires.
Reposted by Dave Foster
The catastrophic illegal waste dumping in Oxfordshire (see next post) is a direct result of the deregulation-by-stealth I wrote about in 2021, when my dead goldfish became a registered waste disposer. I warned it would let the mafia in. And here we are.🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Britain through the looking glass: my dead goldfish is now a registered waste disposer | George Monbiot
Algernon Goldfish is long gone, but I was able to sign him up. No wonder so many crooks are illegally dumping and ruining our environment, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The catastrophic illegal waste dumping in Oxfordshire (see next post) is a direct result of the deregulation-by-stealth I wrote about in 2021, when my dead goldfish became a registered waste disposer. I warned it would let the mafia in. And here we are.🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...