Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Rob Hill

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 1d

So much for "boosting growth".
All this vandalism will do is leave us with devastated ecosystems, fewer green spaces, worse quality of life, while neither solving the housing crisis (because the problem IS NOT AND NEVER WAS "bats and newts") nor creating "growth".
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New planning bill could jeopardise UK’s trade deal with EU, ambassador warns

Exclusive: Proposed legislation removes EU-derived nature protections as government hopes to boost economic growth

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · 12d

This Scaup at Foxcote is my best patch find for quite a while. Follows one yesterday near Tring. After being very rare in Bucks for about 10 years, we’ve had 7 since March 2023. Thanks to @paulgibbs.bsky.social for the pic #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

Picture of a young Scaup on calm but grey water. Scaups are medium sized ducks. This one is generally a chocolate brown colour all over, with lighter grey or white patches on the back and sides.

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · 25d

Another superb 2wks in autumnal Cornwall. Excellent birding as always, with some modest finds - Pied Fly, Turtle Dove, Curlew Sand, plus Great & Sooty Shear from the Scillonian. Birds eclipsed by two longed-for insects- Monarch & Vagrant Emperor. Until next time, Kernow 🙌 #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

A Curlew Sandpiper - a small wading bird - feeding on mud. The bird has mottled brown wings, a buffy brown neck and head, clean white underparts, and a slim black bill which is slightly downcurved.

A Great Green Bush Cricket resting in the sun on a pavement.

A sunny view of Hugh Town harbour, St Marys, the Isles of Scilly. In the foreground are two wooden benches and a railing. The sea is calm and blue, with multiple small boats moored in the harbour. The sky is almost the same colour as the water, dotted with high fluffy clouds.

A view of St Michael’s Mount, Marazion. The village is in the foreground, white rooftops protruding from thick vegetation. The Mount Is in the middle distance, sitting amongst calm still water. In the far distance is the rocky coast between Newlyn and Mousehole.

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Sep 25

1st-w Turtle Dove, Spotted Fly & 3 Wheatear the best of the birds at a sunny Porthgwarra today. But best of all was a Monarch butterfly batting its way along the coast path, my first ever. Also Clouded Yellow & dozens of Red Admiral & Painted Lady. Glorious #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Sep 22

Curlew Sand the highlight amongst a nice group of waders on Marazion beach this evening. Beautiful evening to just sit, chill, and watch the sea #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

Evening photo of St Michaels Mount in Cornwall. A brown pebble beach in the foreground sweeps left, with the mount sitting atop a calm blue sea under a crisp sky which is almost the same colour.

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Sep 21

Impressive hirundine passage at Marazion today. Birds streaming east in poor weather, about 60-70/min for 4hrs. Mostly House Martins & Swallows skimming over rooftops and skirting cliff edges. No let up until the sun came out #ukbirding #cornwallbirding

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Reposted by Rob Hill

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Sep 9

This is infuriating. What is the point of a Marine Protected Area if trawlers are allowed to keep ploughing it?
Yet again, the government has succumbed to commercial lobbying.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Bottom trawling to continue in English protected waters, government rules

Defra says blanket ban on ‘destructive’ fishing practice disproportionate as MPs urge minister to reconsider

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Aug 26

The most influential UK politician of the 21st century.
Which is freaking depressing.

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · Aug 26

A day of shame for the UK. A political party proposes mass deportations and the response from other political parties is not to condemn this as going further than even Mosley or the National Front.

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · Aug 26

No10 spokesman not prepared to criticise anything about Farage speech today.

Not his description of "invasion", not his prediction that the UK on brink of civil war, not plans to pay the Taliban or Iran to take back migrants, or indeed to rule out doing so themselves.

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Aug 19

Juv Marsh Harrier at Foxcote this morning. No sign of yesterday’s Wood Sand. Pretty much a whole autumn’s excitement packed into two days! #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Aug 18

Wood Sand at Foxcote this morning, also 3 Common Sands. Easterlies finally deliver 🙌 #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Aug 15

Been a slow autumn on patch, but two Redstarts today were worth the early start. Hedges bouncing with commoner warblers, plus a Yellow Wag over #bucksbirds #ukbirding

A female Redstart perched atop a fencepost in the sunshine, with bramble and hawthorn leafs in the background

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Jul 27

Blistering ride from my favourite rider at the #TdF2025 today. Gutted that @nedboulting.bsky.social and Dave won’t be back next year. But thank you for years of peerless commentary, and what a way to sign off #itvcycling

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Jul 7

Oh if I’d have known about this when I used to be on X 🙂
I watch the ITV coverage too, so I probably miss out on birds seen in the more extensive Eurosport coverage.

