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.
I didn't see them. I was reposting the post from Mark, who saw them.
February 10, 2026 at 7:59 AM
I didn't see them. I was reposting the post from Mark, who saw them.
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.
Yes, it is a strange thing. It is Soft Rush, which is very common in these hills, as are Sharp-flowered and Heath Rushes. Hard Rush is actually quite scarce around here: mainly in neutral to base-rich habitats in the lowlands.
February 1, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Yes, it is a strange thing. It is Soft Rush, which is very common in these hills, as are Sharp-flowered and Heath Rushes. Hard Rush is actually quite scarce around here: mainly in neutral to base-rich habitats in the lowlands.
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.
I don't know, and have never seen fruiting material of P. crinitum. The big lichen flora says they are very rare. I've just seen two online photos of it in fruit: in both cases the fruits were wide open and were obvious apothecia. Whatever these structures are, that is a great photo of yours!
January 26, 2026 at 9:32 PM
I don't know, and have never seen fruiting material of P. crinitum. The big lichen flora says they are very rare. I've just seen two online photos of it in fruit: in both cases the fruits were wide open and were obvious apothecia. Whatever these structures are, that is a great photo of yours!
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.
These are fabulous!
January 25, 2026 at 3:36 PM
These are fabulous!
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/...
If almost everyone is in Group 2, why do so many people keep voting for Group 1?
January 23, 2026 at 1:36 PM
If almost everyone is in Group 2, why do so many people keep voting for Group 1?
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.
That's interesting. I assume it's related to relatively wet, mild weather, though it's been pretty cold in these hills of late. Some leaves in these tufts are pale brown and dead; maybe they first appeared in autumn. I also found some Agrostis capillaris growing this same way among the heather here.
January 19, 2026 at 9:48 PM
That's interesting. I assume it's related to relatively wet, mild weather, though it's been pretty cold in these hills of late. Some leaves in these tufts are pale brown and dead; maybe they first appeared in autumn. I also found some Agrostis capillaris growing this same way among the heather here.
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.
You're welcome! Sometimes I see a post and photo that triggers a spontaneous motivation to write a wee poem about it!
January 19, 2026 at 8:18 PM
You're welcome! Sometimes I see a post and photo that triggers a spontaneous motivation to write a wee poem about it!
Same camera as mine!
Yes, Metzgeria violacea has increased too, and in many places I now find it more plentiful than M. furcata.
Yes, Metzgeria violacea has increased too, and in many places I now find it more plentiful than M. furcata.
January 17, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Same camera as mine!
Yes, Metzgeria violacea has increased too, and in many places I now find it more plentiful than M. furcata.
Yes, Metzgeria violacea has increased too, and in many places I now find it more plentiful than M. furcata.
Good photos of those bryophytes: two species that have increased in Britain in recent decades alongside reductions in SO2 (as you probably already know, in which case, apologies!).
January 17, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Good photos of those bryophytes: two species that have increased in Britain in recent decades alongside reductions in SO2 (as you probably already know, in which case, apologies!).
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.
That's a great photo.
January 16, 2026 at 8:51 PM
That's a great photo.
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.