Ben Averis
@averisben.bsky.social
Botany, bryology, lichens, habitat classification, ecology, biodiversity (http://www.benandalisonaveris.co.uk/), art (http://www.benaverisart.co.uk/), music, poetry... Lives near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Wow - 30 Cranes in a field in Northumberland! Amazing!
Absolutely gobsmacked. One of the most amazing birding sights I’ve seen in Northumberland - here’s some of the 30 Cranes (up to 38 were reported by others) that spent the afternoon in a field next to the A1 just north of Alnwick. #NEbirding #UKbirding #birds
February 7, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Wow - 30 Cranes in a field in Northumberland! Amazing!
Reposted by Ben Averis
If we found microscopic life on Mars the media would go ballistic with excitement
Yet here on Earth species after species the likes of which we will never see again are on the verge on extinction and all we get from the media is
deadly silence
Yet here on Earth species after species the likes of which we will never see again are on the verge on extinction and all we get from the media is
deadly silence
Bengal #SlowLoris are shy wide-eyed beauties who are #nocturnal and live in 🇲🇾 #Malaysia 🇹🇭 #Thailand. They face multiple threats including #palmoil #deforestation. Help them when you shop! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🔥☠️🩸🙊⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/08/b...
February 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM
If we found microscopic life on Mars the media would go ballistic with excitement
Yet here on Earth species after species the likes of which we will never see again are on the verge on extinction and all we get from the media is
deadly silence
Yet here on Earth species after species the likes of which we will never see again are on the verge on extinction and all we get from the media is
deadly silence
Excited to have just found the uncommon moss Antitrichia curtipendula on an old Sycamore here in East Lothian, Scotland. A rarity in the Scottish Central Belt. Two previous records of it in this county: in 1902 and some time between 1950 and 1989.
February 1, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Excited to have just found the uncommon moss Antitrichia curtipendula on an old Sycamore here in East Lothian, Scotland. A rarity in the Scottish Central Belt. Two previous records of it in this county: in 1902 and some time between 1950 and 1989.
Here in the Lammermuir Hills in south-east Scotland, I've recently seen several patches of Soft Rush (Juncus effusus) with a blue tinge. Perhaps this is just an effect of low-angled late afternoon sunlight on the shiny, rather wet, slanting rush stems. The colour looks a bit odd in this landscape.
January 31, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Here in the Lammermuir Hills in south-east Scotland, I've recently seen several patches of Soft Rush (Juncus effusus) with a blue tinge. Perhaps this is just an effect of low-angled late afternoon sunlight on the shiny, rather wet, slanting rush stems. The colour looks a bit odd in this landscape.
Another fantastic performance from Pacific Music Festival. Really superb playing.
Mozart: String Quartet No. 15
Full of drama, but also there are these moments of introspection, even vulnerability, that genuinely make me shudder💕
from the 2025 Pacific Music Festival
(26m🎦)
youtu.be/IHr-MRhDoa8
Full of drama, but also there are these moments of introspection, even vulnerability, that genuinely make me shudder💕
from the 2025 Pacific Music Festival
(26m🎦)
youtu.be/IHr-MRhDoa8
Mozart: String Quartet 15, K. 421 / モーツァルト：弦楽四重奏曲 第15番 K. 421 [PMF 2025]
YouTube video by PacificMusicFestival
youtu.be
January 25, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Another fantastic performance from Pacific Music Festival. Really superb playing.
Very concerning that as many as 30-40% of Americans still approve of Trump. Hearing him speak for only one minute, on any subject, consistently reveals his obnoxious blend of arrogance, ignorance and evil greed. (And ‘any subject’ inevitably morphs into ‘me, me, me’.)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Ros Atkins on...How popular is President Trump?
BBC Analysis Editor Ros Atkins explores how Americans feel about their president during a nonstop start to 2026 shaped by pivotal events at home and abroad.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Very concerning that as many as 30-40% of Americans still approve of Trump. Hearing him speak for only one minute, on any subject, consistently reveals his obnoxious blend of arrogance, ignorance and evil greed. (And ‘any subject’ inevitably morphs into ‘me, me, me’.)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Excellent, inspiring and important communication in this video. Seeing that there are people like this, genuinely and actively committed to a better, fairer, socially and environmentally sustainable way forward, really does give hope and encouragement to be part of it all in whatever way one can.
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
January 22, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Excellent, inspiring and important communication in this video. Seeing that there are people like this, genuinely and actively committed to a better, fairer, socially and environmentally sustainable way forward, really does give hope and encouragement to be part of it all in whatever way one can.
Reposted by Ben Averis
CALTON HILL ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT First Workshop Saturday 31 January starting 10.00, Headland Archaeology, 13 Jane Street, Leith EH6 5HE. Looking at the results of the recent drone photogrammetry survey. All welcome: members & non-members. See Eventbrite. 1/
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/calton-hil...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/calton-hil...
Calton Hill Archaeology Project Photogrammetry Workshop
Join us for a workshop on how photogrammetry technology is being used for the first time to discover more about the archaeology of the hill
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 11:06 PM
CALTON HILL ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT First Workshop Saturday 31 January starting 10.00, Headland Archaeology, 13 Jane Street, Leith EH6 5HE. Looking at the results of the recent drone photogrammetry survey. All welcome: members & non-members. See Eventbrite. 1/
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/calton-hil...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/calton-hil...
Reposted by Ben Averis
My Republican colleagues must take notice:
The U.S. cannot base foreign policy on whether or not a president gets a prize.
This is pathetic.
It is petty and dangerous narcissism — behavior we might expect from a spoiled child, not the leader of a democratic nation.
The U.S. cannot base foreign policy on whether or not a president gets a prize.
This is pathetic.
It is petty and dangerous narcissism — behavior we might expect from a spoiled child, not the leader of a democratic nation.
Breaking News: President Trump told Norway’s prime minister that one reason he’s pushing to acquire Greenland is because he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Denied Peace Prize, Trump Tells Norway He’ll Push for Greenland
In a text message, President Trump told Norway’s prime minister he no longer felt obliged to “think purely of Peace” and that the world would not be secure until America controlled the island.
nyti.ms
January 19, 2026 at 9:47 PM
My Republican colleagues must take notice:
The U.S. cannot base foreign policy on whether or not a president gets a prize.
This is pathetic.
It is petty and dangerous narcissism — behavior we might expect from a spoiled child, not the leader of a democratic nation.
The U.S. cannot base foreign policy on whether or not a president gets a prize.
This is pathetic.
It is petty and dangerous narcissism — behavior we might expect from a spoiled child, not the leader of a democratic nation.
A wee poem written just now, after reading about people thinking Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
January 19, 2026 at 10:20 PM
A wee poem written just now, after reading about people thinking Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
Interesting grass growth form: Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis) with tufts of young (autumn-winter) leaves sprouting from the upper parts of last year's shoots among Heather on the Lammermuir Hills, SE Scotland. 18-01-2026.
January 19, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Interesting grass growth form: Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis) with tufts of young (autumn-winter) leaves sprouting from the upper parts of last year's shoots among Heather on the Lammermuir Hills, SE Scotland. 18-01-2026.
Wonderful piece of music, superbly played.
Lutosławski's balance of sophistication and fun here is 👨🍳*mwah*
Dance Preludes for Clarinet & Ensemble
soloist: Liana Leßmann
from the 2025 Pacific Music Festival
(13m🎦)
youtu.be/V7nwDXBie44
Dance Preludes for Clarinet & Ensemble
soloist: Liana Leßmann
from the 2025 Pacific Music Festival
(13m🎦)
youtu.be/V7nwDXBie44
Lutosławski: Dance Preludes for Clarinet & Ensemble -Dawid Runtz / ルトスワフスキ：舞踏前奏曲 ダヴィッド・ルンツ[PMF 2025]
YouTube video by PacificMusicFestival
youtu.be
January 17, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Wonderful piece of music, superbly played.
I just saw seven Bullfinches fly up from the Heather in this heath in the Lammermuir Hills, SE Scotland. Not their usual type of habitat!
January 15, 2026 at 3:55 PM
I just saw seven Bullfinches fly up from the Heather in this heath in the Lammermuir Hills, SE Scotland. Not their usual type of habitat!
Same here: I've never used it and have no intention of ever doing so.
Never ever. And never will.
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
January 15, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Same here: I've never used it and have no intention of ever doing so.
Really hoping that this won't happen. Trump's selfish, greedy, power-crazy behaviour and his associated disregard for the environment, sustainability and our survival, all completely against expert advice, makes him and his associates guilty of behaviour as criminal as anything can ever be.
