John Tweedie
@johntweedie.bsky.social
190 followers 360 following 2.3K posts
Earth Sciences graduate. But studying for a second degree in History with the OU. Love birdwatching, getting outdoors or snuggling indoors with a good book.
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johntweedie.bsky.social
Milngavie.
merriam-webster.com
What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?
johntweedie.bsky.social
Thanks for posting about this - I've been wanting to read A City on Mars for ages and this reminded me to go and get it.
johntweedie.bsky.social
Hey @ougeolsoc.bsky.social Ian Gass gets a namecheck in this book Geopedia by Marcia Bjornerud.

For me it’s just a name associated with OU Earth Science so it was great to learn a bit about him, in this case under the term ophiolite.
Book Geopedia by Marcia Bjornerud.
johntweedie.bsky.social
A wee trip to St Andrews to hear Marcia Bjornerud and Laura Poppick in conversation in November. Don't mind if I do. So glad I'd already booked that day off work. #LayersOfTime

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/layers-of-...
Layers of Time
In conversation with Marcia Bjornerud and Laura Poppick
www.eventbrite.co.uk
johntweedie.bsky.social
You could just have said "this is so and so and they're really important for what I'm about to talk about because ...". Brief, to the point, and gives the audience just enough information to get an idea of who that person is and why they're important to you.
johntweedie.bsky.social
Dear speakers, don't assume that everyone in your audience knows everyone else. If you're talking about someone in the audience who is important to your talk, don't say "you all know them, so I won't introduce them".

Well actually, an introduction would be nice for those who don't know them!
johntweedie.bsky.social
I was at a talk last night, and it was an interesting talk. But right at the beginning the speaker pointed at someone in the audience and said "everyone here knows who he is, so I won't introduce him". Eh no, I didn't know who he was. Don't make assumptions like that.
johntweedie.bsky.social
I normally have my bus ticket already purchased on my phone app, but one time I was rushing for a bus that was approaching and tried to buy a ticket there and then but I had to get past a survey first before it would let me buy it. So annoying.
johntweedie.bsky.social
The main thing I look for in tree sparrows is the brown head whereas the house sparrow is grey on the top of the head. Once spotted, it's really easy to tell them apart.
johntweedie.bsky.social
One of the things I wanted to ask last night (but they were running out of time) was whether there's a chance of people underreporting the tree sparrows because they're not expecting them and thinking instead they're seeing house sparrows. Birders know the difference, but maybe not others.
johntweedie.bsky.social
I know a big part of this project is ringing the birds, so you might be able to see and report the rings too.
johntweedie.bsky.social
The presenter, Kevin Sinclair, showed an interesting map that showed in winter they're almost all seen in people's gardens not too far from the farm, but in summer they're seen more often on and around the farm. So where you see them will depend on the season.
johntweedie.bsky.social
I was on my phone earlier, but I just checked on my laptop and this is the link to the project page (I've not visited it): www.facebook.com/groups/80880...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
johntweedie.bsky.social
Just to add it was on a farm near Williamwood High School.
johntweedie.bsky.social
That was at an SOC talk last night. I’m not on Facebook but the group behind it has a Facebook page about it. Sorry I don’t know the url for it as I don’t visit any Meta websites but I’m sure you could find it if you searched.
johntweedie.bsky.social
Basalt.

American people: bah-salt.
Scottish people (that is, me): bazz-ahlt.
johntweedie.bsky.social
Amazing tonight to hear that there are Tree Sparrows just outside Clarkston. And that one of the birds ringed there made its way to Bangor on the other side of the Irish Sea!

People running the project hope to set up another site for the birds at Cathkin Braes. #BirdingScotland
johntweedie.bsky.social
Sounds like seasonal transition is definitely on just now with Swallows still around in some places and Redwings and Whooper Swans showing up. #BirdingScotland
johntweedie.bsky.social
Print your own paper models of transform faults, as designed by Tuzo Wilson. #PlateTectonics web.viu.ca/earle/transf...
Paper models of Transform Faults
web.viu.ca
johntweedie.bsky.social
Off out tonight to learn about East Renfrewshire's Tree Sparrows at the SOC's Clyde branch meeting.

Part of my endeavour to take more of an active role in societies I'm a member of, even if it is, for now, turning up to listen to the talks. www.birdsinclyde.scot/talks.html
Talks
This season the meetings will, again, be a mix of SOC-wide online meetings and Clyde Branch in-person meetings.  Please note below the new venue for this season's talks.
www.birdsinclyde.scot
johntweedie.bsky.social
Looking forward to seeing what might come up. Hope you'll be meeting with Hermione Cockburn - one of my tutors when I was doing my OU degree. Not everyday you get tutored by someone off the telly!