The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem.
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Pity the River Blyth in Suffolk - it deserves better.
《The current target for the Laxfield [Combined Storm Overflow] is to reduce the number of spills to 10 a year by – wait for it – the year 2050. Ye gods!》
William Harvey is on top form.

Sad news that Suffolk birder and long-time leading London lister Andrew Moon died recently. His widow, Alison, is hosting a celebration of his life at Westleton Crown, Suffolk, this Saturday, Jan 31, 5-6pm. All friends welcome #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #EssexBirding #NorfolkBirding #LondonBirding

NEW: This is worth your time.

@thenerve_news has the receipts.

A comprehensive timeline of Nathan Gill & Nigel Farage’s pro-Kremlin influencing activities & 2 other MEPs, David Cobourn & Jonathan Arnott.

Please read & share.

#ukbirding
It is very apparent to patch birders in the east that the numbers, distribution and migration patterns of several winter visitors are rapidly changing as the climate warms. They don’t get talked about much though. 🤷‍♂️ 1/2

Smew, Lap Bunt, Snow Bunt, Roughleg

Blue Labour think caring for nature is middle class toss, a character weakness; or worse, code for being Tory.

Blue Labour would love nothing more than a return to concrete brutalism of the 1960s, when progress meant environmental destruction without any concern for the consequences.

Last week’s S Spain #FlywayBirding hol with the wonderful @ingloriousbustards.bsky.social was truly memorable. An uplifting antidote to world madness & evil, & UK’s pitiful state of nature. Leaders Simon&Nikki top people! Highly recommended! Huge thanks! #UKBirding #birds

Lovely pulse of waders into & through #RSPBMinsmere this morning: 3 Wood Sands, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 9 Whimbrel, 12 Barwit etc. Best though was a superb pale Arctic Skua over East Scrape. Absolute stunner against the blue sky! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

Amazing what a new hip and hearing aids can do for an ageing birder! 101sp seen/heard in 22k steps at #RSPBMinsmere today without trying too hard! 2 Garganey, Spoonbill north, 2cy Caspian Gull, Little Gull, Nightingales & some passage waders the best. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

Not posted much lately (not seen much that’s not already posted) but highlights at #RSPBMinsmere today were Cuckoo, Short-eared Owl ( roosting in tree!) 3 Bramblings, Nightingale, a steady (50?) northerly Med Gull movement + a decent array of passage waders. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

The undoubted highlight at #RSPBMinsmere today was a Hooded Crow flying north. A flashback bird, recalling the 1970s when they were fairly regular winter visitors here. I hadn’t seen one at Minsmere since then! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

Great to see this important study now out in #BirdStudy.
Here’s the link to the paper: doi.org/10.1080/0006... @btobirds.bsky.social #ornithology #ukbirding

Sizewell’s Kittiwakes are back on the A station’s offshore platforms for their 30th year! 18 around the rigs today (first returning birds of year?)inc 3 on nesting ledges on the old sea water intake platform. First nested here 1995. Welcome back! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds #Gulls

Labour's war on the countryside

Another excellent assessment of Govt (in)actions on the #StateOfNature & their 'green" growth at any cost greenwash by @herdyshepherd.bsky.social

unherd.com/2025/02/labo...

Wonderful outpouring of Wood Lark song on heathland near #RSPBMinsmere this morning. My new-ish hearing aids helped me enjoy it to the full after several years of mufflement ( and latterly silence!). Close Water Pipit at Island Mere Hide, Mins too. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

A mixed bag at #RSPBMinsmere today in glorious sunshine again. Best: L-t Duck still offshore, c250 C Scoter, 1 Purple Sand, 4 Bewick’s & 4 Whoopers, 2 Red Kite, 2 Cranes, 1 Dartford Warb in dunes & 2 frisky Ravens #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

At last a calm, blue-sky day at #RSPBMinsmere today! Best: Long-tailed Duck with c150 Common Scoter, 1 Purple Sand, 4 Whoopers, 4 Bewick’s, 2 Red Kite, 2nd cal yr Caspian Gull & 2 Russian White-fronts. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

Home truths: the only thing Labour is building is a bigger, more dysfunctional housing market | George Monbiot Private developers offer politicians a simple solution for bulldozing through this crisis – build more. But it won’t work, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Labour's simplemindedness will be its downfall - and ours. You can't build and bulldoze your way out of the housing crisis. Unless you also change the system, you'll still leave millions without decent homes. My column today explains why.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Meanwhile in Europe's largest area of lowland heath, the New Forest Dog Owners Group's motto is "On the Forest, off the lead" + object to dog restrictions in the National Park, even after a dog destroyed Curlews nests.
And the Kennel Club has guidance to object to restrictions.
Just depressing :(

Personal highlights from #RSPMinsmere today: Spoonbill dropped in mid-afternoon, 1 Purple Sand, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Med Gull, 2x1st winter Caspian Gulls & 1x1st winter Yellow-legged Gull. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

Visit to #RSPBMinsmere marred by arrogant, entitled dog owners with dogs on trails clearly signed (signs way too small) ‘no dogs’. Both on North Wall( free parking for romp on the beach) One was a slobbering off-lead Alsatian! Sick of this issue! #Natures_Voice #RSPB

Highlights from a few hours around RSPBMinsmere today: Bonxie offshore, 6 Caspian Gulls (4x1st w, 2x2nd w), 1 Purple Sand, 103 Pintail, 11 Goosander but no White-rumped Sand (I saw it briefly yesterday). Also sunshine & blue sky! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding #Birds

👍 I’d be honoured Daryl. Almost entirely going to be RSPB Minsmere news as, fortunately, it’s my local patch! Cheers and best wishes. Granty

Apologies for repeating myself but the White-rumped Sandpiper was still at RSPBMinsmere today. Also at least 4 Caspian Gulls ( 2ad, 2 1st winters), 1 Purple Sandpiper & 4 Goldeneye south offshore in a small wildfowl movement. Best wishes to all Bluesky birders. Cheers! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding

That should read 2x1st winter Caspian Gulls & 1x2nd winter 🙄

The 1st winter White-rumped Sandpiper paid a return visit to RSPB Minsmere’s East Scrape this morning after a few days’ absence, or at least no reports. Also 3 Caspian Gulls (2x2w, 1x2w) #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding

I looked into the ecological assessment for a site bought for development near my flat in London. Its conclusions were based on a visit of a handful hours across the middle of one day in May. The idea that nature gets fair consideration in any normal planning assessment is laughable.

cool, shut it down

There are some excellent field trips coming up in 2025, all put together by @wildlifegig.bsky.social. The trips are good for those new to birding and for the more experienced. For information on membership of Suffolk Bird Group go to www.suffolkbirdgroup.org SuffolkBirds

Nice to welcome back last winter’s drake Ring-necked Duck this morning. It’s returned to Thorpeness Meare and was in the extreme north-west corner late morning. Mobility improving daily ( mine, not the duck’s) after my hip replacement! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirding