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Henry Cook

@hcbirding.bsky.social

Birder, naturalist, conservationist, hodophile. Views mine. https://www.flickr.com/photos/8327273@N08/albums/ 🌍 Suffolk, UK

3,138 Followers  |  1,440 Following  |  2,600 Posts  |  Joined: 24.09.2023
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Posts by Henry Cook (@hcbirding.bsky.social)

Shockingly bad decision

28.02.2026 05:14 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Immature Dolphin Gull I think

22.02.2026 11:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wessex Stone-curlew Project Officer We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic individual with skills in farmland wildlife surveys (preferably Stone-curlew) to join our team conserving this RSPB Priority Species. The ideal ...

Wessex Stone-curlew Project Officer - RSPB - environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/109267-...

18.02.2026 21:05 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 11    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Please download these signs, share them on social media and put them up near you to protect your local wintering birds.

If you would like A4, laminated copies of these signs please e-mail charlie@curlewaction.org, all you need to do is donate for postage.

www.curlewaction.org/wintering-wa...

04.02.2026 07:15 β€” πŸ‘ 50    πŸ” 21    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE ⁦β€ͺ MARK RUSKELL MSP‬⁩ β™₯️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴󠁧󠁒󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!

27.01.2026 21:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1471    πŸ” 392    πŸ’¬ 84    πŸ“Œ 63
Blackish-grey Antshrike (Thamnophilus nigrocinereus) a specialist negatively impacted by acai densification (Alex Lees)

Blackish-grey Antshrike (Thamnophilus nigrocinereus) a specialist negatively impacted by acai densification (Alex Lees)

aΓ§aΓ­ palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) density is being rapidly increased by removing other tree species (Alex Lees)

aΓ§aΓ­ palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) density is being rapidly increased by removing other tree species (Alex Lees)

berries of the aΓ§aΓ­ palm  (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in situ (Alex Lees)

berries of the aΓ§aΓ­ palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in situ (Alex Lees)

Our new paper led by Madson Freitas shows that global demand for AΓ§aΓ­, a dietary staple for Amazonian people, now marketed as a superfood, is driving widespread estuarine forest degradation leading to impoverishment of their bird communities
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #ornithology 🌎🍴πŸͺΆπŸŒ΄

21.01.2026 10:56 β€” πŸ‘ 47    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
A close up of a Whiskered Treeswifts facing left. It has brown underparts, blue wings, a deep blue hood, white 'whiskers' above and below the eye which project behind the head.

A close up of a Whiskered Treeswifts facing left. It has brown underparts, blue wings, a deep blue hood, white 'whiskers' above and below the eye which project behind the head.

Whilst some birds were incredibly hard to see at Danum, on the other hand the Whiskered Treeswifts were a delight.
#BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

14.01.2026 01:39 β€” πŸ‘ 49    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
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Government’s wildlife targets will be missed in England, watchdog says Seven out of 10 targets have little likelihood of being met by 2030, Office for Environmental Protection says

Utterly damning report from Office for Environmental Protection - the Govt’s not only missing its targets to protect wildlife in England, it’s also failing on *almost all* environmental measures - and in some cases actively destroying the natural world through its obsession with growth at all costs

13.01.2026 10:04 β€” πŸ‘ 346    πŸ” 162    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 9
A bird perched on a vine with green back, red bum and a black face mask. The distinguishing features from other similar pittas include chestnut crown stripe and narrow supercillium.

A bird perched on a vine with green back, red bum and a black face mask. The distinguishing features from other similar pittas include chestnut crown stripe and narrow supercillium.

We found a rare bird (only 4 previous ebird records in Sabah) in the form of a Fairy Pitta at Danum! Worth slogging the leech-infested trails in the dark πŸŽ‰
#BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

13.01.2026 11:31 β€” πŸ‘ 39    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
A view of the Danum Valley rainforest in lowland Sabah with a river in the foreground. Trees reaching 100m tall grow here.

