Author | Lightnews

James Bonthron

@jamesbonthron.bsky.social

280 followers 1.5K following 35 posts

🌿 Freelance Environmental Journalist | SE England 🌍 ✍️ Stories on sustainability, conservation, & eco-innovation. 🗞️ Published in Live Science, The Mirror. Always chasing the next big green story. 📩 Let’s connect: jamesbonthron[@]gmail.com

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Jan 13

What happens when two apex predators collide? 🐍
Earlier this year, I reported a fateful clash between a Burmese python and a reticulated python in India 🥊.
So, which species won?
📖 Full story here:
tinyurl.com/rbu95dtf
#ReptileResearch #ScienceNews #FreelanceScience #JournalistsOfScience

Burmese python eats even bigger reticulated python alive, in 1st-of-its-kind encounter

Photos show 10-foot Burmese python swallowing a reticulated python whole, eating the snake from the tail up in just 2 hours.

www.livescience.com

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Reposted by James Bonthron

IPBES @ipbes.net · Apr 16

📢 @ipcc.bsky.social is calling for the nominations of authors for the Seventh Assessment Report! 🌍🧪

Find out how to become an author or review editor here 👉 bit.ly/4krWMTu

More information on the process 👉 bit.ly/AR7Nm

Submissions close 17 April

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Reposted by James Bonthron

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Apr 11

New shark new shark NEW SHARK

Description of a new species of hound shark of the genus Iago (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) from the northern Indian Ocean. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 72(1), 18–28

shark-references.com/species/view... 🧪🦑🦈🐟

Image of the specimen of the new shark from the top, bottom, and side

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Apr 3

What a great photo!

Menestune @menestune.bsky.social · Apr 3

#Honu floating down slowly for nap time on the #ocean floor. Sun rays lighting the way. 🦑🐍

#seaturtle #turtle #wildlife #underwaterphotography #photography #maui #zen #peace #snorkeling #diving

Green Sea Turtle swimming near some large coral towers. All tinted green from being several feet underwater. Sun rays streaking across the water, lighting the turtle up.

Reposted by James Bonthron

California Academy of Sciences @calacademy.bsky.social · Apr 3

Good news, Internet: You can hang out with your favorite alligator ANY TIME you want! Claude’s 24/7 livestream camera launches tomorrow, and we’re kicking off this momentous occasion with a live watch party. 🐊

A close up shot of Claude shows off the alligator’s toothy grin, with his white snout sticking up above the water.

A close up shot of Claude shows his tail and right back arm, floating in the dark murky waters of the swamp. His claws and stubby toe are all visible.

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Reposted by James Bonthron

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Feb 19

Here’s today’s #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism - a species of conservation concern has been successfully bred in captivity for the first time, which can contribute to their continued survival and eventual repopulation. 🧪🌎🐠🦑

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Rare fish species successfully hatched at Bristol Zoo

Eggs from a rare Mexican fish species believed to be extinct in the wild have successfully hatched.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by James Bonthron

Dr Lauren Smith @saltwaterlifeuk.bsky.social · Feb 15

Judged.

#seal #greyseal #marinelife #ukwildlife #wildlife #nature

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Reposted by James Bonthron

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Feb 15

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... 🌎🧪🦑🐠

The Former Pelagic Longline Fishery of a Large‐Scale Marine Protected Area

The establishment of large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) has emerged as one of the defining trends in ocean conservation over recent decades. To assess the potential benefits of such designat....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Reposted by James Bonthron

Michèle Sharik #SlavaUkraini 🇺🇦 @michelesharik.bsky.social · Feb 12

🐍 #Reptiles

Samantha Maich @samanthamaich.bsky.social · Feb 8

In a sentence never before uttered by humans, I am delighted to share that an alligator stole my conservation instructor’s hat by jauntily walking into the water while wearing it 🐊

A middle aged man helplessly holds an alligator’s tail as it steals his hat

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Feb 11

Which species of gull are they?

James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Feb 11

I love this!
#Gulls #Seabirds #BirdsOfBlueSky #CoastalLife #WildlifePhotography

Pat Lillich @quietlynow.bsky.social · Feb 11

Flight. Alaska. Nik Silver Effex conversion. I think i like the white border but it cut some birds off. expanded canvas to save as many as i could. #birds #bird #birdphotography #blackandwhitephotography #nature

a large flock of gulls filled the air in Alaska - black and white treatment, but the photo was pretty monochrome to begin with.