US plan to exploit Venezuela’s oil risk plunging Earth further into climate catastrophe
So long as Big Oil increase their profit it does not matter that Earth burns and life becomes impossible
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
So long as Big Oil increase their profit it does not matter that Earth burns and life becomes impossible
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
US plan to exploit Venezuela’s oil could eat up 13% of carbon budget to keep 1.5C limit
Exclusive: ClimatePartner analysis shows how move would risk plunging Earth further into climate catastrophe
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Really hoping that this won't happen. Trump's selfish, greedy, power-crazy behaviour and his associated disregard for the environment, sustainability and our survival, all completely against expert advice, makes him and his associates guilty of behaviour as criminal as anything can ever be.
Fiddling with the filters!
January 11, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Fiddling with the filters!
The photographer must have either (a) used a very fast shutter speed or (b) had the patience to wait for all those things to stop rotating.
Mitella pentandra, our Alpine Mitrewort, blooming near Sawmill Pond #nativeplants
#FallbackFlowers #Fallback to July 10 🌿
#FallbackFlowers #Fallback to July 10 🌿
January 10, 2026 at 6:26 PM
The photographer must have either (a) used a very fast shutter speed or (b) had the patience to wait for all those things to stop rotating.
I'm out in the Lammermuir Hills in SE Scotland. Snow falling. Sudden very loud thunder a few minutes ago. Scary! My first proper experience of thundersnow. Heading down now...
January 9, 2026 at 12:12 PM
I'm out in the Lammermuir Hills in SE Scotland. Snow falling. Sudden very loud thunder a few minutes ago. Scary! My first proper experience of thundersnow. Heading down now...
Starting letters, line by line:
c, c, f, f, p and p
Different flavours, which combine
in a tasty soup for Thursday's tea
A multi-umbel-tumble mix
of browns and greens and orange-red
Doubling up as a visual fix
and a means to simply getting fed
c, c, f, f, p and p
Different flavours, which combine
in a tasty soup for Thursday's tea
A multi-umbel-tumble mix
of browns and greens and orange-red
Doubling up as a visual fix
and a means to simply getting fed
January 8, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Starting letters, line by line:
c, c, f, f, p and p
Different flavours, which combine
in a tasty soup for Thursday's tea
A multi-umbel-tumble mix
of browns and greens and orange-red
Doubling up as a visual fix
and a means to simply getting fed
c, c, f, f, p and p
Different flavours, which combine
in a tasty soup for Thursday's tea
A multi-umbel-tumble mix
of browns and greens and orange-red
Doubling up as a visual fix
and a means to simply getting fed
Yes, we need to remember the message of this post, (a) for our sanity and the quality of our lives from day to day, and (b) so we don’t lose sight of what is special in this world and don’t lose our motivation for looking after it.
Here's a nice picture I took, because the world isn't all shit and we need to remember that❤️
January 8, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Yes, we need to remember the message of this post, (a) for our sanity and the quality of our lives from day to day, and (b) so we don’t lose sight of what is special in this world and don’t lose our motivation for looking after it.
Crimes defined by points of law
and, just as shocking, more and more,
we witness something every day
that demonstrates his evil way
and, just as shocking, more and more,
we witness something every day
that demonstrates his evil way
Outrage as Trump withdraws from key UN climate treaty and dozens of international treaties
He has even withdrawn from
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Trump thinks we can all survive without nature
This is the measure of his intelligence
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
He has even withdrawn from
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Trump thinks we can all survive without nature
This is the measure of his intelligence
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Outrage as Trump withdraws from key UN climate treaty along with dozens of international organisations
Experts decry move to leave UNFCCC as ‘embarrassing’ as president orders withdrawal from 66 international groups
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Crimes defined by points of law
and, just as shocking, more and more,
we witness something every day
that demonstrates his evil way
and, just as shocking, more and more,
we witness something every day
that demonstrates his evil way
Reposted by Ben Averis
Every day we see where the politics of Donald Trump and the far right leads.
It's a politics of hate, fear, corruption and destruction.
It's a politics everyone in Scotland must stand unequivocally against, abroad and at home.
It's a politics of hate, fear, corruption and destruction.
It's a politics everyone in Scotland must stand unequivocally against, abroad and at home.
January 8, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Every day we see where the politics of Donald Trump and the far right leads.
It's a politics of hate, fear, corruption and destruction.
It's a politics everyone in Scotland must stand unequivocally against, abroad and at home.
It's a politics of hate, fear, corruption and destruction.
It's a politics everyone in Scotland must stand unequivocally against, abroad and at home.