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Jul 7

I’ll have to keep an eye out for this. So far this year I’ve seen Herring Gull, Magpie & Carrion Crow. Last year’s TdF list was poor - didn’t even get a vulture!

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Jul 6

Passage waders are a rare sight in north Bucks, especially at my local reservoir. Nice to see this splendid adult Black-wit today, amongst a noisy throng of recently fledged Black-headed Gulls #ukbirding #bucksbirdnews

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · Jun 7

Emailed my MP using this link, thanks @alexmorss.bsky.social Took one minute.
I think more people give a shit about this country’s environment than this shambles of a government think.

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Reposted by Rob Hill

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Jun 3

What did we do to deserve this government? It promised change, and many people voted on that basis, in good faith. But the change is from bad to worse. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Revealed: 5,000 English nature sites at risk under Labour’s planning proposals

Exclusive: Planning bill includes mechanism for developers to ‘pay to pollute’ valuable ecosystems, experts warn

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Rob Hill

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Jun 2

Every day I ask myself: what the hell is happening in Starmer's inner circle? It seems determined to stamp out every spark of hope.

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Reposted by Rob Hill

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Jun 2

Farmers trying to do the right thing are yet again getting frozen out by this government, which seems determined to make the wrong decisions at every opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Fund for nature-friendly farming to be slashed in UK spending review

Exclusive: Defra sources say scheme, which pays farmers to protect nature, will be targeted at ‘small farms’

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · May 31

I don’t live in Milton Keynes any more, but anything that helps protect its wildlife against brainless scum…

Sign the Petition

Grant permission to protect swans at Lodge Lake

www.change.org

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · May 23

Christ alive if they can’t even do this…..
They’ve been a colossal disappointment on every conceivable level.

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · May 23

WTF? If this Government can’t even agree to this smallest of initiatives, which has no cost to them & absolutely no down-sides, what hope that it will step up to the bigger nature challenges we face? This is a *popular* policy, for heavens sake. Obstinate tin-eared stupidity doesn’t come close …

Labour blocks proposal for ‘swift bricks’ in all new homes

MPs had previously backed Conservative amendment to ask developers to provide hollow bricks for endangered birds

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · May 17

Perfect end to our week in Cornwall.
First, watch the @cornishpirates.bsky.social win a thriller at The Mennaye with a superb second half comeback 🏈💪
Second, see an Osprey lazily drift over Penzance harbour on the walk back, flustering all the gulls #ukbirding

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Rob Hill @robhbirder.bsky.social · May 16

My first ever Red-veined Darters at Porthgwarra round off a super Cornwall week.
Good no’s of butterflies, esp Painted Lady’s.
Red-footed Falcon, Garganey, Wood Sand & Arctic Skua best of the birds. Lots of Swallows, v few Swifts #ukbirding #ukdragonflies #ukbutterflies

A Red-veined Darter dragonfly, resting on the ground in the sun, perched on a brown twig. It has a thin deep scarlet body, red eyes, and delicate wings with red veins.

A Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly resting vertically on a branch. It has a fat, bright azure blue body, brown head, and small dark triangles at the base of each of its four wings.

A Beautiful Demoiselle perched on a fern frond. The demoiselle is a shiny emerald green with wholly dark brown wings which are folded above its body. The fuzzy green background is another leaf.

A fritillary butterfly resting on some pink sea thrift flowers amidst green grass. The butterfly’s wings are a complex pattern of burnt orange colour and black stripes and blotches.

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Reposted by Rob Hill

BTO England @btoengland.bsky.social · May 15

The @bbs-birds.bsky.social 2024 report is out now and shows a worrying 71% decline for Cuckoo across England since 1994. Read the full report online now ➡️ www.bto.org/bbs-results #ConservationScience🌍

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) @bbs-birds.bsky.social · May 15

Falling finch numbers, fading farmland birds, declining Dippers and vanishing Cuckoo calls in England are worrying findings from the 2024 Breeding Bird Survey report out now! Read the report ➡️ www.bto.org/bbs-results

@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology

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Reposted by Rob Hill

Tom Scott @tom--scott.bsky.social · May 2

The Greens now have nearly 200 more councillors than Reform.

This is not something you'd be likely to guess from all the copiously salivating media coverage of Farage & his crew of billionaire-backed far-right chancers.

Chris Williams @chrisw100.bsky.social · May 2

Another record year for the Green Party 👏
859 Councillors on 170 Councils in England & Wales

Now join us to keep Greens growing and to take the fight to Reform join.greenparty.org.uk

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