Reposted by James Bonthron

Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · Feb 11

I’ve only seen a couple of Common Gull so far in 2025 with this individual at Kenfig NNR last week the first to make it to “film”. #birdingWales #birds #UKWildlife #nature #wildlife #robin #photography #birdphotography #wildlifephotography

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Feb 11

Nice photo! I've seen a few of these over the years, but yet to take a decent photo of one!
#Turnstone #Shorebirds #BirdsOfBlueSky #CoastalBirds #NatureLovers #Ornithology #BirdWatching #WildlifeLovers #MigratoryBirds #BirdNerd

David Parkin @davidparkin.bsky.social · Feb 11

Turnstone on Amble harbour staying still for the photo. (Of course the ball and chain helps). #BirdingNE #Birds

Small wader, mottled brown back and bib with a clean white underside standing close to an anchor chain.

Reposted by James Bonthron

David Gaffney @davygee.bsky.social · Feb 11

Two Iceland gulls in two different locations in 2025 #birds#twosday

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Feb 10

One of my favourite species (and the inspiration for some of my online usernames).
#Ducks #Waterfowl #DuckWatching #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #BirdNerd #Ornithology

Valentin @urbanstreet.bsky.social · Feb 10

Mandarin Duck
#birds #ducks #photography #wildlife

a male mandarin duck is standing on a branch

Reposted by James Bonthron

Ian Young @iangrebe.bsky.social · Feb 10

Lesser black-backed gull and mute swan at Hyde Park in London. He may be “lesser” but he is a large and strong bird 🪶

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Feb 10

Great photo! There's a good spot for ducks near me, but this is one I'm yet to find.
#Ducks #Waterfowl #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #BirdNerd #Ornithology

Lainy @lainy.bsky.social · Feb 10

Goldeneye
#birds #birdingscotland

Reposted by James Bonthron

Dawne Slater @genealogydawne.bsky.social · Feb 10

Juvenile ring-billed gull

#birds
#wildlifephotography
#naturephotography

Bird in flight has brown and white pattern with a dark tail and wing tips. It has a dark tip to its beak. It flies over a churning surf

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Reposted by James Bonthron

Whale Tales @whaletalesorg.bsky.social · Feb 9

Valentine's Day is just around the corner so another reminder that #BalloonsBlow.
Countless animals are killed by consuming the fallen remains of helium balloons and birds and other animals can also be entangled in any attached string.

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Feb 10

What an incredible photo!
#Cormorant #WildlifePhotography #BirdWatching #Waterbirds #NatureLovers #Ornithology #Seabirds #BirdNerd #NaturePhotography

dantose.bsky.social @dantose.bsky.social · Feb 10

Great cormorant
Daegu, Korea
#bird #🐦#birdphotography

Reposted by James Bonthron

Robby Deans @hydaticus.bsky.social · Feb 7

Yonahlossee Salamander (Plethodon yonahlossee), Caldwell County, North Carolina

#wildlife #herps

A salamander with a dark gray head, black eyes, light gray legs and sides, and a reddish orange back.

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Reposted by James Bonthron

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · Feb 5

Cup-a-soup?

Cup-a-newt.

*Eastern Newt, safely released after brief observation.

Photo of a newt (Eastern Newt) in a cup with water. The animal was briefly observed and then safely released.

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Reposted by James Bonthron

Daniel Bastaja @kupac1.bsky.social · Feb 4

Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), the common large gull of the southern ocean coastlines from South America to Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. As you can see behind the adult, the juveniles are very dark throughout. #BirdingNewZealand #gulls #seegulls #birds #birding

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James Bonthron @jamesbonthron.bsky.social · Feb 3

Wow! Not heard of this species being in the UK before.
#Gull #Seabird #CoastalWildlife #BirdWatching #GullsOfTheWorld #SeagullLife

Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · Jan 4

Another (or returning?!) excellent candidate Azorean Gull in the roost at The Mere, Ellesmere this evening 😱 #shropshirebirding #gullswp

Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis) with Lesser Black-backs

Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis), front on showing dark hood, with Lesser Black-backs

Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis), back left, with Lesser Black-backs and a Black-headed Gull

Apparent adult Azorean Gull (atlantis), left, with Lesser Black-backs and Black-headed Gulls

Reposted by James Bonthron

Botany One @botany.one · Feb 3

What can 5,000-year-old trees teach us about resilience? Scientists in jxbotany.bsky.social reveal how ancient giants like Methuselah use DNA methylation to pass down survival strategies through generations.

https://botany.one/2025/02/can-you-teach-an-old-log-new-tricks/

#Botany #PlantScience 🧪

Night photograph of a twisted bristlecone pine tree, its distinctive wind-sculpted form highlighted against the Milky Way. The tree's exposed wood shows complex patterns formed over centuries of slow growth in extreme alpine conditions.

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Reposted by James Bonthron

Brian Cleary @bcpix.bsky.social · Feb 2

Lunch line, Merritt Island,Florida. A trio of Roseate Spoonbills look for food in a Florida pond Bcpix.com #birds #roseatespoonbills #colors

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