Simon Mitchell

Researchers compare the footprint of meat vs. plant-based dog foods. The differences were staggering. Global pet food emissions rival those of a small country. A new UK study reveals that switching dogs to plant-based foods could slash emissions tenfold—without sacrificing nutrition.

Global pet food emissions rival those of a small country. Switching dogs to plant-based foods could slash emissions tenfold—without sacrificing nutrition.

It’s certainly what the radar showed over continental US (see previous pics). Also one of the mechanisms Elkins (2004) cited for transatlantic vagrancy…

A great thread dismantling the latest 'conservation populism' to be floated in Britain. With funding available for species recovery, this is business for some. We'll see more of this pitching for commercial projects that scientists & species experts think is useless. #ornithology #ukbirding

So not ‘ideal’ conditions for pushing birds across the Atlantic, but very good conditions to put things in the mix. Northern species and stronger fliers like Catharus likely to be particularly favoured in context like this I suspect.

By tonight (Sunday) these two systems close together forcing anything trapped between them to move East as fast as possible. Whilst the calm weather itself will eventually pass just SE of Iceland on Monday.

At the same time as the cold front continued to push SE, the large depression moved NW. Lucky or adept birds (black arrow) may have been able to reoriéntate between the two fronts, but unlucky ones (red arrows) were likely forced further offshore

By Friday night the cold front was moving down through New England and forcing birds ahead of it (see birdcast shot), whilst most birds will have gone into the wind successfully (black arrows) the was still a significant offshore breeze moving any potentially unlucky individuals NE (red arrow)

Radar shows this was associated with a decent movement of birds ahead of the front

As of Thursday night a cold front was pushing SE through the across Hudson Bay & Ontario. This represents one of the biggest temperature drops of the autumn so far with a decent SW wind ahead of the front. Potential for both departure and drifting of migrants out over Drake Passage.

If it’s the conditions that initially misorientate birds which are important then we can expect a decent smattering of American landbirds between Mayo, Northern Isles and Iceland between Monday - Thursday next week.

So conditions across the Atlantic itself haven’t been ‘classic’ with the big former hurricanes that just arrived apparently a bit too wet for more than waders and the odd catharus to survive the crossing. But if maybe we underestimate the importance of initial displacement events of migrants?

Interesting set of conditions for displacing migrants across NE North America over the last few days serve as a potential insight into the extend that ‘initial conditions’ vs ‘conveyance conditions’ impact vagrancy of American land birds - thread.

@rarebirder.bsky.social

They aren’t critics. They’re deniers. BBC increasingly soft-balling its language for every far right whack job going.

'Following the science' is fundamental to uphold, whether combatting climate change denial by populist political parties, or ecological denial by populist 'conservation' groups, both of which have coincidentally right wing backers. Rejecting science & expertise seems integral to the world view.

Let me know if anyone finds the audiomoth I left out there!

I've just finished revising my free Birding Cadiz Guide (but donations via my Just Giving page to Alzheimer's Society are very welcome). No major changes, just minor updates (corrections are also posted on my blog - birdingcadizprovince.weebly.com/cadiz-birdin...)

Bit of gratuitious footage for good measure. Playground sounds in the background for added atmosphere!

A woman who then spent most of the rest of her social media efforts championing a Christofascist coup against the democratically elected Morales government in Bolivia

Yellow-browed Bunting trapped, ringed and released at the Swannery. It's flown to the hedge which runs alongside the Swannery grounds and the bird may be viewable from the permissive path heading west from Grove Lane.

Cheers, I was made up, especially since it felt the best weather window had been and gone...

After 25+ miles walked in better conditions along the Norfolk coast this month it felt sort of ironic that the first bird I lifted my bins for on a family outing at Happisburgh this afternoon was this lovely 1w Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike.

One of a brace of nice obvious 2cy Caspian Gulls on Norwich Waterworks this morning @rarebirder.bsky.social

Looks like it has Trichomoniasis. Stop feeding for at least a couple of weeks and thoroughly disinfect feeders. Otherwise you’re just killing with kindness

Mega! Nice one Will!

Didnt expect my (long overdue), self found Glossy Ibis to be a flock of 22 which took off from a hidden ditch at Buckenham! Terrible phone photo as they headed SSE over the Yare

Gonna tell my kids this is what Ross’s Gulls looked like