A view of the Danum Valley rainforest in lowland Sabah with a river in the foreground. Trees reaching 100m tall grow here.

Finished up 5 days in the Danum Valley. Some of the toughest but most rewarding birding I've known. Giant Pitta and Bornean Ground-cuckoo both seen (!) but far too elusive for photos
#BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

13.01.2026 06:36 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A brown bird with a very broad bill base perches on branch at night

A brown bird with a very broad bill base perches on branch at night

Gould's Frogmouth giving the death stare along the Kinabatangan River last night
#BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

08.01.2026 11:55 β€” πŸ‘ 47    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
A round green bird with a black hood, red bellyand shocking blue shoulder stripe

A round green bird with a black hood, red bellyand shocking blue shoulder stripe

Another day, another Pitta! This time a Western Hooded Pitta along the Kinabatangan River.
#BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

07.01.2026 06:47 β€” πŸ‘ 35    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A plump black bird with rich ruby underparts and shocking highlights of blue, perches on a low branch in the forest.

A plump black bird with rich ruby underparts and shocking highlights of blue, perches on a low branch in the forest.

Black-crowned Pitta was a star from our time at Sepilok. What a dapper fella! #BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

06.01.2026 06:54 β€” πŸ‘ 43    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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How demand for elite falcons in the Middle East is driving illegal trade of British birds Exclusive: data reveals hundreds of UK nests have been raided in the past decade amid growing appetite to own prized birds for racing and breeding

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

As falconry has become a multimillion-dollar international industry atretching around the world, an investigation by Guardian and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism shows it is fed by a shadow industry of the smuggling and illegal capture of wild birds.”

05.01.2026 20:51 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
A small bird with yellow-striped black back, pink neck collar, deeper pink belly, pale eye and a blue bill with green highlights.

A small bird with yellow-striped black back, pink neck collar, deeper pink belly, pale eye and a blue bill with green highlights.

The colours on this Black-and-Yellow Broadbill are really quite something! It landed nearby for a split second before melting into the greenery at Sepilok RDC. #BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

05.01.2026 09:45 β€” πŸ‘ 56    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A male Bornean Peacock-pheasant stands on a tree root. He has a greyish cap, yellow eye-ring, emerald breast with white stripe down the middle, brown back covered with jewel like feathers.

A male Bornean Peacock-pheasant stands on a tree root. He has a greyish cap, yellow eye-ring, emerald breast with white stripe down the middle, brown back covered with jewel like feathers.

Bornean Peacock-pheasant today. Words don't do it justice!
#BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

02.01.2026 12:54 β€” πŸ‘ 47    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Temminck's Sunbird

Temminck's Sunbird

Black-sided Flowerpecker

Black-sided Flowerpecker

Chestnut-crested Yuhina

Chestnut-crested Yuhina

Grey-throated Babbler

Grey-throated Babbler

A selection of passerines from Mount Kinabalu (names in alt text). We're now moving on to the steamy lowlands and a whole new set of species awaits!
#BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

01.01.2026 11:11 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Sunrise from the upper flanks of Mount Kinabalu. The sun is poking out from the horizon and several peaks show above fog

Sunrise from the upper flanks of Mount Kinabalu. The sun is poking out from the horizon and several peaks show above fog

Happy New Year! Started off 2026 with a rather special sunrise. Went on a trek for Friendly Bush-Warbler but it remained distinctly unfriendly! Sundaic Island Thrush and Besra were good compensation though. #BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

01.01.2026 09:41 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A medium sized orange bird with dark wings and a bluish bill sits on a branch in mossy forest

A medium sized orange bird with dark wings and a bluish bill sits on a branch in mossy forest

Lots of rain on Mount Kinabalu but it didn't stop the highland endemic Whitehead's Trogon showing well - this is the female. #BorneoBirding
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

31.12.2025 03:02 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
An emerald-green bird with black throat patch and extensive black wing-spotting perches on a horizontal stick.

