Peter Driver

Scientists reveal our best- and worst-case scenarios for a warming Antarctica - British Antarctic Survey New study on the Antarctic Peninsula shows that the choices we make in the next decade will determine Antarctica’s fate for centuries

The future of the Antarctic Peninsula depends upon the choices we make today.

www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/s...

Frontiers | The Antarctic Peninsula under present day climate and future low, medium-high and very high emissions scenarios The Antarctic Peninsula is warming rapidly, with more frequent extreme temperature and precipitation events, reduced sea ice, glacier retreat, ice shelf coll...

Our new paper on the future of the Antarctic Peninsula published today, showing how the various systems across the Peninsula will be impacted by different global warming scenarios.

www.frontiersin.org/journals/env...

They're all here! Well at least six of them anyway 😉

Nothing new for the year but a few delightful sights in the village this week:
1. Brambling
2. Redpoll
3. Siskin
4. Firecrest
5. Bullfinch

#berksbirds #mortimerbigyear

The Great Olympic lie: untold story of Winter Games’ huge environmental impact Rivers drained dry to create artificial snow, a forest cut down for the bobsleigh track – IOC’s claims to prioritise sustainability at Milano Cortina exposed

Enjoy it while you can

I give the winter olympics another 20 years at most

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

Well done on the Purple Sands. I've dipped three times (Southsea and Barton) so far.

“A warming world is littered with their dead bodies”

Seabird deaths happened around the same time last year too, following the severe storm Eowyn.

We can all help by burning less carbon and by talking about the issues honestly and clearly.
#ukbirding

Excellent. I'm leading a @berksbirdclub.bsky.social trip to Titchfield Haven next month so will seek your advice in advance for some current tips.

***New** Latest wild bird trends in Europe: Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS) indicators 1980–2024. Data = 168 bird species, 30 countries⬇️ @rspb.bsky.social @birdlifeeurope.bsky.social @ebcc.info 🐦@rspbscience.bsky.social pecbms.info/european-wil...
pecbms.info/trends-and-i...

Great to finally meet you both. Thanks so much for your work and for giving us reasons for optimism about LSWs. Here's hoping for lots of positive results from this season's passive acoustic monitoring.

After our talk about Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at @berksbirdclub.bsky.social thrilled to be given this woodcut monoprint on vintage wallpaper by the artist @peterdriver.bsky.social - 'Lesser Spotted now seldom seen' highlighting their decline since the wallpaper was made. Thank you Peter

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers – reasons for optimism! An in person talk by Ken Smith on 18 February for Berkshire Ornithological Club at University of Reading at 7:30. Also on Zoom - Details here berksoc.org.uk/events/lesse...

Anticipating Ken and Linda Smith's talk tonight at @berksbirdclub.bsky.social on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.
Here's my 2020 woodcut monoprint on vintage wallpaper, about their decline since the wallpaper was made - from a series shown in So'ton and Reading.
@lesserspotnet.bsky.social
#berksbirds

Brambling still around in the village yesterday.
With the addition of Redpoll on my morning walk today, I'm now on 64 species within Stratfield Mortimer parish. Not bad for the first six weeks of the year.

Sparrowhawk (f) on Thursday's BOC trip to Otmoor RSPB. We observed 55+ species, including Tundra Bean Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Russian White-fronted Goose. As we walked back to the cars, we heard a Bittern booming from the reedbed.
Thanks to Gray Burfoot for leading a wonderful trip.
#ukbirding

A couple of hours at Warsash yesterday before a meeting put me into a small group of Knot among the Dunlin. My 120th species of the year. There were several Little Grebes and GCG on the water but no divers or other grebes in evidence.
#hantsbirds

If she'd won in 2015 we would be living in a different world. For example, I maintain Brexit wouldn't have happened without Corbyn's ambivalence. But that doesn't make Yvette the right person for this moment. Not a fan of Keir but I don't see anyone better able to lead the government today.

An admirable approach. Fuckingbrilliant. ✊🏻

Brent Goose (dark-bellied) in a neighbouring parish this morning. My 201st bird species in Berkshire, 88th Berkshire bird this year.
Found, as usual, by Andy Merrick.
#berksbirds

And this little video. This male and a female were among about 200 Chaffinches along with a Reed Bunting, five Yellowhammers and a smattering of Linnets. I spent an hour and half watching them in order to work out what they all were...great fun.

A long way off but it'll do. Brambling in the village this morning - patch gold.
#mortimerbigyear

Farmers from horticulture, arable and livestock systems share how IPM is less about reacting to pests and more about building healthy soils, diverse habitats and resilient farm businesses.

Listen to the Farm Gate podcast 👉 https://8point9.com/insects-are-a-powerful-tool-for-food-production/

The village pond was looking wonderful in a rare spell of sunshine yesterday. My Mortimer parish boundary bird list for 2026 currently stands at 61. A lot more fieldwork to do to reach my 100 target for the year but it is just good to be out and exploring the woods, lanes and footpaths.
#berksbirds

Yes that's right. About 2.20pm, as we were walking back from the viewpoint towards Slough Lane, it flew through from the north east and over the trees towards the reedbed. Lost to sight after a few seconds. Twelve of us saw it well.

Edit: This 1st winter Little Gull...

Great shot. I hope it stays a bit longer as I haven't had a chance to get over there yet.

Great day out at Poole Harbour yeateday with @berksbirdclub.bsky.social This Little Gull was at Lytchett Fields RSPB. We saw a ringtail Hen Harrier there too, then a White-tailed Eagle from Jerry's Point.
#dorsetbirds

This is not the best photo of Black-necked Grebes you're likely to see but they were over a kilometre away off Hurst spit, seen from Pennington today.
#hantsbirds

Top birding! I'm on 61 for my home parish, 87 for Berkshire and 109 UK, which is the best I've ever managed in the first month. My highlight was Crossbills in the village and White-fronted Geese and Cattle Egret in the next village. Good luck for the month ahead.

The Willow Tit is one of the most endangered breeding birds in the UK (90% decline in the last 30 years); I was happy to see two at Garwnant in the Brecon Beacons yesterday, my first in a few years. #BirdingWales #birds #BirdsSeenIn2026
@bannaubrycheiniog.bsky.social