Andrew Clarke

I once met a top ranking world birder who visited his local optics store with a fat wallet intent on upgrading his Swarovski telescope.

Having carefully examined the new scopes he couldn’t justify spending a small fortune when the difference between the models were so slight.

Accessible birding in the United States: constraints to and facilitators of birding with disabilities While approximately one-quarter of the U.S. population has a disability, many people with disabilities remain excluded from equitable participation in birding. In this study, we compared the constr...

How can #birding be more accessible to people with #disability? See our research on constraints and facilitators!

A mind-blowingly cool few days rock-pooling down at Falmouth last weekend concluded with a session at Helford Passage. We found a cockle new to Cornwall! Plus a load of other cool stuff. Full story in my blog...
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...

Rainfall's origin reveals a hidden driver behind drought risks for farmers A new University of California San Diego study uncovers a hidden driver of global crop vulnerability: the origin of rainfall itself.

"Upland forests are like natural rainmakers," Jiang said. "Protecting these ecosystems isn't just about biodiversity—it's about sustaining agriculture."

#ClimateEmergency and #NatureCrisis intimately interlinked
phys.org/news/2025-11...

I’m a little unclear. So Kent Ornithological Society convened a conference highlighting the pros and cons of international tourism for conservation whilst campaigning with @rspb.bsky.social against a new local airport?

An important, complex topic but what timing eh? … “not in my backyard!”

Nuclear was never about ‘clean safe energy’. The plants were built to produce plutonium for warheads.

Alternatively, billions in govt grants should be invested creating real sustainable employment in the area.

I wrote ⬇️ days ago and now hear of a recent earthquake off the Anglesey coast!

#Wylfa

For 30 years there has been one species firmly at the top of my hit-list: Crimson Speckled. 30 years ago they had an almost mythical status, now more regular of course. So I was beyond elated to find this in one of the traps this morning!!! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Very true. I believe people only mature on realising that you don’t have to follow the crowd and compare yourself or seek approval from others.

Just do your own thing - there will always be someone who approves or disproves of your habits, lifestyle, fashion sense, hobbies etc so just be yourself!

It takes decades to see through the material madness when you’re born in a capitalist society and get caught in the hype of consumerism.

Financial wealth is never a barometer of character or the things that really matter; you can’t buy dignity, self-respect, good morals or a a clear conscience.

I began birding in the 70’s when most optics were poor.

Modern high-end optics do impart a brighter image in low light (and improve bird finding?) but It’s clear to me that entry level #BirdingGear has improved dramatically and there is much less of a gap between these and top of the range kit.

The so-called ‘status’ that results from ostentatious displays of financial wealth is entirely based on the false concept that the more material things you have then the greater your self-worth. 🤣🙄😆

And what a shame that manufacturers continue to release expensive products that perform so badly!

I speak for many birders when I say that the price of some optics is just ridiculous nowadays. I know you get what you pay for to some degree… but you don’t require a marketing PhD to realise that many more units could be sold if the price point was more affordable.

#BirdingGear

Great exhibition that many CNHS members attended last night. Our patron, Dafila Scott was there too with some of her wonderful paintings. #dafila.bsky.social #staplefordgranary.bsky.social

Poverty is a policy decision.

Concentrated wealth is a policy decision.

Inequality is a policy decision.

Remember this.

Based on what I've been able to find out, her name was probably Mary Frances Lewis and she lived in Ludlow

Remember: There is nothing natural or inevitable about extreme inequality; it’s the result of an economic system that values wealth and power over human dignity and justice.

It doesn't have to be this way.

An Ethical Consumer perspective on system change - ideas for new ownership of banks, supermarkets, cafes, water companies, trains, social media, energy generators, football clubs

Great to speak at the @ethical-consumer.bsky.social conference this morning

Imagine if normal people owned more of the economy we depend on... 💰🍎💧🚄💻⚡️⚽️

Wow, we found an even bigger and brighter one!!! analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2025/11/how-...

Many thanks for the recommendation Lukas.

Can anyone recommend resources (both print and digital) to improve my rusty knowledge of the etymology of Greek/Latin/scientific names of flora & fauna?

Many thanks!

The effects of flower supplementation on pollinators and pollination along an urbanisation gradient Enhancing urban greenspaces for pollinator communities by planting flower patches is increasingly common, but their efficacy for different groups of insects (bees, hoverflies and moths) is unclear. O....

Our new paper is out! We show that assessing the effects of adding flower patches in cities is complex and their direct benefits for pollinator communities and pollination aren’t always straightforward.
@plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social #openaccess
doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...

Brava!

Found a range of fungi incl. these smart Scarlet Waxcaps (Hygrocybe coccinea) nr Ringinglow, S.Yorkshire recently. Adjacent fields were emerald green from nitrate fertiliser application but this biodiverse pasture is too steep for the tractor!

@britishmyology.bsky.social
@sorbynathissoc.bsky.social

I also find it deeply ironic that some humans take it upon themselves to ask the artificial intelligence assistant @grok if a video or image has been generated by… wait for it… artificial intelligence! 🤦‍♂️

Understanding biology isn’t a phobia. Gender dysphoria is the only mental illness demanding the rest of society adopt the delusion as part of their treatment.

Ironically the phrase to describe those cowards unwilling to speak up for women’s dignity, equality and safety is ‘grow a pair of balls!’ 🙄

Peregrines are now also common victims of secondary poisoning by rodenticides; they eat pigeons, doves and corvids which access poisoned bait stations which are ubiquitous in urban environments wildlifepoisoningresearchuk.wordpress.com/wp-content/u... #UKBirding #Ornithology