An emerald-green bird with black throat patch and extensive black wing-spotting perches on a horizontal stick.

Up there with my most wanted birds in #Borneo, the amazing Whitehead's Broadbill from Mount Kinabalu!
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

30.12.2025 07:41 β€” πŸ‘ 51    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
A lime green bird with black face mask, and a red bill and legs, perches on a diagonal stick with a dark background

A lime green bird with black face mask, and a red bill and legs, perches on a diagonal stick with a dark background

The endemics are rolling in now in Malaysian #Borneo, with few more eye-catching than the Bornean Green-magpie #BorneoBirding

29.12.2025 13:20 β€” πŸ‘ 34    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Photo of a Marbled Cat looking directly at the camera- a small wild cat with spots and stripes and looking hella cute

Photo of a Marbled Cat looking directly at the camera- a small wild cat with spots and stripes and looking hella cute

I have returned to Bluesky to post that we have just seen Marbled Cat in Malaysian Borneo and I am very very happy. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
@hcbirding.bsky.social

28.12.2025 07:46 β€” πŸ‘ 99    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
A bejewled bird with yellow, blue, brown, white and black feathering stands on the forest floor

A bejewled bird with yellow, blue, brown, white and black feathering stands on the forest floor

Scenes! #BorneanBandedPitta
@sophieshrike.bsky.social

27.12.2025 23:59 β€” πŸ‘ 52    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
A large black and emerald butterfly is nectarine on a red busy-lizzie flower

A large black and emerald butterfly is nectarine on a red busy-lizzie flower

Found the immense Rajah Brooke's Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana) in the Crocker Range, #Borneo, today. Butterfly highlight right there! #Butterfly #Lepidoptera

27.12.2025 19:25 β€” πŸ‘ 33    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Java Sparrow

Java Sparrow

Blue-naped Parrot

Blue-naped Parrot

Common Iora

Common Iora

Chestnut Munia

Chestnut Munia

A steady start to birding in Borneo today with Java Sparrow, Blue-naped Parrot, Common Iora and Chestnut Munia seen amongst others. Brown-backed Needletails harassing a Peregrine was amazing to watch but far too fast to capture on camera!

26.12.2025 12:23 β€” πŸ‘ 41    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

No stopping you now! Good mothing πŸ˜€

18.12.2025 21:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Tufted Duck shortly after dawn from my local park lake

17.12.2025 08:47 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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🚨 CODE RED FOR NATURE 🚨

We are worried that Gov will weaken Biodiversity Net Gain β€” or remove small sites entirely!

Gutting BNG would:
❌ collapse investment
❌ stall nature recovery
❌ send a catastrophic signal to markets

This cannot happen.

13.12.2025 08:00 β€” πŸ‘ 37    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A cut out image of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on a tree features on a green background. Wording alongside reads: New insights unlocked with acoustic monitoring. Image credit bottom right reads: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Β©MikeLane45 from Getty Images, via Canva.com.

A cut out image of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on a tree features on a green background. Wording alongside reads: New insights unlocked with acoustic monitoring. Image credit bottom right reads: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Β©MikeLane45 from Getty Images, via Canva.com.

⚠️ The UK’s smallest and rarest woodpecker, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a shy and elusive bird. It’s rapidly becoming one of our scarcest breeding birds, with substantial declines since the 1980s. πŸ§΅β¬‡οΈ #bioacoustics #ornithology

14.12.2025 18:02 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Sign the petition to end peat sales! No more delays: Let's get peat out of gardens once and for all. The time for uncertainty has ended.

It's ridiculous that the Government *still* haven't banned the sale of peat.

Peat bogs are still getting dug up and used for compost and in horticulture. Ministers say they'll ban it 'when time allows'.

Get on with it already! Sign the petition:

actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...

15.12.2025 11:46 β€” πŸ‘ 216    πŸ” 97    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 9