Helen Baker
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helenbaker.bsky.social
Helen Baker
@helenbaker.bsky.social
240 followers 110 following 56 posts
Ornithology, Mycology, nature. Seabird team leader JNCC. Member BMS Field Mycology & Conservation Committee. Own views.
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Reposted by Helen Baker
ukrbbp.bsky.social
The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 2d
The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]
The cover of the November 2025 issue of British Birds, with a Little Ringed Plover sheltering its chicks
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Reposted by Helen Baker
ukrbbp.bsky.social
The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 1d
Our report for 2023 is out now in @britishbirds.bsky.social. There's a summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... but if you prefer to watch rather than read then here's RBBP secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social with a few key points and some lovely photos! #ornithology #ukbirds youtu.be/arj1m7NfKmY
Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023
YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel
youtu.be
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Reposted by Helen Baker
jassydrak.bsky.social
Jassy Drakulic @jassydrak.bsky.social · 23d
My first book RHS Fungi for Gardeners is out now!
Such an amazing opportunity to write for RHS and with such fantastic publishers as DK.
Better yet is that doing it enabled me to get my own compound microscope 🤩🍄
Check how the hyphae bend out at 90° on Mycena leptocephala stems
#fungifriends
Dark blue hardback cover of RHS Fungi for Gardeners on a set of shelves of gardening books in a book shop Jassy Drakulic standing next to the bookshelves featuring her new book, smiling Red stained hyphae of nitrous bonnet with pointed ends that bend away from the stem at right angles
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Reposted by Helen Baker
jncc.bsky.social
JNCC @jncc.bsky.social · 9d
🔮 How can monitoring data help predict the future of our environment?

Watch our #UKTEPoP Autumn Festival session with experts from JNCC, @ukceh.bsky.social and @btobirds.bsky.social on the power of prediction.

📺 youtu.be/KXY2-hdZ49M?...

#Conservation #Data #Prediction #TogetherForNature
TEPoP Autumn 2025: The importance of Prediction
YouTube video by JNCC
youtu.be
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Reposted by Helen Baker
britmycolsoc.org.uk
British Mycological Society @britmycolsoc.org.uk · 9d
Out now: Field Mycology Vol 26(3) - October 2025. Fungi on the front cover: Mycena olivaceomarginata - Brownedge Bonnet - in a lawn in Norfolk, UK. (Photo credit: Geoffrey Kibby) 👉 Find all articles online here: fieldmycology.org/index.php/jo... 📣 Register as a Reader to hear about new issues
Cover of the Field Mycology journal October 2025, with a photo of Brownedge Bonnet mushrooms in grass.
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Reposted by Helen Baker
bas.ac.uk
British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 16d
Supercharged seafloor spotting! 🐚

Our AI and science teams have been using machine learning to label surveys of the Antarctic seafloor. It's dramatically sped them up from <8 hours per photo, to a few seconds.

This one looks like a quick job. But stay with us as we up the difficulty...

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Image 1 is a pretty empty image of the Antarctic Sea floor. There's visibly a few large starfish in bright pink. In the annotated version of image 1, there's around 15 creatures labelled, including some tiny shells scattered across the floor.
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Reposted by Helen Baker
ukrbbp.bsky.social
The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 16d
A few opportunities to learn about rare breeding birds and the work of the RBBP. If your bird club/wildlife group/RSPB group would like an online talk from our Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social, get in touch.
A mocked-up T-shirt with four RBBP talk dates on
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helenbaker.bsky.social
Helen Baker @helenbaker.bsky.social · 19d
This is a parasitic fungus, Gomphidius roseus, the Rosy Spike, a gilled boletale, which targets the Bovine Bolete, Suillus bovinus, an ectomycorhizal species with pines. #FungiFriday
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helenbaker.bsky.social
Helen Baker @helenbaker.bsky.social · 19d
A rotter, this is Bulgaria inquinans, the Black Bulgar or Black Jelly, which is common in broadleaf woodland but most often on fallen oak. It can produce a turquoise dye if processed carefully, but more often a lovely green. #FungiFriday
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helenbaker.bsky.social
Helen Baker @helenbaker.bsky.social · 19d
It's waxcap season - fungi of nutrient poor grasslands that tend to peak in late autumn. This is the Date Waxcap, Hygrocybe spadicea, from grassland within the Balmoral estate. It is a rare species and an indicator of high quality fungi (CHEGD) grassland. #FungiFriday
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helenbaker.bsky.social
Helen Baker @helenbaker.bsky.social · 19d
It's #FungiFriday and yesterday was world fungus day so here are a few recent finds. These are dinner-plate sized Scaly Tooth, Sarcodon squamosus, from the ancient Caledonian pinewoods of Ballochbuie in the Balmoral estate.
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helenbaker.bsky.social
Helen Baker @helenbaker.bsky.social · 19d
Many congratulations Julian - very well deserved 🎉
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Reposted by Helen Baker
britmycolsoc.org.uk
British Mycological Society @britmycolsoc.org.uk · 22d
Join us on 29th November at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for the BMS Autumn Open Meeting. Hosted by Prof Martin Bidartondo and Dr Carrie Andrew, the meeting features expert speakers covering a variety of mycological topics. Find out more here: www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/aom_2025.html
Photo from Kew Gardens of a wooden bridge among trees and plants in autumn colours. With the BMS logo and the words: Autumn Open Meeting 2025. Saturday 29th November, Lady Sainsbury Lecture Theatre, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
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Reposted by Helen Baker
steffopp.bsky.social
Steffen Oppel @steffopp.bsky.social · 27d
NEW JOB in #ornithology with @RSPBScience to oversee research in #Wales with #seabirds and #waders: buff.ly/qkTVU6m
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Reposted by Helen Baker
bou.org.uk
BOU @bou.org.uk · 29d
EARLY VIEW in IBIS

Breeding and foraging habitat are important in determining foraging ranges of sympatric generalist species | onlinelibrary.wiley....

Chris B. Thaxter et al | #ornithology 🪶
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Reposted by Helen Baker
kyle-horton.bsky.social
Kyle Horton @kyle-horton.bsky.social · 29d
Another massive movement of migratory birds underway tonight — nearly 1 Billion Birds! With the full moon, you might be able to see some silhouettes zipping by. You can make your own flow maps here (just hit record): aeroecolab.com/uslights
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Reposted by Helen Baker
marineorno.bsky.social
Marine Ornithology @marineorno.bsky.social · 29d
New paper alert: Behavioral response of Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica to marine heatwaves in the Gulf of Maine, USA: A webcam study. By Julie Wallace et al.
#seabirds #OpenAccess #HeatWaves

www.marineornithology.org/PDF/53_2/53_...
An Atlantic puffin at the colony.
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Reposted by Helen Baker
bou.org.uk
BOU @bou.org.uk · Oct 7
Different migration strategies under warming ocean anomalies in penguins: a study of spatial, oceanographic, and isotopic niche segregation | link.springer.com/ar... | Journal of Ornithology | #ornithology 🪶
Different migration strategies under warming ocean anomalies in penguins: a study of spatial, oceanographic, and isotopic niche segregation
Journal of Ornithology - Many seabirds adjust migratory movements to interannual oceanic variability, tracking food resources, and potentially avoiding competition. This study examines the at-sea...
link.springer.com
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Reposted by Helen Baker
britmycolsoc.org.uk
British Mycological Society @britmycolsoc.org.uk · Oct 7
Fungi in our water?💧Next week, #PhD researcher Pooja Padmakumar explores how metagenomic sequencing reveals fungal pathogens in North Wales wastewater and what this means for outbreak detection. Register now: www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/bms-talks.html
#Mycology #Research #PublicHealth
Photo of Pooja Padmakumar, PhD student at Bangor University, with the text " BMS Talk - 15 October 2025, 19:30-21:00. What's lurking in Wales's waters?" www.britmycolsoc.co.uk
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Reposted by Helen Baker
btobirds.bsky.social
BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · Oct 4
⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza. ⬇️

📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/...
📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/...
📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv...

#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland
Image of a deceased Puffin lying on the ground. White wording on an orange background reads: Please report sightings of dead birds.
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Reposted by Helen Baker
ukrbbp.bsky.social
The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · Sep 20
Our most recent report, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2022, is now available open access on our website at tinyurl.com/2xf23keu
All reports dating back to 1973 can be found at rbbp.org.uk/annual-repor....
Our next report, for 2023, will be published in @britishbirds.bsky.social in November
The cover of British Birds, November 2024, with a Glossy Ibis illustration
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Reposted by Helen Baker
jncc.bsky.social
JNCC @jncc.bsky.social · Sep 19
🌊New advice on the revised Effective Deterrence Ranges (EDRs) for noise management in Harbour Porpoise Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) published bit.ly/4nzwCia
A Harbour Porpoise breaches the water, its fin on show. In the background, another can just be seen in the blue water. Image credit to Sarah Canning
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Reposted by Helen Baker
britmycolsoc.org.uk
British Mycological Society @britmycolsoc.org.uk · Sep 19
🍄🌱 Gardens can be fungal hotspots — if we let them! In this blog for #UKFungusDay, Jassy Drakulic @jassydrak.bsky.social at The RHS explores how garden practices can encourage (or suppress) fungi & why that matters for #SoilHealth & #Biodiversity. www.ukfungusday.co.uk/fungiingardens
#Gardening
A group of orange mushrooms growing in grass next to a dry-stone wall.
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Reposted by Helen Baker
seapop.bsky.social
SEAPOP.bsky.social @seapop.bsky.social · Sep 15
SEAPOP launches new data products that show #seabird distribution, environmental value and vulnerability to offshore wind farms. Data can be downloaded free of charge in form of maps (raster or vector format) seapop.no/en/2025/08/n...
New data products from SEAPOP
SEAPOP has recently published new data products that provide information and overviews of three important parameters related to seabirds along the Norwegian coast and the adjacent marine areas: their…
seapop.no
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Reposted by Helen Baker
britmycolsoc.org.uk
British Mycological Society @britmycolsoc.org.uk · Sep 12
Next week: hear how environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to detect & compare complex fungal communities in soils. BMS Talk by Ben Gregson, Anglia Ruskin University. Wednesday 17 September, 7:30pm online. Free to attend & open to all. Find out more & book: www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/bms-talks.html
Poster for the BMS Talk: Using environmental DNA (eDNA) for fungal metabarcoding in soils by Ben Gregson, Anglia Ruskin University.
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